Page 55 - History of War - Issue 29-16

ENGLAND’S FORGOTTEN WARRIOR

The Battle of Verneuil

IN AUGUST 1424, NORTHERN FRANCE WAS SECURED FOR THE ENGLISH IN A CLASH THAT
CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE ‘SECOND AGINCOURT’
Bedford had won a great naval battle in 1416 in France but he was up against formidable and
but he was still untested on a traditional eld of unyielding opponents. French supporters of the
battle. By 1424, the war in France had reached a Dauphin always outnumbered English troops and
critical level. they were assisted by a Scottish army that was
With Henry V dead and a toddler on two thrones intent on ghting the Regent to the death. Bedford
it was up to Bedford to advance the English cause was about to face his greatest challenge.

“BEDFORD HAD WON A GREAT NAVAL BATTLE IN 1416 BUT HE WAS
UNTESTED ON A TRADITIONAL FIELD OF BATTLE”

Above: The Battle of Verneuil in 1424
BEDFORD was one of the most decisive clashes
01 APPROACHES of the Hundred Years’ War and was
At the crack of dawn on 17 woods woods known as ‘The Second Agincourt’
August, Bedford draws up his
army of 9,600 men on the road
from Damville in the northeast of CAVALRY CHARGE AND
Normandy where it emerges from to damville 05 VICIOUS COMBAT
a forest onto a plain in front of the english baggage laager French cavalrymen charge through
town of Verneuil. archers on Bedford’s right ank,
2 riding on before being stopped by
2 6 the bowmen in reserve. Many of
THE ENGLISH baggage guard the Englishmen ee, but the rest
02 PREPARE archers of Bedford’s division smash into
d’Aumale’s division in furious hand-to-
Bedford places his dismounted 6 hand combat. Bedford is positioned in
men-at-arms in the centre of the thick of the ghting.
the battle, while he positions his
archers on the wings. Bedford 5
commands the right division, while 7
the Earl of Salisbury commands the 1 1 ITALIANS LOOT THE
left. There are two reserves, 2,000 2 2 06 ENGLISH LAAGER
mounted archers and a separate duke of bedford earl of salisbury On the English left Salisbury is
square, laagered baggage train engaged in erce ghting with the
where horses are tethered amongst archers men-at-arms men-at-arms archers Scots. Meanwhile, 600 Italian cavalry
the wagons. 4 6 sweep past him to plunder the laager
where they start to loot the baggage.
The English reserve repels the French
THE FRENCH AND 5 french men-at-arms scottish men-at-arms cavalrymen before rushing to beat off
03 SCOTS PREPARE 8 the Italians in the laager.
The Franco-Scottish army of 14- cavalry
italian
16,000 men form in two divisions
of men-at-arms linked by archers french ENGLISH REASSEMBLE
while cavalry protects their wings. cavalry 07 AND CHARGE
Viscount d’Aumale commands the 3 3 The energised English reserve now
left while the Earls of Buchan and charges to help Salisbury, careering
Douglas command 6,000 Scots on 7 into the Scottish ank with a loud
the right. yell. Meanwhile Bedford, who has
managed to beat off the French
left, reassembles his own division
THREATS, DECEIT 7 to charge at the Scottish rear,
04 AND AN ADVANCE overwhelming them in the process.
The Scottish tell the English 8
soldiers that they intend to give no
quarter, but neither side makes to A VENGEFUL
attack for hours in the sweltering 08 SLAUGHTER
sun. At approximately 4pm The Scots are killed almost to a man,
Bedford orders an advance. The including the Earls of Buchan, Douglas
English troops shout, “St George! and Mar. The French ee the eld
Bedford!” and slowly march with the dead including the viscounts
forward with the eet of archers of Aumale and Narbonne. Marshal
hammering defensive stakes into Lafayette and Jean II, Duke of Alençon
the dusty ground. city of verneuil
are among the captured and the
English are triumphant.
0 1/2 1 mile
french english

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