The Battle of Patay (June 18, 1429): A Reverse Agincourt and a Crushing English Defeat

On June 18, 1429, after the fall of Meung-sur-Loire and Beaugency, the English army, realizing their precarious situation, withdrew from the Loire Valley and moved northward, attempting to regroup with reinforcements under Sir John Fastolf.

However, Joan of Arc, recognizing the opportunity for a decisive victory, urged the Armagnac forces to pursue the retreating English. The two armies clashed southwest of the village of Patay, resulting in a catastrophic English defeat that has often been compared to Agincourt in reverse.

I. The English Retreat and Fastolf’s Reinforcements

• After the loss of key strongholds in the Loire Valley, the English forces under John Talbot and Thomas Scales attempted to retreat northward.
• They intended to merge with an English reinforcement force led by Sir John Fastolf, hoping to regroup and launch a counterattack.

II. The French Pursuit and the Unexpected Encounter

• Joan of Arc and Duke Jean II of Alençon pressed for an immediate pursuit, determined to prevent the English from escaping.
• The French vanguard caught up with the English near Patay, where a small unit of English longbowmen had been stationed to block the road.
• Unlike previous battles such as Agincourt (1415) and Verneuil (1424), the English had no time to properly prepare their defensive stakes, which were crucial for neutralizing cavalry charges.

III. The Battle: A Devastating French Cavalry Charge

• The French cavalry, led by Étienne de Vignolles ("La Hire") and Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, charged the English archers before they could fully form their defensive positions.
• The English archers, caught off guard, were completely overrun, triggering a massive rout.
• With their frontline shattered, the main English army collapsed, leading to one of the most humiliating defeats of the war.

IV. Casualties and English Commanders Lost

• The French suffered minimal losses, while the English army was decimated.
• Several key English commanders were killed or captured, including:
  • John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (captured).
  • Sir Thomas Scales (captured).
  • Sir Thomas Rempston (killed).
• Sir John Fastolf managed to escape with a small band of soldiers, but was blamed for the disaster and later humiliated by his fellow commanders in England.

V. Consequences: The Turning Point in the War

• The victory at Patay effectively ended English dominance in northern France, shifting the war fully in favor of Charles VII.
• The path to Reims was now open, allowing Charles VII to proceed with his coronation in July 1429.
• Joan of Arc’s reputation soared, as she had delivered on her promise of divine victory, further solidifying her status as the savior of France.

The Battle of Patay (1429) was a decisive reversal of English fortunes, mirroring Agincourt in reverse and marking the beginning of the French resurgence under Joan of Arc and Charles VII.