The battle of St Pol de Léon was a minor action during the Breton War of Succession and thus part of the larger Hundred Years War conflict. The battle was fought in June 1346 and marked a minor turning point in the fortunes of the Montfortists and their English allies in Brittany following several setbacks including the imprisonment and subsequent death of their leader, John de Montfort. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Combatants France Castile Scotland Genoa Majorca Bohemia Crown of Aragon Brittany England Burgundy Brittany Portugal Navarre Flanders Hainaut Aquitaine Luxembourg Holy Roman Empire The Hundred Years War was a conflict between France and England, lasting 116 years from 1337 to 1453. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... // Events Serbian Empire was proclaimed in Skopje by Dusan Silni, occupying much of the South-Eastern Europe Foundation of the University of Valladolid Foundation of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge August 26 Battle of Crecy after which Edward the Black Prince honored the bravery of John I, Count of Luxemburg... Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a commune of the Finistère département, in France. ... Historical province of Brittany, showing the main areas with their name in Breton language The traditional flag of Brittany (the Gwenn-ha-du), formerly a Breton nationalist symbol but today used as a general civic flag in the region. ... Image File history File links BlasonBRETAGNE.jpg‎ Blason Bretagne Source MG Blasons de France File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Brittany Hundred Years War Battle of St Pol de Leon Battle of Champtoceaux ... Image File history File links Arms_of_Edward_III_of_England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2006 estimate... Image File history File links BlasonBRETAGNE.jpg‎ Blason Bretagne Source MG Blasons de France File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Brittany Hundred Years War Battle of St Pol de Leon Battle of Champtoceaux ... Image File history File links Blason_France_moderne. ... Charles of Blois (died September 29, 1364), was duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Combatants House of Blois France House of Montfort Commanders Charles of Blois John de Montfort Strength 7,000+ Unknown, small Casualties Unknown Unknown, heavy The battle of Champtoceaux, often called the battle of lHumeau, was the opening action of the twenty-three year long Breton War of Succession, a... Combatants England Genoa Commanders William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton Carlo Grimaldi Strength 260 small coastal vessels 14 large galleys Casualties Unknown, light Eleven ships lost The battle of Brest, sometimes called the battle of the River Penfeld was an action in 1342 between an English squadron of converted... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... The Battle of La Roche-Derrien was one of the battles of the Hundred Years War, fought in 1347 during the night between English and French forces. ... The Combat of the Thirty was a famous battle fought on March 27, 1351, during the Breton civil war (part of the Hundred Years War) between Jean de Montfort (supported by the English) and Charles de Blois (supported by the French). ... The Battle of Mauron was fought in 1352 between an Anglo-Breton force and France. ... Combatants Bretons-England Bretons-France Commanders John de Montfort Charles of Blois Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties Unknown Unknown The Battle of Auray took place on September 29, 1364 at the French town of Auray. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is in need of attention. ... // Events Serbian Empire was proclaimed in Skopje by Dusan Silni, occupying much of the South-Eastern Europe Foundation of the University of Valladolid Foundation of Pembroke College, University of Cambridge August 26 Battle of Crecy after which Edward the Black Prince honored the bravery of John I, Count of Luxemburg... Historical province of Brittany, showing the main areas with their name in Breton language The traditional flag of Brittany (the Gwenn-ha-du), formerly a Breton nationalist symbol but today used as a general civic flag in the region. ... John IV of Montfort (in French Jean IV de Montfort) (1295 - September 16, 1345), was duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death. ...

Brittany in 1346

The commander of the Anglo-Breton faction was Sir Thomas Dagworth a veteran professional soldier who had served with his overlord King Edward III for many years and was trusted to conduct the Breton war in an effective manner whilst Edward was raising funds in England and planning the invasion of Normandy for the following year which would eventually result in the crushing battle of Crécy. Dagworth's fortunes were low, and his forces were stretched across a handful of coastal towns and castles. His main opponent, Charles of Blois was on the march with a substantial army of East Breton volunteers, French soldiers and German mercenaries and a number of his allies and subordinates were showing signs of changing sides or declaring their independence from his command and setting up their own fiefdoms. Edward III King of England Edward III (13 November 1312–21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English Kings of medieval times. ... Combatants Kingdom of England, Allied knights from Germany and Denmark France, Genoese Mercenaries, the Kingdoms of Navarre, Bohemia and the Balearic Islands Commanders Edward III of England Edward, the Black Prince Philip VI of France Strength about 12,000 30,000 to 40,000 Casualties 150-1,000 killed and... Charles of Blois (died September 29, 1364), was duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death. ...

The battle

To strengthen his faction's morale, Dagworth was conducting a tour of his possessions on the Northern coast of Brittany, thus confirming support in his rear and ensuring a valid line of retreat to England should his besieged strongholds in the south of the region fall. On the 9 June, Dagworth was in the Finisterre region, moving north from the town of Morlaix, scene of his earlier victory in the battle of Morlaix. Here Blois, who had led the fastest elements of his army north in a surprise march ambushed Dagworth and his 180 man bodyguard at the isolated village of Saint-Pol-de-Léon. Dagworth formed up his men and led them in a rapid withdrawal towards a nearby hill, where they dug trenches and prepared positions. June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... Morlaix is a commune, or municipality, in the département of Finistère in Brittany, North-West France. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a commune of the Finistère département, in France. ...

Blois was an intelligent general and he had already seen and noted the ruthless efficiency of the English longbow at Morlaix and in numerous smaller skirmishes. He knew that cavalry would be doomed on the slopes of the hill and that the only way to break the English position and capture Dagworth before relief could arrive was a direct frontal assault with infantry. To this end he dismounted all of his soldiers and abandoned his horse himself and ordered his superior numbers to make a three pronged assault on the Anglo-Breton lines. The assault and the others that followed it during the afternoon were all repulsed by accurate archery and some desperate last ditch hand-to-hand fighting. The final assault came at last light with Charles himself in the vanguard, but even this failed to achieve victory and the French were forced to abandon their attack and return to Eastern Brittany, leaving behind dozens of dead, wounded and captured soldiers on the hillside. Lemonwood, purpleheart and hickory longbow, 45 lbf draw force. ...

Aftermath

The English force had suffered lightly and despite a number of severe injuries, none of the knights or men-at-arms had been killed while losses amongst the archers and rank and file were low although actual totals have not been recorded. The French had suffered more severely although contemporary accounts are almost certainly exaggerated. The real effect of the battle was psychological. Charles of Blois, who had a reputation and a fierce and intelligent commander had again been defeated by an English commander and one of common stock at that. Indeed, Charles failed to win a single one of the five significant battles he fought against the English between 1342 and 1364 although he proved more efficient at siegework and lengthy campaigns. The Breton nobility had now been given pause for thought in choosing their side in the ongoing war. Dagworth and Blois would meet in battle again, with the same result, at the La Roche-Derrien the following year. The Battle of La Roche-Derrien was one of the battles of the Hundred Years War, fought in 1347 during the night between English and French forces. ...

References

• Turnbull, Stephen. The Book of the Medieval Knight. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1985. ISBN 0-85368-715-3
• Sumption, Jonathan, The Hundred Years War, Vol 1, Trial by Battle, 1990, ISBN 0-571-13895-0