Barrau de Sescas

Barrau de Sescas (fl. 1295–1304) was a Gascon knight in English service. In 1295 he became the first person to be appointed to the position of admiral by an English King, after Edward I appointed him Admiral of the Fleet of Bayonne. Barrau served in that role during the Anglo-French War of 1294–1303 escorting merchant convoys and breaking a French blockade to provide supplies to the besieged fortresses of Bourg and Blaye. Later in the war he served with Edward's royal household during the king's 1297–1298 expedition to Flanders. In 1299 he became joint lieutenant of Gascony, a titular position as it was then under French occupation. After the 1303 Treaty of Paris restored Gascony to the English Barrau was appointed castellan of Bayonne and bailiff of Labourd, serving until 1304. rdf:langString