1450 Late Middle Ages Victory
Formigny, Normandy (France) · Hundred Years' War
On 15 April 1450 near Formigny in Normandy, Charles VII's French, initially outnumbered, won a decisive victory thanks to the arrival of Arthur de Richemont's Breton cavalry. The English field army in Normandy was destroyed; reconquest of the duchy accelerated.
1345 Late Middle Ages Defeat
Auberoche, Guyenne (today Dordogne, France) · Hundred Years' War
On October 21, 1345, the Battle of Auberoche constituted one of the most brilliant tactical victories of the entire Hundred Years' War and the military masterpiece of Henry of Lancaster, Earl of Derby. This battle saw an elite English force of around 1,200 men triumph against a French siege army of around 7,000 men, a French numerical superiority of almost 6 to 1. The initial situation seemed hopeless for the English: an English garrison entrenched in the castle of Auberoche was besieged by a powerful French army commanded by Louis of Poitiers. Henry of Lancaster, informed of the critical situation, organized a daring and perfectly coordinated counterattack. The English attack, launched at nightfall to maximize the effect of surprise, combined several tactical elements in a remarkable manner: the English archers, positioned on a height dominating the French camp, systematically bombarded the French positions, creating confusion and inflicting significant losses. Meanwhile, the English infantry attacked from the front, while a cavalry charge, bypassing the French camp by a ford, struck the French from the rear. This coordinated attack on several simultaneous fronts completely disorganized the French army, which, surprised and attacked from all sides, fell into panic. The French rout was total: around 1,000 dead or wounded, many knights captured including Louis de Poitiers himself, while English losses were minimal. This victory, obtained against a vastly superior force, demonstrates the absolute tactical superiority of English methods and marks a major psychological turning point in the war.
1356 Late Middle Ages Defeat
Nouaillé-Maupertuis, near Poitiers (France) · Hundred Years' War
On 19 September 1356 at Nouaillé-Maupertuis near Poitiers, John II the Good attempted to intercept the chevauchée of Edward, the Black Prince. Despite clear numerical superiority, the French army attacked a strong Anglo-Gascon defensive position and suffered catastrophic defeat: the king was captured with his son Philip and many great lords.