Overview:
Beauge was one of the first defeats for the English during the Hundred Years War. French and Scottish forces combine to raid the English possessions in Normandy. Thomas, the duke of Clarence, (Henry V's brother) attempted to intercept the allied forces. During the interception Thomas' cavalry outdistanced his infantry and the French and Scottish forces decimated the English and Thomas was killed.
In 21st March 1421, the English army of perhaps 3,000 men was resting near the little town of Baugé, East of Angers, where on Easter Saturday they were engaged by a larger Franco-Scots army commanded by the Earl of Buchan and the new Constable of France, the Sieur de Lafayette. When the Franco-Scots army arrived at Vieil- Baugé, the English forces were dispersed, many archers having ridden off in search of plunder or forage.
One of these parties captured a Scots knight and brought him before the Duke of Clarence, who was then at dinner and blissfully unaware of the presence of the larger Franco-Scots army. The Duke was now confronted with a problem. Next day was Easter Sunday, that most holy of days, when the battle was unthinkable, but a two-day delay was equally out of the question.
Wiping his mouth, the Duke came to a decision, he would attack now, this evening and do what must be done. It was about one hour before sunset, but the Duke decided to attack the enemy without even waiting for his archers to return. One experienced knight, Sir Gilbert Umfraville, who had landed at Harfleur in 1415 and fought at Agincourt, remonstrated with him, and was bluntly told to mind his own business or stay behind if he feared to fight.
Clarence only had 1,500 men at best, against the enemy's 5,000 men, yet he sent this force marching at once for Vieil- Baugé, where it clashed with the vanguard of Scots making to resize the bridge over the river. The two armies collided in some disorder and a hand-to-hand fight broke out between the parapets of the bridge, while the Earl of Buchan deployed the rest of his force in the village and on a ridge behind.
Attempting to outflank the enemy, the Duke dismounted and floundered in full armour across the river, leading his destrier by the reins and followed by his household knights. They charged into the Scottish flank and drove the enemy back into the village, where more confused hand-to-hand fighting took place up and down the single street.
Up to this point Clarence had succeeded very well and his main body had now arrived to join him, but he had only defeated the vanguard of the allied host and the rest of the enemy under the Earl of Buchan, mostly Scots and nearly 4,000 strong, appeared on the ridge behind the village, already deployed for battle. As ever undeterred by the odds, Clarence led his slender forces out of the village and, repeating the tactics of Valmont, they charged uphill against the enemy line.
The Scots charged down to meet them and in the ensuing mélée the Duke of Clarence was unhorsed and killed. The English were hurled back down the slope to the muddy riverbank and slaughtered. Sir Gilbert Umfraville and the Lord Roos were killed, the Earls of Somerset and Huntingdon were captured. The battle lasted little more than an hour and by nightfall the Franco-Scots had stripped the dead, secured their prisoners and marched away.
Later the night, the Earl of Salisbury arrived, brining up the rest of Clarence's army, including 1,000 archers returned from foraging, and spent a doleful day interring the dead and removing the bodies of Clarence and the other knights for burial in England. Salisbury then conducted a skilful retreat to Normandy without further loss.
The Aftermath
The battle itself was of little military consequence other than it encouraged the French to believe that the English could indeed be beaten. The French Dauphin was however pleased that his policy of hiring Scottish mercenaries to bolster his forces had been vindicated. The Scots were naturally overjoyed at defeating their old enemy, and were particularly proud of their role in the death of the Duke of Clarence.
Indeed there was scarcely a Scottish noble family that did not claim some part in the death of Thomas. The French handed credit for the victory to the Earl of Buchan who was rewarded by being made Constable of France. From the English perspective the reasons for the defeat were well understood, as one contemporary account explained; "by cause theye wolde nott take with hem archers, but thought to have doo with the frenshmen them selff wythoute hem. And yet when he was slayne the archers come and rescued the body of the Duke". Most current commentators would concur with this view.
The defeat at Baugé and the death of his brother placed Henry V in a foul mood. When he landed in France in June of that year, he was particularly brutal in his treatment of the enemy and hanged the entire garrison of Rougemont when that fortress surrendered. It may well have been his desire for revenge that inspired his determination to take the town of Meaux. It was during the eight month siege of the town that Henry contracted the dysentery that eventually killed him on the 31st August 1422. |
Date: 21 Mar 1421
Location: France, Baugé, East of Angers
Outcome: French victory
Principal Combatants.
English Leadership: Thomas, duke of Clarence
English Strength: -3,000 men. 1,500 men at best
English Casualties: ?
French-Scots Leadership: John Stewart, earl of Buchan
French-Scots Strength: 5,000
French-Scots Casualties: ?
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Overview
