The Battle of Beaugency took place on 16 and 17 June 1429. It was one of Joan of Arc'sbattles. Shortly after relieving the siege at Orléans, French forces recaptured the neighboring district along the Loire river.
Beaugency was a small town on the northern bank of the Loire river in central France. It controlled a bridge of strategic significance during the latter part of the war. Conquered by the English a few years earlier as a staging point for a planned invasion of southern France, the French attack recaptured the bridge and the town, providing a vital supply conduit for the summer offensive in the north and the coronation of King Charles VII of France.
The French Loire campaign of 1429 consisted of five actions:
Virtually all of France north of the Loire had fallen to foreign occupation by the end of 1428. The bridge at Orléans had been destroyed shortly before the siege lifted. The French had lost control of all other river crossings. Three swift and numerically small battles at Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire, and Beaugency demonstrated renewed French confidence and laid the groundwork for subsequent French offenses on Rheims and Paris. The Loire campaign killed, captured, or disgraced a majority of the top tier of English commanders and decimated the numbers of the highly skilled English longbowmen.
French recruitment swelled following the victory at Orléans. During the assault on Beaugency one volunteer caused a particular stir among the French command. Constable Arthur de Richemont, who had been in disgrace at court for two years, appeared with a force of 1000 men and offered his services. At the risk of royal disfavor Joan of Arc accepted this aid.
Tactics
The Loire campaign restored French control of strategic bridges. The one at Beaugency remains operational nearly six centuries after the battle.
Unlike Meung-sur-Loire, the main stronghold at Beaugency was inside the city walls. It survives to the modern age and forms an imposing rectangular citadel. During the first day of fighting the English abandoned the town and retreated into the castle. The French bombarded the castle with artillery fire. That evening de Richemont and his force arrived.
Hearing news of an English relief force approaching from Paris under Sir John Fastolf, d'Alençon negotiated the English surrender and granted them safe conduct out of Beaugency. The Battle of Patay followed on open territory on 18 June.
battle, beaugency, 1429, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, september, 2014, le. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Battle of Beaugency took place on 16 and 17 June 1429 It was one of Joan of Arc s battles Shortly after relieving the siege at Orleans French forces recaptured the neighboring district along the Loire river Battle of BeaugencyPart of the Hundred Years WarAn aerial view of Beaugency as it stands today English defenders retreated into the tower on the right Date16 17 June 1429LocationBeaugency FranceResultFrench victoryBelligerentsKingdom of FranceKingdom of EnglandCommanders and leadersJoan of ArcJohn II of AlenconJohn Talbot Contents 1 Background 2 Tactics 3 Bibliography 4 See also 5 External linksBackground EditBeaugency was a small town on the northern bank of the Loire river in central France It controlled a bridge of strategic significance during the latter part of the war Conquered by the English a few years earlier as a staging point for a planned invasion of southern France the French attack recaptured the bridge and the town providing a vital supply conduit for the summer offensive in the north and the coronation of King Charles VII of France The French Loire campaign of 1429 consisted of five actions 1 The Siege of Orleans 2 The Battle of Jargeau 3 The Battle of Meung sur Loire 4 The Battle of Beaugency 5 The Battle of Patay Virtually all of France north of the Loire had fallen to foreign occupation by the end of 1428 The bridge at Orleans had been destroyed shortly before the siege lifted The French had lost control of all other river crossings Three swift and numerically small battles at Jargeau Meung sur Loire and Beaugency demonstrated renewed French confidence and laid the groundwork for subsequent French offenses on Rheims and Paris The Loire campaign killed captured or disgraced a majority of the top tier of English commanders and decimated the numbers of the highly skilled English longbowmen French recruitment swelled following the victory at Orleans During the assault on Beaugency one volunteer caused a particular stir among the French command Constable Arthur de Richemont who had been in disgrace at court for two years appeared with a force of 1000 men and offered his services At the risk of royal disfavor Joan of Arc accepted this aid Tactics Edit The Loire campaign restored French control of strategic bridges The one at Beaugency remains operational nearly six centuries after the battle Joan of Arc and Duke John II of Alencon controlled a force that included the captains Jean d Orleans Gilles de Rais Jean Poton de Xaintrailles and La Hire John Talbot 1st Earl of Shrewsbury led the English defence Breaking with the then prevalent form of siege warfare the French army followed the capture of the bridge at Meung sur Loire on the 15 June not with an attack on that town or its castle but with an assault on neighbouring Beaugency the next day Unlike Meung sur Loire the main stronghold at Beaugency was inside the city walls It survives to the modern age and forms an imposing rectangular citadel During the first day of fighting the English abandoned the town and retreated into the castle The French bombarded the castle with artillery fire That evening de Richemont and his force arrived Hearing news of an English relief force approaching from Paris under Sir John Fastolf d Alencon negotiated the English surrender and granted them safe conduct out of Beaugency The Battle of Patay followed on open territory on 18 June Bibliography EditDevries Kelly Joan of Arc A Military Leader Glaucestershire Sutton Publishing 1999 ISBN 0 7509 1805 5 Richey Stephen W Joan of Arc The Warrior Saint Westport CT Praeger 2003 ISBN 0 275 98103 7See also EditBeaugency Medieval warfareExternal links EditSiege of Orleans and the Loire campaign a detailed description with strategic and tactical maps dynamic maps of Joan of Arc s campaigns from Southern Methodist University Jeanne d Arc Her Life and Death by Mrs Margaret Oliphant Joan of Arc And The Loire Valley Campaign history page A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times by Francois Pierre Guillaume Guizot vol 3Coordinates 46 47 45 N 1 38 57 E 46 7958 N 1 6492 E 46 7958 1 6492 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Beaugency 1429 amp oldid 1071293581, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
