Siege of Montargis

The siege of Montargis (15 July – 5 September 1427) took place during the Hundred Years War. A French relief army under Jean de Dunois routed an English force led by the Earl of Warwick.

Siege of Montargis
Part of the Hundred Years' War

The Siege of Montargis, illustration of the manuscript of Martial d'Auvergne, Les Vigiles de Charles VII, Paris, BnF, circa 1484.
Date15 July – 5 September 1427 (1427-07-15 – 1427-09-05) (1 month and 3 weeks)
Location
Montargis, Centre-Val de Loire, France
47.9978°N 2.7333°E / 47.9978; 2.7333
Result French victory
Belligerents
France England
Commanders and leaders
Jean de Dunois
La Hire		 Earl of Warwick
Strength
Garrison[1]
Relief army: 1,600[1]		 3,000 men[1]
Artillery
Casualties and losses
1,000 men[1]
Artillery and baggage

Prelude

In June 1427, John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford ordered Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick to capture the French stronghold of Montargis, situated on high ground between the Loing and Vernisson rivers, crisscrossed by canals and held by a sizeable and well-supplied garrison.[1] Warwick led a force 3,000 men supported by artillery and laid siege to the place on 15 July 1427.[1]

Siege

Despite a constant artillery bombardment, the English made little progress by early September.[1] Dauphin Charles sent a relief force of 1,600 men under the command of Jean de Dunois and La Hire.[1] Dunois informed the garrison of his arrival and laid out a battle plan.[1] Dunois' force appeared south of town, and as the English tried to attack them across a wooden bridge, Montargis' defenders opened the town's sluice gates, sweeping away the bridge and cutting the English army in two.[1] The garrison and Dunois attacked the English from both sides and Warwick's army lost one third of its troops and all of its artillery and baggage as it fled.[1][2]

Aftermath

The victory was a major boost for French morale and advanced the military fame of Dunois.[1]

Citations
  1. Wagner 2006, p. 219.
  2. Barker 2010, p. 89.

References
  • Barker, Juliet R. V. (2010). Conquest : the English kingdom of France in the Hundred Years War. London: Abacus. ISBN 978-0-349-12202-1.
  • Wagner, John A. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Hundred Years War. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0313327360.
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