The Battle of Cravant was fought on 31 July 1423, during the Hundred Years' War between English and French forces at the village of Cravant in Burgundy, at a bridge and ford on the banks of the river Yonne, a left-bank tributary of the Seine, southeast of Auxerre. The battle ended in a victory for the English and their Burgundian allies.
After the Treaty of Troyes in 1420, the English king was permitted to occupy all the country north of the Loire. In 1422, with Henry V suddenly dead and an infant King Henry VI of England assuming the throne, hostilities resumed.[1]
In the early summer of 1423, the French DauphinCharles assembled an army at Bourges intending to invade Burgundian territory. This French army contained a large number of Scots under Sir John Stewart of Darnley, who was commanding the entire mixed force, as well as Spanish and Lombard mercenaries. This army besieged the town of Cravant. The garrison of Cravant requested help from the Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, who raised troops and in turn sought support from Burgundy's English allies, which was forthcoming. The two allied armies, one English, one Burgundian, rendezvoused at Auxerre on 29 July.[2]
Allied preparations
The allied commanders held a council of war in Auxerre Cathedral on the evening of 29 July. This led to the drafting of an order of battle, covering a mixture of tactical and disciplinary matters. The army was clearly intending to fight a dismounted action, with horses taken to the rear, and archers were to prepare anti-cavalry stakes. That night the army was ordered to pray for victory. The march was to begin at 10 o'clock the following morning.[3]
Armies
Allies
The combined English and Burgundian forces were led by Jean de Toulongeon, Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury, with Lord Willoughby as second in command. The Anglo-Burgundian army mustered about 4,000 men (2000 burgundians and 2000 english), including 1500 men-at-arms (500 English and 1000 Burgundian), 1500 English archers, some Burgundian crossbowmen and pioneers and 40 veuglaires (light artillery), manned by the citizens of Auxerre.[4]
French
The French army was commanded by Sir John Stewart of Darnley with Louis, Count of Vendôme, as second in command.[5] There were about 4,000 Scots.[6] A sizeable French force was present with smaller forces of Aragonese and Lombard mercenaries.[7] The Dauphinist army was larger than the Anglo-Burgundian force perhaps by two to three times.[8]
The allied army marched throughout 30 July and that evening, 6 kilometres (4 mi) short of Cravant, sighted the enemy. The following day, having assessed the enemy position as too strong, they crossed the river Yonne and attempted to reach Cravant by another route. Approaching the town from across the river, the allies saw that the French army had changed position and was now waiting for them on the other bank.[9] For three hours the forces watched each other, neither willing to attempt an opposed river crossing. Eventually, the Scots archers began shooting into the allied ranks. The allied artillery replied, supported by their own archers and crossbowmen.[citation needed]
Seeing the Dauphinists were suffering casualties and becoming disordered, Salisbury took the initiative and his army began to cross the waist-high river, some 50 metres wide, under a covering barrage of arrows from the English archers. Meanwhile, another force under Willoughby attacked the Scots across the narrow bridge and divided the Dauphin's army. The French began to withdraw, but the Scots refused to flee and fought on, to be cut down by the hundreds. Perhaps 1,200–3,000 of them fell at the bridgehead or along the riverbanks, and over 2,000 prisoners were taken, including Darnley (who also lost an eye) and the Comte de Vendôme. While the Anglo-Burgundians were fighting, the Burgundian knights in Cravant came out from the fortress following the lord of Chastellux and launched a devastating cavalry charge against the Dauphinist forces which completely broke their lines. Being crushed from two sides the Dauphinist army fled the battlefield.[citation needed]
The Dauphin's forces retreated to the Loire. On 2 August, the English and Burgundian armies withdrew separately from Cravant, the Burgundians marching to Dijon, the English to Montaiguillon.[6][10][11][12]
Aftermath
The success at Cravant was the first for a joint English and Burgundian army. Despite this success, the allies would rarely fight together again, usually operating separately from one another.[13] The Dauphinists would suffer an even greater defeat the following year at the Battle of Verneuil.
Smith, Robert; Kelly DeVries (2005). The Artillery of the Dukes of Burgundy 1363 – 1477. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer. pp. 150–1. ISBN1843831627.
