Battle of Brest (1342) facts for kids

The Battle of Brest was a naval fight in 1342. It happened near the city of Brest in Brittany. This battle was part of the Breton War of Succession. This war was a smaller conflict within the much larger Hundred Years War between England and France.

In this battle, an English fleet of merchant ships fought against a group of mercenary ships from Genoa. These Genoese ships were fighting for the French side, led by Charles of Blois. The English were supporting John of Montfort.

Why the Battle Happened: The Fight for Brittany

Brittany is a region in France. In 1342, two families were fighting to rule it. Charles of Blois claimed the title of Duke of Brittany through his wife. His rival was John of Montfort.

Charles of Blois had a strong army of French and Breton soldiers. They were very successful in July 1342. They quickly took control of many towns that supported John of Montfort. John of Montfort had been captured, which made things harder for his supporters.

John of Montfort's side was supported by King Edward III of England. Edward had promised to send soldiers and supplies. But these help did not arrive on time. Because of this, many towns that supported Montfort gave up without a fight.

By the end of July, important towns like Auray, Vannes, and Hennebont had fallen. Only the port fortress of Brest remained under Montfort's control. The English general Walter Manny led the soldiers defending Brest.

English Help is Delayed

There were many reasons why the English army was late. It was hard to gather enough archers and foot soldiers. Also, there were problems paying the soldiers. A big issue was finding enough ships to carry the army across the sea.

A small English force had arrived earlier in July. They saw how bad things were for Montfort's side. They decided to stay and help, but they were too few to stop Charles's army.

Brest was under siege by land and sea from mid-July. A fleet of fourteen large Genoese galleys blocked the port by sea. These galleys were powerful warships. They had fought against England before, even in the big battle of Sluys.

The Battle of Brest

The ships for the main English army finally gathered in Portsmouth, England, in early August. The Earl of Northampton set sail with 1,350 soldiers. They were on 260 smaller coastal ships. These ships were not warships; they were mostly transport vessels.

Just three days later, Northampton's fleet arrived off Brest. They saw the Genoese ships blocking the port. Northampton was a smart commander. He knew his slow transport ships could not land if the fast Genoese galleys were there. He also knew the Genoese could easily attack his fleet one by one. So, he decided to attack immediately.

The English fleet moved towards the Genoese ships. The Genoese were anchored in a line in the entrance to the Penfeld River. Many of their sailors were on leave ashore. Their commander, Grimaldi, did not order them to move to open water. In open water, their large galleys could have fought better.

Instead, the Genoese ships panicked. Three of the fourteen galleys quickly fled. They escaped into the open sea. The remaining eleven Genoese ships were surrounded by the many smaller English vessels. The English ships tried to board the larger Genoese galleys.

The Genoese crews fought but then abandoned their ships. As they left, they set their own ships on fire. This action destroyed eleven Genoese galleys. This battle ended the French navy's control of the waters around Brittany.

What Happened Next

The English victory at Brest and the arrival of reinforcements greatly boosted the Montfort side's spirits. Charles of Blois believed the English ships carried a huge army. He broke off the siege of Brest and moved his forces north.

Many of his mercenary soldiers from Spain and Genoa left. They took their ships and sailed back home. This made Charles's army much weaker.

A few days later, another English leader, Robert III of Artois, arrived with 800 more men. Also, King Philip VI of France ordered many French troops to leave Brittany. He sent them to Calais, where he expected another English invasion.

A month after the Battle of Brest, the Earl of Northampton defeated Charles of Blois again. This happened at the battle of Morlaix. Northampton used his stronger firepower and the improved morale of his troops. The Montfort side was saved from defeat. They were able to continue their fight to regain the ducal throne, which lasted for twenty more years.