Battle of St Pol de Léon facts for kids

The Battle of Saint-Pol-de-Léon was a small but important fight. It happened in June 1346 in a place called Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Brittany. This battle was part of a bigger conflict known as the Breton War of Succession. This war was also a small part of the much larger Hundred Years' War between England and France.

The battle was a victory for the English and their allies, the Montfortists. It helped them gain confidence after some tough times. Their leader, John of Montfort, had been captured and later died.

What Was the Battle of Saint-Pol-de-Léon?

In 1346, Brittany was a region in France. It was caught in a war over who should rule it. This was the Breton War of Succession. Two families, the Montforts and the Blois, were fighting for control. England supported the Montforts, and France supported the Blois family. This made the local conflict part of the bigger Hundred Years' War between England and France.

The leader of the English and Montfort forces was Sir Thomas Dagworth. He was a skilled soldier who had worked for King Edward III of England for many years. King Edward trusted Dagworth to manage the war in Brittany. At this time, Dagworth's forces were spread thin. They held only a few towns and castles along the coast.

His main enemy was Charles of Blois. Charles had a much larger army. It included soldiers from eastern Brittany, French troops, and German fighters. Some of Charles's allies were even thinking about switching sides.

A Surprise Attack

To boost his army's spirits, Dagworth decided to visit his strongholds. He traveled along the northern coast of Brittany. This trip also made sure his escape route to England was safe. On June 9, Dag1346, Dagworth was near Morlaix. This was where he had won an earlier battle.

Suddenly, Charles of Blois and his fastest soldiers ambushed Dagworth. This happened near the quiet village of Saint-Pol-de-Léon. Dagworth had only about 180 men with him. But he was quick to react. He led his men in a fast retreat to a nearby hill. There, they quickly dug trenches and got ready to defend themselves.

The Fight on the Hill

Charles of Blois was a clever general. He had seen how effective the English longbows were in earlier battles. He knew that sending his horsemen up the hill would be a disaster. The only way to defeat Dagworth was with a direct attack by his foot soldiers.

So, Charles ordered all his soldiers to get off their horses. He even got off his own horse. He then commanded his much larger army to attack the English position. They attacked in three different groups.

But Dagworth's men fought bravely. The English archers fired their arrows with great accuracy. They caused many casualties among the attackers. There was also fierce hand-to-hand fighting. All of Charles's attacks that afternoon were pushed back.

The final attack came as it was getting dark. Charles himself led this last charge. But even this failed to break the English lines. The French and Breton forces had to give up. They left many dead, wounded, and captured soldiers on the hillside. Then, they returned to eastern Brittany.

What Happened Next?

The English and Montfort forces suffered very few losses. No knights or important soldiers were killed. Only a few archers and regular soldiers were injured. The French and Blois forces, however, suffered heavily. Many of their soldiers were killed or wounded.

The real impact of this battle was on people's minds. Charles of Blois was known as a strong and smart commander. Yet, he had been defeated again by an English leader. And this English leader, Dagworth, was not even from a noble family. Charles of Blois actually lost every one of the five major battles he fought against the English between 1342 and 1364. He was better at sieges and longer campaigns.

This defeat made the Breton nobles think twice. They had to decide which side to support in the ongoing war. Dagworth and Blois would meet again in battle. They fought at La Roche-Derrien the very next year. The result was the same: another English victory.