Battle of Auberoche
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Auberoche was a significant action between English and French forces during the early stages of the Hundred Years War. It was fought at the village of Auberoche near Périgueux
in Gascony
. At the time, Gascony was territory of the English crown and the English army was largely made up of native Gascons. The battle occurred on the Auvezere River which formed part of the unofficial and heavily disputed boundary between the English and French territories.
, who had landed in June with a small army from England and augmented it with Gascon troops and conducted a large scale raid across the frontier, aiming at and capturing the important town of Bergerac
during August. Amongst the other places he took before retreating back to Bordeaux
for fresh troops and supplies was Auberoche, and in mid-October it became the first position counterattacked by a 7,000 strong French army under Louis of Poitiers
. Poitiers' feudal lord, the Duke of Normandy
(later King John II of France), had ordered him to counterattack the English here so that Normandy was free to advance from La Réole
to the North.
which caused the unfortunate man grievous injuries. Although this story is repeated by the chronicler Jean Froissart
, modern historians have considered the tale unlikely. A messenger did get through French lines and reached Derby, who was already returning to the area with a scratch force of 1,500 English and Gascon soldiers. The French encampment was divided in two, with the majority of the soldiers camped close to the river between the castle and village whilst a smaller force was designed to prevent any escape attempts from the north.
Derby undertook a personal reconnaissance of the French positions and decided to launch a three pronged assault, with his cavalry charging along the flat ground to the south, his infantry following a path in the woods to emerge in the French rear and his longbow
men firing from the treeline into the French position. The attack was launched as the French were eating their evening meal, and complete surprise was achieved, the French thrown into disarray by the hail of arrows and the charging horsemen. Those French units who escaped the camp and the cavalry formed ragged bands on the flat ground and were thus ideal targets for the archers. The fighting continued in the camp for sometime and it seemed possible that some of the French forces might have made an effective fighting withdrawal but Sir Frank Halle, the castle's commander, had foreseen this and at the pivotal moment threw the castle's garrison against the retreating body from the rear, precipitating a total rout with the fleeing French pursued by the English cavalry.
The battle had longer reaching political effects too, Normandy's advance on the English territory was called off and no French force conducted any operations in the Gascon border country for six months. Communications between Normandy and the Duke of Bourbon
who commanded a force in the south of France were also cut for some time, preventing coordinated operations against the smaller English forces in the near future. Derby used this opportunity to seize more towns in the region including Montségur
and conduct successful sieges against La Réole and Aiguillon, placing the region firmly in English hands.
Local morale and more importantly prestige in the border region had decidedly swung England's way following this conflict, providing an influx of taxes and recruits for the English armies. The region had been in a state of flux for centuries and many local Lords served which ever country was stronger, regardless of national ties. With this success, the English had established a regional dominance which in some respects would last a hundred years.
Périgueux
Périgueux is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.Périgueux is the prefecture of the department and the capital of the region...
in Gascony
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
. At the time, Gascony was territory of the English crown and the English army was largely made up of native Gascons. The battle occurred on the Auvezere River which formed part of the unofficial and heavily disputed boundary between the English and French territories.
The campaign
The village and castle at Auberoche had been seized from the French occupants by a raiding force under the Earl of DerbyHenry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster
Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 4th Earl of Leicester and Lancaster, KG , also Earl of Derby, was a member of the English nobility in the 14th century, and a prominent English diplomat, politician, and soldier...
, who had landed in June with a small army from England and augmented it with Gascon troops and conducted a large scale raid across the frontier, aiming at and capturing the important town of Bergerac
Battle of Bergerac
The Battle of Bergerac was fought in August 1345. An Anglo-Gascon Army commanded by Henry of Grosmont, Earl of Derby, defeated a French force under Henri de Montigny, Seneschal of Périgord, outside the walls of Bergerac, leading to the loss of the town...
during August. Amongst the other places he took before retreating back to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
for fresh troops and supplies was Auberoche, and in mid-October it became the first position counterattacked by a 7,000 strong French army under Louis of Poitiers
Louis of Poitiers
Louis of Poitiers may refer to:*Louis of Poitiers , who succeeded Henri, Dauphin of Viennois*Louis of Poitiers , bishop of Valence from 1448 to 1468...
. Poitiers' feudal lord, the Duke of Normandy
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
(later King John II of France), had ordered him to counterattack the English here so that Normandy was free to advance from La Réole
La Réole
La Réole is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Geography:La Réole is located on the right bank of the Garonne, southeast of Bordeaux by rail.-History:...
to the North.
