Patay, Battle of

During the Hundred Years' War, French victory led by Joan of Arc over the English on 19 June 1429 at the village of Patay, 21 km/13 mi northwest of Orléans.

Joan of Arc was continuing her determined resistance, forcing the English to send an army to reinforce their siege of Orléans. Led by Sir John Talbot, they reached Patay to discover that the English army mounting the siege had been driven off and their commander, the Earl of Suffolk, taken prisoner. Talbot's force advanced but was accidentally discovered by some French scouts hunting a stag. They called up Joan of Arc and the French fell on the English before they could disperse into a fighting formation. Talbot was taken prisoner and the English advance guard scattered, but the main body were able to make an orderly retreat back towards Paris.

Patay, Battle of

Battle fought on 18 June 1429 at the village of Patay, 21 km/13 mi northwest of Orléans, France, during the Hundred Years' War, in which the French under the Duke of Alençon and Joan of Arc surprised the English, captured John Talbot, and inflicted heavy casualties.

In the wake of their failure to take Orléans, Lord Talbot and John Fastolf mustered 3,500 men in a good defensive position at Patay. They were surprised by the French, who charged into the vanguard of archers unprotected by stakes. Talbot was wounded and captured, with the loss of 2,000 men; Fastolf escaped with the remnant.