War of the British Succession

In 1341, the Battle of Lunalonge constituted a minor but tactically significant engagement in the context of the War of the Succession of Brittany, a conflict which would serve as a pretext and secondary theater of operations for the Hundred Years' War. This skirmish pitted a French troop of around 400 horsemen, commanded by Louis of Spain (nobleman in the service of the King of France), against an English detachment of around 300 men, mainly archers and men-at-arms, commanded by Thomas Dagworth and serving John of Montfort, claimant to the Duchy of Brittany supported by England. The battle took place in Poitou, a strategic region controlling communications between English Aquitaine and Brittany. The French, having spotted the movement of the English column, organized a carefully prepared ambush in favorable terrain. The surprise attack, carried out from several directions simultaneously, completely surrounded the English detachment. The English archers, surprised and unable to take their usual defensive positions, were unable to deploy their formidable firepower. The combat quickly degenerated into hand-to-hand melee where the numerical superiority and mobility of the French cavalry prevailed. A large part of the English force was captured or put out of action, representing a significant loss for a detachment of this size. This small French victory illustrates the importance of mobility and surprise in medieval tactical engagements.

On October 18, 1342, the Battle of Champtoceaux constituted a major and momentarily decisive victory for Charles of Blois in the War of the Brittany Succession. This battle saw the capture of his rival John of Montfort, an event which seemed likely to end the conflict in favor of the French camp. Champtoceaux, a strategic fortress located on the banks of the Loire, was besieged and stormed by the troops of Charles of Blois, reinforced by French contingents. The forces of Charles of Blois, estimated at around 5,000 men (a mixture of French troops, Breton Lièges, and allies), quickly surrounded the place held by John of Montfort with only 3,000 Montfortist soldiers. The encirclement was followed by a coordinated assault that quickly broke the weakened defenses of the fortress. Losses on the French side were low, while the Montfortists suffered significant losses and saw their leader John of Montfort captured and taken captive to Paris. This capture represented an apparent triumph for Charles of Blois and Philip VI, appearing to end John of Montfort's claim to the Duchy of Brittany. However, the resilience of the Montfortist camp, led by Jeanne de Flanders (wife of John of Montfort, nicknamed 'Jeanne la Flamme' for her indomitable character), with the continued support of the English, transformed this victory into a temporary success rather than a definitive end to the conflict.

On September 20, 1342, the Battle of Morlaix represented a significant tactical defeat for Charles of Blois and early illustrated the English tactical superiority that would characterize the Hundred Years' War. This battle pitted around 4,000 men of Charles of Blois' French and Breton troops against a significantly numerically inferior (around 1,500 men) but tactically superior English force, commanded by Walter Manny (an experienced English knight) and William Bohun, Earl of Northampton (one of the best English commanders). The English, who had landed in Brittany to support the cause of John of Montfort (then captive but whose cause was defended by his wife Jeanne la Flamme), strategically entrenched themselves in a wood near Morlaix. This advantageous defensive position forces the French to attack in difficult and disadvantaged terrain. The English archers, positioned in the forest cover and on elevations, systematically decimated the French troops who were advancing in the open. The French cavalry's attempted charges were broken by volleys of arrows before even reaching the English positions. An English cavalry counterattack, carried out at the opportune moment when the French were disorganized and weakened, completed the French defeat. French losses were significant, while the English suffered only moderate losses (although both English commanders were wounded). This battle foreshadows the great French defeats to come, notably Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), by demonstrating the formidable effectiveness of the combination of long-range archers and defensive position.

In December 1342, the Battle of Vannes represented a bloody and indecisive episode of the War of the Succession of Brittany, ending with diplomatic mediation imposed by the European powers alarmed by the intensity of the conflict. The fighting pitted the French and Breton troops of Charles of Blois (around 4,000 men) against the English and Montfortist forces (around 3,000 men) commanded by Robert of Artois and Walter Manny. Vannes, an important strategic city in the Duchy of Brittany, was besieged by the English who were trying to seize it to strengthen their positions. Charles of Blois launches a counter-offensive to lift the siege and retake the city. The fighting was exceptionally intense, characterized by repeated frontal assaults by the French against the English entrenched positions. The English resisted with determination, using their archers and infantry to repel the attacks. The engagement degenerated into a prolonged and confused melee, with heavy losses on both sides. A crucial event occurs during the fighting: Robert of Artois, experienced leader of the English forces and a former banished French nobleman, is mortally wounded. His death represents a significant loss for the English camp. The fighting continued until papal mediation, supported by the kings of France and England themselves, imposed a ceasefire and a diplomatic truce. This external intervention reflects the concern of the European powers about the escalation of the conflict and their desire to avoid a generalization of the war.

The battle pits partisans of Charles de Blois, supported by France, against those of John de Montfort, backed by England. Despite a solid engagement by Du Guesclin, French forces are defeated. Charles de Blois is killed, Du Guesclin taken prisoner.