The Franco-Scottish Army Prepares for Battle: The Campaign Leading to Verneuil (August 1424)

By August 1424, the newly reinforced Franco-Scottish army was ready to take action against the English forces of John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. Their initial objective was to relieve the castle of Ivry, near Le Mans, which was under siege by the English. However, before they could arrive, Ivry surrendered, forcing the allied commanders to reconsider their strategy.

I. The Franco-Scottish Army Marches to Relieve Ivry

• The army was led by:
  • Archibald Douglas, Earl of Douglas (now Duke of Touraine).
  • John Stewart, Earl of Buchan.
• They left Tours on August 4, 1424, aiming to join forces with French commanders:
  • John, Duke of Alençon.
  • The Viscounts of Narbonne and Aumale.

However, before they could reach Ivry, the castle surrendered to the English, creating uncertainty over their next move.

II. The War Council: A Divided Strategy

• The allied commanders held a council of war, debating their next course of action:
  • The Scots and younger French officers were eager to engage the English in battle, hoping for another decisive victory like Baugé (1421).
  • The senior French nobility, led by Narbonne, remained cautious, recalling the disastrous French defeat at Agincourt (1415) and fearing another catastrophe.
• As a compromise, the allied leaders decided to target English-held fortresses along the Norman border, instead of directly confronting Bedford’s main army.

III. The Decision to Attack Verneuil

• The first target chosen was Verneuil, a key stronghold in western Normandy.
• The attack on Verneuil was intended to:
  • Disrupt English control over Normandy.
  • Draw Bedford’s army into a battle on favorable terms for the Franco-Scottish forces.
• This decision would lead directly to the Battle of Verneuil (August 17, 1424), a brutal confrontation that would prove to be one of the most decisive battles of the Hundred Years’ War.

IV. Consequences and the Path to Verneuil

• The decision to march on Verneuil set the stage for one of the bloodiest battles in the conflict, where the fate of the Scottish forces in France would be decided.
• The Franco-Scottish army, emboldened by previous victories, was determined to challenge English supremacy in northern France.

The march to relieve Ivry in August 1424 ended in failure, but the shift to attacking Verneuil led directly to one of the most significant battles of the war, where both Scotland and France would face their greatest test against the English under Bedford.

The Battle of Verneuil (August 17, 1424): A Decisive English Victory

The Battle of Verneuil, fought on August 17, 1424, was one of the bloodiest confrontations of the Hundred Years’ War, often referred to as “a second Agincourt” by the English. The battle saw the destruction of the Franco-Scottish army, leaving thousands dead, including Archibald Douglas, Earl of Douglas, and John Stewart, Earl of Buchan.

Despite their initial success in capturing Verneuil by deception, the Scottish and French forces, commanded by Douglas, Buchan, and the Viscount of Narbonne, suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the English army led by John, Duke of Bedford.

I. The Capture of Verneuil and Bedford’s Response

• Before the battle, Scottish troops used deception to capture Verneuil:
  • A group of Scots, leading fellow Scots as "prisoners," claimed to be English soldiers returning from a victory.
  • The gates were opened, and Verneuil fell into French hands.
• On August 15, 1424, Bedford received news of Verneuil’s capture and immediately marched to retake the town.

II. The Battlefield and Initial Deployment

• The Franco-Scottish army, under Sir John Stewart of Darnley, the Duke of Alençon, and the Earl of Douglas, took position a mile north of Verneuil.

• The army was composed of:

  • French troops under Narbonne on the left, supported by Milanese cavalry.
  • Scottish troops under Douglas and Buchan on the right, supported by Lombard cavalry.
  • Viscount Aumale held overall command.

• The English army, led by John, Duke of Bedford, was organized in two divisions:

  • Bedford commanded the right flank, facing the French forces.
  • Sir Thomas Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, led the left flank against the Scots.
  • A reserve of 2,000 English archers was placed at the rear to guard the baggage train.

III. The Battle Begins: A Disjointed Franco-Scottish Attack

• As Bedford brought his troops into arrow range, he halted to allow his longbowmen to drive their stakes into the ground—a defensive measure against cavalry.
• However, due to the baked summer ground, the stakes could not be driven in easily.
• Seeing an opportunity, the French cavalry charged prematurely, out of sync with the Scottish forces.

1. The French Charge and Collapse

• The French cavalry on the left broke through the English archers, possibly due to their improved tempered steel armor.
• Instead of pressing the attack, they continued toward the baggage train, hoping to seize loot.
• Meanwhile, Bedford’s men-at-arms counterattacked the French infantry, shattering Narbonne’s division.
• Narbonne and many French commanders were killed or drowned in the moat of Verneuil.

2. The Scots Stand Alone

• With the French defeated, Bedford halted the pursuit and turned back to the battlefield, where Salisbury was still fighting the Scots.
• The Lombard cavalry, hoping for loot, also charged toward the baggage train, but were driven off by Bedford’s reserve archers.
• Seeing the Lombards fleeing, the English reserve force entered the main battle, attacking the Scottish right wing.

IV. The Destruction of the Scots and the English Victory

• Now almost completely surrounded, the Scots made a last stand, fighting to the last man.

• The English shouted, "A Clarence! A Clarence!", invoking the death of Thomas, Duke of Clarence at the Battle of Baugé (1421), seeking revenge.

• Over 4,000 Scots were killed, including:

  • Archibald Douglas, Earl of Douglas.
  • John Stewart, Earl of Buchan.
  • Sir Alexander Buchanan, the man who had killed Clarence at Baugé.

• English losses were relatively light, with only 1,600 men killed, including two men-at-arms and “a very few archers,” according to Bedford.

V. Aftermath and Consequences

• Verneuil was one of the most devastating defeats for the Franco-Scottish alliance, effectively eliminating Scottish military support for Charles VII.
• The English reestablished dominance in northern France, strengthening their hold over Normandy.
• Bedford’s victory ensured that England remained in control of France’s most economically and strategically vital regions.

The Battle of Verneuil (1424) was one of the bloodiest battles of the Hundred Years' War, delivering a crippling blow to the French and their Scottish allies, and ensuring that English control over northern France remained unchallenged for years.