Battle of Gerberoy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Gerberoy
Part of the Hundred Years' War
The battle depicted in Vigiles de Charles VII, c. 1484
Date 9 May 1435 Location Gerberoy, Hauts-de-France, France 49°32′06″N 1°51′02″E / 49.535°N 1.8506°E / 49.535; 1.8506 Result French victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
La Hire Jean de Xaintrailles	John FitzAlan (DOW)
Strength
600–1,800	3,000
Casualties and losses
20 - 30	1,000

The Battle of Gerberoy was a fight between French and English armies in 1435. It happened during the Hundred Years' War, a long conflict between England and France. The French forces, led by brave commanders La Hire and Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, won the battle. The English suffered many losses, including their commander, John FitzAlan, 14th Earl of Arundel. This victory was important for the French.

Why the Battle Happened

The Hundred Years' War Continues

In 1435, the Hundred Years' War was still going on. After a few quiet years, fighting started to get intense again. English armies controlled much of northern France. This included important cities like Paris and Normandy. However, it was becoming harder for England to rule these areas. Even though Joan of Arc had been captured and executed, the French spirit of resistance was strong.

Gerberoy's Strategic Location

The French king, Charles VII, was gaining back control of lands north of Paris. These included cities like Compiègne and Beauvais. The town of Gerberoy was in a key spot. It was a good place to threaten English-held Normandy. It also helped protect nearby Beauvais from English attacks.

French Plans for Gerberoy

The French wanted to take Gerberoy in 1432. But they didn't have enough money or soldiers then. In spring 1435, they tried again. They set aside money to prepare for this. A group of 600 to 1,800 French soldiers arrived secretly. They were led by Jean Poton de Xaintrailles and La Hire. Both were famous commanders who had fought with Joan of Arc. They worked to fix up Gerberoy's old defenses.

English Army on the Move

At the same time, an English army was nearby. It was led by John FitzAlan, 14th Earl of Arundel. His army was in Gournay-sur-Epte, about 12 kilometers from Gerberoy. Arundel planned to recapture the city of Rue, which the French had recently taken. His troops carried equipment for a siege. Arundel reached Gournay in early May 1435. He then marched towards Gerberoy, thinking it was weakly defended. His army had about 3,000 men. This was much larger than the French force.

The Battle of Gerberoy

English Vanguard Arrives

On May 9, the Earl of Arundel appeared before Gerberoy. He was with a small group of knights, called a vanguard. They looked at the valley briefly. Then they pulled back to wait for the main English army.

French Surprise Attack

The French watched from their high position in Gerberoy. They quickly realized it was just a small advance group. The main English army was still on the road from Gournay. The French had not yet fully repaired their defenses. So, they decided to attack the English first. They wanted to surprise the English before they were ready.

A group of French cavalry, led by La Hire, left the town. They rode around the English vanguard. Their goal was to surprise the main English force. The French cavalry reached a place called Les Epinettes without being seen. This was near Gournay. They then attacked the main English army. Meanwhile, the rest of the French soldiers, including foot soldiers and archers, stayed hidden. They were led by Xaintrailles.

Fierce Fighting and Arundel's Injury

La Hire and his horsemen attacked the English on the road from Gournay. Heavy fighting began between the two sides. Many English soldiers and French cavalry were killed. During the battle, the Earl of Arundel was badly hurt. A shot from a culvern, an old type of gun, hit his foot.

When French reinforcements arrived, the remaining English soldiers knew they were in trouble. They retreated towards Gerberoy. The French cavalry kept attacking the English as they pulled back. They caused many losses for the English. However, they couldn't completely break up the English army's formation. Eventually, the French cavalry stopped their attack after suffering some casualties themselves.

English Losses and Arundel's Fate

During the retreat, the French killed many English soldiers. The badly wounded Earl of Arundel was captured. He refused to let doctors cut off his injured foot. This led to an infection, and he later died. The English army suffered heavy losses, possibly hundreds of soldiers. The French army, on the other hand, lost only about twenty to thirty soldiers.

After the Battle

Gerberoy's Changing Hands

Even though the French won, they couldn't fully use their success. The English besieged Gerberoy again after the French victory. They recaptured the city in 1437. However, the French took Gerberoy back in 1449. By 1451, all of Normandy was back under French control. At that point, Gerberoy was no longer an important border town.

A Notable French Victory

The victory on May 9, 1435, was not one of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years' War. But it was still a remarkable win for the French. It showed how much the French military had improved. This improvement was especially clear after the inspiring victories of Joan of Arc.