Battle of Auray
Contemporary representation
| date | September 29, 1364 |
|---|---|
| place | Auray , France |
| output | Anglo-Breton victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
|
|
| Troop strength | |
| 3,500 men | 4,000 men |
| losses | |
|
unknown |
1,000 men |
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Chevauchées of the 1340s: Saint-Omer - Auberoche
Edward III. Campaign (1346/47): Caen - Blanchetaque - Crécy - Calais
War of the Breton Succession (1341–1364) : Champtoceaux - Brest - Morlaix - Saint-Pol-de-Léon - La Roche-Derrien - Tournament of Thirty - Mauron - Auray
France's allies : Neville's Cross - Les Espagnols sur Mer - Brignais
Chevauchées of the 1350s: Poitiers
Castilian Civil War & War of the Two Peter (1351–1375): Barcelona - Araviana - Nájera - Montiel
French counter-offensive: La Rochelle - Gravesend
Wars between Portugal and Castile (1369– 1385): Lisbon - Saltés - Lisbon - Aljubarrota
Battle for Northern France: Rouen - Baugé - Meaux - Cravant - La Brossinière - Verneuil
Jeanne d'Arc and the turn of the war: Orléans - Battle of the herring - Jargeau - Meung-sur-Loire - Beaugency - Patay - Compiegne - Gerberoy
The Battle of Auray took place on September 29, 1364 near the Breton city of Auray . It was the decisive battle in the Breton War of Succession , part of the Hundred Years War .
In this battle, which began as a siege , John V , the Duke of Brittany , with the support of English troops under John Chandos, defeated his opponent Charles of Blois and the French.
At the beginning of 1364, after the failure of the negotiations in Évran , Johann V and Chandos attacked Auray, which had been in the hands of the French since 1342, and besieged the castle. Without a supply of food, the besieged agreed to surrender if relief did not arrive before September 29th.
On September 27, Charles of Blois was east of Lanvaux Abbey ; Bertrand du Guesclin , who commanded the advance guard of the French troops, in Brandivy . On the 28th they were on the left bank of the river below the castle. To avoid being trapped between the castle and the French army, John V ordered the withdrawal from Auray and took a position on the embankment of the right bank of the river, facing the enemy. On September 29th, after negotiations had failed, Karl ordered the attack. His army crossed the river and stood facing south. Johann V followed the opponent's movements and placed his men facing north.
Forces involved
Karl von Blois had a total of 4,000 men. On the left wing was the Count of Auxerre , on the right Du Guesclin, in the middle Karl von Blois. A weak reserve was not used.
Johann V was supported by 3,000 Englishmen. On the right, Oliver V. von Clisson was in command , on the left Robert Knolles , in the middle Johann and Chandos. A considerable reserve was waiting for the deployment order.
The battle
The battle began with a brief skirmish between the French crossbows - and the English longbowmen . Then the foot troops went forward in disorder. The battle became very bloody as both sides wanted to reach a swift decision and had given orders not to take prisoners.
Each Anglo-Breton unit was attacked, one after the other, and casualties were replaced from the reserves. On the other hand, the right wing of the French was pushed back, not replenished by reserves, and pushed towards the center. The left wing also buckled, whereupon Charles von Blois's troops fled. He was killed by an English soldier who wanted to obey the orders given. Du Guesclin was forced to surrender to Chandos.
consequences
This victory ended the War of the Breton Succession and killed 1,000 men on the French side. In the Peace of Guérande in 1365, the King of France recognized John V as Duke of Brittany.
literature
- Stephen Turnbull, The Book of the Medieval Knight Arms and Armor Press: London 1985. ISBN 0-85368-715-3
- C. Given-Wilson, The Ransom of Olivier de Guesclin , in: Historical Research 129, May 1981.