battle, cravant, fought, july, 1423, during, hundred, years, between, english, french, forces, village, cravant, burgundy, bridge, ford, banks, river, yonne, left, bank, tributary, seine, southeast, auxerre, battle, ended, victory, english, their, burgundian, . The Battle of Cravant was fought on 31 July 1423 during the Hundred Years War between English and French forces at the village of Cravant in Burgundy at a bridge and ford on the banks of the river Yonne a left bank tributary of the Seine southeast of Auxerre The battle ended in a victory for the English and their Burgundian allies Battle of CravantPart of the Hundred Years WarDate31 July 1423LocationNear Cravant BurgundyResultAnglo Burgundian victoryBelligerentsKingdom of England Burgundian StateKingdom of France Kingdom of ScotlandCommanders and leadersEarl of Salisbury Robert WilloughbySir John Stewart of Darnley POW Louis Count of Vendome POW Strength4 000 2 000 English 2 000 Burgundians8 000 4 000 French 4 000 ScotsCasualties and lossesUnknown3 200 5 0001 200 3 000 killed2 000 captured Contents 1 Background 2 Allied preparations 3 Armies 3 1 Allies 3 2 French 4 Battle 5 Aftermath 6 References 7 SourcesBackground EditAfter the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 the English king was permitted to occupy all the country north of the Loire In 1422 with Henry V suddenly dead and an infant King Henry VI of England assuming the throne hostilities resumed 1 In the early summer of 1423 the French Dauphin Charles assembled an army at Bourges intending to invade Burgundian territory This French army contained a large number of Scots under Sir John Stewart of Darnley who was commanding the entire mixed force as well as Spanish and Lombard mercenaries This army besieged the town of Cravant The garrison of Cravant requested help from the Dowager Duchess of Burgundy who raised troops and in turn sought support from Burgundy s English allies which was forthcoming The two allied armies one English one Burgundian rendezvoused at Auxerre on 29 July 2 Allied preparations EditThe allied commanders held a council of war in Auxerre Cathedral on the evening of 29 July This led to the drafting of an order of battle covering a mixture of tactical and disciplinary matters The army was clearly intending to fight a dismounted action with horses taken to the rear and archers were to prepare anti cavalry stakes That night the army was ordered to pray for victory The march was to begin at 10 o clock the following morning 3 Armies EditAllies Edit The combined English and Burgundian forces were led by Jean de Toulongeon Thomas Montacute 4th Earl of Salisbury with Lord Willoughby as second in command The Anglo Burgundian army mustered about 4 000 men 2000 burgundians and 2000 english including 1500 men at arms 500 English and 1000 Burgundian 1500 English archers some Burgundian crossbowmen and pioneers and 40 veuglaires light artillery manned by the citizens of Auxerre 4 French Edit The French army was commanded by Sir John Stewart of Darnley with Louis Count of Vendome as second in command 5 There were about 4 000 Scots 6 A sizeable French force was present with smaller forces of Aragonese and Lombard mercenaries 7 The Dauphinist army was larger than the Anglo Burgundian force perhaps by two to three times 8 Battle EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The allied army marched throughout 30 July and that evening 6 kilometres 4 mi short of Cravant sighted the enemy The following day having assessed the enemy position as too strong they crossed the river Yonne and attempted to reach Cravant by another route Approaching the town from across the river the allies saw that the French army had changed position and was now waiting for them on the other bank 9 For three hours the forces watched each other neither willing to attempt an opposed river crossing Eventually the Scots archers began shooting into the allied ranks The allied artillery replied supported by their own archers and crossbowmen citation needed Seeing the Dauphinists were suffering casualties and becoming disordered Salisbury took the initiative and his army began to cross the waist high river some 50 metres wide under a covering barrage of arrows from the English archers Meanwhile another force under Willoughby attacked the Scots across the narrow bridge and divided the Dauphin s army The French began to withdraw but the Scots refused to flee and fought on to be cut down by the hundreds Perhaps 1 200 3 000 of them fell at the bridgehead or along the riverbanks and over 2 000 prisoners were taken including Darnley who also lost an eye and the Comte de Vendome While the Anglo Burgundians were fighting the Burgundian knights in Cravant came out from the fortress following the lord of Chastellux and launched a devastating cavalry charge against the Dauphinist forces which completely broke their lines Being crushed from two sides the Dauphinist army fled the battlefield citation needed The Dauphin s forces retreated to the Loire On 2 August the English and Burgundian armies withdrew separately from Cravant the Burgundians marching to Dijon the English to Montaiguillon 6 10 11 12 Aftermath EditThe success at Cravant was the first for a joint English and Burgundian army Despite this success the allies would rarely fight together again usually operating separately from one another 13 The Dauphinists would suffer an even greater defeat the following year at the Battle of Verneuil References Edit Burne 1991 p 184 Burne 1991 pp 184 6 Smith and DeVries 2005 pp 91 2 Smith and DeVries 2005 p 92 Grummitt 2015 p 68 a b Myers 1996 p 231 Burne 1991 p 184 Burne 1991 p 185 Burne 1991 p188 Smith amp DeVries 2005 p 92 Burne 1991 pp 189 192 Wagner 2006 p 105 Smith amp DeVries 2005 p 93Sources EditBurne A H 1991 1956 The Agincourt War London Greenhill Books p 81 ISBN 1853670871 Grummitt David 2015 Henry VI Routledge Myers A R ed 1996 English Historical Documents Volume 4 1327 1485 London Routledge ISBN 978 0415143691 Smith Robert Kelly DeVries 2005 The Artillery of the Dukes of Burgundy 1363 1477 Woodbridge Suffolk Boydell amp Brewer pp 150 1 ISBN 1843831627 Wagner John A 2006 Encyclopedia of the Hundred Years War Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0313327360 Coordinates 47 41 02 N 3 41 30 E 47 6839 N 3 6917 E 47 6839 3 6917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Cravant amp oldid 1118019669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
