Battle of Tinchebray
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Tinchebray (alternate spellings Tinchebrai or Tenchebrai) was fought 28 September 1106, in the town of Tinchebray
(in today's Orne
département of France), Normandy
, between an invading force led by Henry I of England
, and his older brother Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy
. Henry's knights won a decisive victory, capturing Robert and imprisoning him in England and then Wales until Robert's death in Cardiff Castle
. England and Normandy remained under a single ruler until 1204.
The previous year Henry had invaded Normandy, taking Bayeux
and Caen
. He was forced to break off his campaign owing to political problems arising from the Investiture Controversy
. With these settled, he returned to Normandy in the summer of 1106. After quickly taking the fortified abbey of Saint-Pierre sur Dives (near Falaise
), Henry turned south and besieged the castle of Tinchebray, on a hill above the town. Tinchebray is on the border of the county of Mortain, in the southwest of Normandy, and was held by the count, who was one of the few important Norman barons still loyal to Robert.
Robert brought up his forces to break the siege, and, after some unsuccessful negotiations, battle was inevitable.
Henry's army was organized into three groups (as was usual for the period). These were commanded by Ranulf of Bayeux, Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester
, and William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
. In addition he had a reserve, commanded by Elias I of Maine
, out of sight on the flank. Also on Henry's side were Alan IV, Duke of Brittany
, William, Count of Évreux, Ralph of Tosny, Robert of Montfort, and Robert of Grandmesil. On Robert Curthose's side were William, Count of Mortain
, and Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury
.
The battle itself only lasted an hour. Notably, Henry ordered much of his force of knights to dismount, as he did himself: unusual for Norman battle tactics, infantry played a decisive role. The count charged the front line, comprising troops of Bayeux, Avranches and the Cotentin. The intervention of Henry's reserve proved decisive. Most of Robert's army was captured or killed. Besides Robert himself, those captured include Edgar Atheling (uncle of Henry's wife), and William, count of Mortain.
Most of the prisoners were released, but Robert Curthose and William of Mortain were to spend the rest of their lives in captivity.
The battle and its significance in contemporary English history is depicted in Rosemary Sutcliff
's 1960 historical fiction novel Knight's Fee
.
Tinchebray
Tinchebray is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.It was the scene of the Battle of Tinchebray fought on 28 September 1106.-Heraldry:...
(in today's Orne
Orne
Orne is a department in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne.- History :Orne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Normandy and Perche.- Geography :Orne is in the region of...
département of France), Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, between an invading force led by Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, and his older brother Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
. Henry's knights won a decisive victory, capturing Robert and imprisoning him in England and then Wales until Robert's death in Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is a medieval castle and Victorian architecture Gothic revival mansion, transformed from a Norman keep erected over a Roman fort in the Castle Quarter of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The Castle is a Grade I Listed Building.-The Roman fort:...
. England and Normandy remained under a single ruler until 1204.
The previous year Henry had invaded Normandy, taking Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
and Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
. He was forced to break off his campaign owing to political problems arising from the Investiture Controversy
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy or Investiture Contest was the most significant conflict between Church and state in medieval Europe. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a series of Popes challenged the authority of European monarchies over control of appointments, or investitures, of church officials such...
. With these settled, he returned to Normandy in the summer of 1106. After quickly taking the fortified abbey of Saint-Pierre sur Dives (near Falaise
Falaise, Calvados
Falaise is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-History:The town was the birthplace of William I the Conqueror, first of the Norman Kings of England. The Château de Falaise , which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of...
), Henry turned south and besieged the castle of Tinchebray, on a hill above the town. Tinchebray is on the border of the county of Mortain, in the southwest of Normandy, and was held by the count, who was one of the few important Norman barons still loyal to Robert.
Robert brought up his forces to break the siege, and, after some unsuccessful negotiations, battle was inevitable.
Henry's army was organized into three groups (as was usual for the period). These were commanded by Ranulf of Bayeux, Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, Count of Meulan was a powerful English and French nobleman, revered as one of the wisest men of his age...
, and William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey was the son of William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey and his first wife Gundred. He is more often referred to as Earl Warenne or Earl of Warenne than as Earl of Surrey....
. In addition he had a reserve, commanded by Elias I of Maine
Elias I of Maine
Elias I , called de la Flèche or de Baugency, was the Count of Maine from 1093. He was the son of the lord of La Flèche, John de Beaugency, and his wife Paula, daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine....
, out of sight on the flank. Also on Henry's side were Alan IV, Duke of Brittany
Alan IV, Duke of Brittany
Alan IV was Duke of Brittany, from 1084 until his abdication in 1112. He was also Count of Nantes and Count of Rennes. He was son of Hawise, Duchess of Brittany and Duke Hoel II. He was known as Alan Fergant, which in Breton means "Alan the Strong"...
, William, Count of Évreux, Ralph of Tosny, Robert of Montfort, and Robert of Grandmesil. On Robert Curthose's side were William, Count of Mortain
William, Count of Mortain
William de Mortaigne, Count of Mortain, Earl of Cornwall was the son of Robert, Count of Mortain, the half-brother of William I of England...
, and Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury
Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury
Robert de Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury , also spelled Belleme or Belesme, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, and one of the most prominent figures in the competition for the succession to England and Normandy between the sons of William the Conqueror...
.
The battle itself only lasted an hour. Notably, Henry ordered much of his force of knights to dismount, as he did himself: unusual for Norman battle tactics, infantry played a decisive role. The count charged the front line, comprising troops of Bayeux, Avranches and the Cotentin. The intervention of Henry's reserve proved decisive. Most of Robert's army was captured or killed. Besides Robert himself, those captured include Edgar Atheling (uncle of Henry's wife), and William, count of Mortain.
Most of the prisoners were released, but Robert Curthose and William of Mortain were to spend the rest of their lives in captivity.
The battle and its significance in contemporary English history is depicted in Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff CBE was a British novelist, and writer for children, best known as a writer of historical fiction and children's literature. Although she was primarily a children's author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults; Sutcliff herself once commented that she wrote...
's 1960 historical fiction novel Knight's Fee
Knight's fee
In feudal Anglo-Norman England and Ireland, a knight's fee was a measure of a unit of land deemed sufficient from which a knight could derive not only sustenance for himself and his esquires, but also the means to furnish himself and his equipage with horses and armour to fight for his overlord in...
.