Battle of Auray
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| Battle of Auray | |||||||
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| Part of the Hundred Years' War | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| Breton Montfort faction English Allies |
Breton Blois Faction French Allies |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| John de Montfort | Charles of Blois | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Breton War of Succession |
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| Champtoceaux – Brest – Morlaix – St Pol de Leon – Roche-Derrien – The Thirty – Mauron – Auray |
| Hundred Years' War |
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| Edwardian – Breton Succession – Castilian – Caroline – Lancastrian |
The Battle of Auray took place on September 29, 1364 at the French town of Auray. This battle was the decisive confrontation of the Breton War of Succession, a part of the Hundred Years' War.
In the battle, which began as a siege, duke John de Montfort helped by English forces commanded by Sir John Chandos, defeated his rival Charles of Blois, seconded by the French.
At the beginning of 1364, after the failure of the negotiations of Évran, Montfort, with the assistance of John Chandos, came to attack Auray, which had been in the hands of Franco-Bretons since 1342. He entered the town of Auray and besieged the castle.
Without supplies of food, the besieged agreed to surrender the place, if help did not arrive before Michaelmas (September 29).
On September 27, Charles of Blois was east of the abbey of Lanvaux. Bertrand du Guesclin, who commanded the vanguard of the French troops, was in Brandivy.
On the 28th, they were installed on left bank of river, before the castle. To avoid being caught between the castle and the French Army, Montfort evacuated Auray and took a position facing the enemy, on the slope of the right bank of the river.
On the 29th, attempts at agreement having failed, Charles ordered the attack. His army crossed the river and lined up facing south. Montfort followed the movement and lined up facing north.
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[edit] Involved forces:
[edit] Franco-Breton army of Charles of Blois:
On the left the count of Auxerre, on the right Du Guesclin, in the center Charles of Blois. A weak reserve was not used. Each division had roughly 1,000 men.
[edit] Anglo-Breton army of John of Montfort:
On the right Olivier de Clisson, on the left the English Robert Knolles, in the center Montfort and the English Chandos. A significant reserve, under Hugh Calveley, was ready to intervene.
[edit] The battle
The battle began with a short skirmish between the French arbalesters and the English archers. Then the men-at-arms engaged without seeking to maneuver. It was a bloody combat, because all wanted this battle to be decisive and put an end to this long and cruel war. Moreover, the instruction was given on both sides not to give quarter to captives.
Each Anglo-Breton body was attacked, one after the other, but the reserves restored the situation. On the other hand the right wing of the Franco-Breton driven back and, not being supported by the reserves, was folded up towards the center. The left wing folded in its turn, the Count of Auxerre captured, and the troops of Charles of Blois took flight. Charles was killed by an English soldier, obeying the instruction given. Du Guesclin, having broken all his weapons, was obliged to surrender to Chandos.
[edit] Consequences
This victory put an end to the war of succession and by the treaty of Guérande, in 1365, the king of France recognized John of Montfort as duke of Brittany. However, as John then paid homage to Charles V of France, rather than to his patron, Edward III of England (who claimed to be King of France), the French cause seems to have won in the end.
[edit] References
- Turnbull, Stephen. The Book of the Medieval Knight. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1985. ISBN 0-85368-715-3
