The Battle of Launac

Launac

Launac is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-Sights:The Château de Launac is a 15th century castle with additions and alterations from the 16th and 17th centuries. Privately owned, it is listed as a historic site by the French Ministry of...

 took place on 5th December, 1362. It was the culmination of a long running feud between the French aristocratic families of D'Armagnac and Foix-Béarn. The chief protagonists were Jean, Comte d'Armagnac and Gaston Fébus of Foix. The result was a major victory for Gaston Fébus.

The armies

D'Armagnac's army consisted of men from his territories, some powerful Gascon noble families, such as the D'Albrets

Albret

The lordship of Albret , situated in the Landes, gave its name to one of the most powerful feudal families of France in the Middle Ages...

, and mercenary free companies. Foix fielded a force of his vassals and a larger number of free company mercenaries, including German, Gascon and English troops. D'Armagnac's forces were mostly mounted men-at-arms, those of Foix also featured men-at-arms but significantly had more infantry, including a contingent of English longbowmen

English longbow

The English longbow, also called the Welsh longbow, is a powerful type of medieval longbow about 6 ft long used by the English and Welsh for hunting and as a weapon in medieval warfare...

. D'Armagnac's army outnumbered that of Foix but actual numbers are unknown.

The battle

Details of the battle are somewhat lacking. The battle began in the morning and was over by midday. D'Armagnac launched a mounted charge on the Foix army. This was first held, then defeated by Foix's archers who were hidden in a copse to the rear of the enemy and emerged to launch volleys of arrows, killing many horses. The Armagnacs then fled.

Aftermath

The battle is particularly notable for the fact that Foix captured the majority of the Armagnac leaders, who were put to ransom. This brought Gaston Fébus vast wealth. The ransom of Jean d'Armagnac alone was 300,000 florins and surviving records show that the minimum ransom collected overall was 600,000 florins, a amount of gold weighing over 2 tonnes. Contemporary chroniclers estimated it higher still. So great was the triumph that Gaston Fébus decreed the anniversary of the battle should be celebrated annually across his territories. 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...

was a guest at the 28th anniversary celebration and recorded religious processions and solemn feasts.