01 Battle of Crécy-en-Ponthieu: 26 August 1346
Département: Somme
Region: Picardy
Country: France

A French Battlefields “Virtual Battlefield Tour”.

Summary: King Edward III of England landed an army of 15,000 men at St-Vaast-la-Hougue on the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy. His objective was to claim the crown of France as his own. Edward was prevented from attacking Paris by maneuver of the much larger army of the French king, Philip VI. Now trapped and without ability for resupply, Edward attempted to join forces with his Flemish allies to the north. Philip's vanguard, led by Jean de Luxembourg fought to deny Edward bridges over the Somme River, essentially assuring his destruction. At Crécy, Edward positioned his dismounted men-at-arms and his archers so as to take maximum advantage of the longbow's superior firepower. The French army, the largest in Europe, fielded thousands of mounted, armored knights. Although greatly outnumbered, Edward's army, led on the field by his son the Prince of Wales (The Black Prince), produced a stunning victory over the French aristocracy.

02 Battle of Agincourt: 25 October 1415
Département: Pas-de-Calais
Region: Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Country: France

A French Battlefields “Virtual Battlefield Tour”.

Summary: Henry V became King of England in 1413. A professional soldier, he almost immediately began preparations to invade France, then embroiled in a nasty civil war between Armagnac and Orleanist factions. Henry landed his forces near the port of Harfleur and began a five-week siege. Henry's army, weaken by the siege, illness, and shortages of supplies, made to escape to the English stronghold at Calais. After days of maneuvering as the English attempted to cross the Somme River, the larger French army, led by the Constable of France, Charles d'Albret, blocked the road to Calais at the town of Agincourt (Azincourt). Outnumbered in men-at-arms by over 10 to 1, Henry established positions on open ground flanked by his archers. Again, as at Crecy, the superior firepower of the longbow and poor tactics by the French resulted in a stunning English victory.

View 02 Battle of Agincourt in a larger map

03 Siege of Orléans: 12 October 1428 to 8 May 1429
Département: Loiret
Region: Centre
Country: France

A French Battlefields “Virtual Battlefield Tour”.

Summary: Orléans controlled one of the few bridges crossing the dangerous Loire River, a major commercial waterway. Capture of the city offered the English control of the entire Loire valley. The walled city was placed under siege by the Earl of Salisbury's forces and, as winter changed into spring, the inhabitants were increasingly weakened by shortages of food and desertions. Jeanne d'Arc, then only a 17-year old peasant girl, convinced the French Dauphin to grant her an army to lift the siege. Personally leading successive attacks, she entered the city, stormed various English strongpoints, and finally overcame Les Tourelles. The siege was lifted.

03a Battle of Patay: 18 June 1429
Département: Loiret
Region: Centre
Country: France

A French Battlefields “Virtual Battlefield Tour” [This battlefield is not included in Fields of War.]

After the liberation of Orléans, Jeanne d'Arc turned her attention to other English-held towns in the Loire Valley. While far-less-known than the famous royal châteaux, these villages offer opportunities to view medieval castles and churches of a simpler style. Wandering their narrow streets can sometimes present quaint sights of life in rural France.

Summary: The siege of Orléans had been lifted, but the English Army, led by John Talbot, the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, still controlled bridges across the Loire River at Jargeau, Meung-s/Loire, and Beaugency. It addition, Sir John Fastolf was leading an English relief column from Paris. After a short rest and with reinforcements in the form of Duke Jean II of Alencon's troops, Jeanne set about retaking Jargeau (12 June), the Meung-s/Loire bridge (15 June) and Beaugency (16 June). The combined French forces pursued the retreating English Army and won a decisive open-field battle near Patay (18 June). The victory turned the tide of the war.

03b Capture of Jeanne d’Arc at Compiégne: 18 June 1430
Département: Oise
Region: Picardy
Country: France

A French Battlefields “Virtual Battlefield Tour” [This battlefield is not included in Fields of War.]

After the elimination of the English threat to the Loire valley, Jeanne pressured the Dauphin to seek his rightful throne as king of France. Two months later, amidst great pageantry, she stood beside the new king at his coronation as Charles VII in Reims Cathedral, the traditional location for crowning kings of France.

Summary: In March 1430, Jeanne left the court to help with the defense of Compiégne against attack by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, an English ally. On 23 May she led a sortie against the besiegers. Jeanne became trapped and taken prisoner by the men of Count Jean II of Luxembourg when the gates closed during her force’s retreat.
Charles made no attempt to rescue his heroine, mainly due to court intrigue against her by those jealous of her increasing influence. In November, she was sold by Jean to the English, as was the custom of the time for important captives.
Compiegne, one of the earliest royal cities in France, retains numerous large buildings that date from the 15th century or earlier. The city provides an opportunity to view original structures dating from this period.
We will return to the Bois Compiégne for the armistice ending the First World War.

View Capture of Jeanne d'Arc at Compiègne: 18 June 1430 - A Virtual Battlefield Tour by French Battlefields (www.frenchbattlefields.com) in a larger map