The siege
The French force blockaded the castle, cutting off supplies and aid from the English lands to the West. During this time a tale, most likely apocryphal, emerged that a soldier attempting to reach English lines with a letter requesting help was captured and returned to the castle via a large ballistaBallista
The ballista , plural ballistae, was an ancient missile weapon which launched a large projectile at a distant target....
which caused the unfortunate man grievous injuries. Although this story is repeated by the chronicler Jean Froissart
Jean Froissart
Jean Froissart , often referred to in English as John Froissart, was one of the most important chroniclers of medieval France. For centuries, Froissart's Chronicles have been recognized as the chief expression of the chivalric revival of the 14th century Kingdom of England and France...
, modern historians have considered the tale unlikely. A messenger did get through French lines and reached Derby, who was already returning to the area with a scratch force of 1,500 English and Gascon soldiers. The French encampment was divided in two, with the majority of the soldiers camped close to the river between the castle and village whilst a smaller force was designed to prevent any escape attempts from the north.
The battle
On the 21 October the English army led by Derby advanced from Périgueux during the night, crossing the shallow river twice on their path so that by morning they were situated on a hill overlooking the French camp in the valley by the river. Knowing he was outnumbered, Derby had waited several days for the arrival of a force under the Earl of Pembroke but had given up waiting the evening before and had stolen a march on the French force below him. As dawn broke on the 21st, the English remained hidden behind the hill, hoping for Pembroke at the last minute. Derby called a council of his officers including the famous Walter Manny and it was decided that rather than wait any longer and lose the advantage of surprise, the army would advance immediately and attempt to overrun the French camp before an effective defence could be devised.Derby undertook a personal reconnaissance of the French positions and decided to launch a three pronged assault, with his cavalry charging along the flat ground to the south, his infantry following a path in the woods to emerge in the French rear and his longbow
Longbow
A longbow is a type of bow that is tall ; this will allow its user a fairly long draw, at least to the jaw....
men firing from the treeline into the French position. The attack was launched as the French were eating their evening meal, and complete surprise was achieved, the French thrown into disarray by the hail of arrows and the charging horsemen. Those French units who escaped the camp and the cavalry formed ragged bands on the flat ground and were thus ideal targets for the archers. The fighting continued in the camp for sometime and it seemed possible that some of the French forces might have made an effective fighting withdrawal but Sir Frank Halle, the castle's commander, had foreseen this and at the pivotal moment threw the castle's garrison against the retreating body from the rear, precipitating a total rout with the fleeing French pursued by the English cavalry.
Aftermath
The French force which was intended to watch the castle was the only part of the army to escape, and that only because it made no effort to intervene in the action, even failing to prevent the castle's defenders sallying out against the other half of the army. They left behind them a large quantity of supplies and loot which added to the English haul, which was prodigious. The French commander Louis of Poitiers had died of his wounds in the English camp and the second in command, Bertrand de l'Isle, was a prisoner. A number of other noblemen had been taken captive and their ransoms made a fortune for the soldiers in Derby's army as well as Derby himself, who was said to have made at least £67,000 in the money of the day from his captives.The battle had longer reaching political effects too, Normandy's advance on the English territory was called off and no French force conducted any operations in the Gascon border country for six months. Communications between Normandy and the Duke of Bourbon
Peter I, Duke of Bourbon
Peter I of Bourbon was the second Duke of Bourbon, from 1342 to his death.Peter was son of Louis I of Bourbon, whom he also succeeded as Grand Chamberlain of France, and Mary of Avesnes....
who commanded a force in the south of France were also cut for some time, preventing coordinated operations against the smaller English forces in the near future. Derby used this opportunity to seize more towns in the region including Montségur
Montségur
The Château de Montségur is a former fortress near Montségur, a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France. Its ruins are the site of a razed stronghold of the Cathars. The present fortress on the site, though described as one of the "Cathar castles," is actually of a later period...
and conduct successful sieges against La Réole and Aiguillon, placing the region firmly in English hands.
Local morale and more importantly prestige in the border region had decidedly swung England's way following this conflict, providing an influx of taxes and recruits for the English armies. The region had been in a state of flux for centuries and many local Lords served which ever country was stronger, regardless of national ties. With this success, the English had established a regional dominance which in some respects would last a hundred years.