An English raiding force under Thomas Beaufort repelled a larger French army at Harfleur during the Hundred Years' War, securing the garrison town.
Key Facts
- Date range
- 9–11 March 1416
- English commander
- Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Dorset
- French commander
- Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac
- Location
- Near Valmont and Harfleur, Normandy
- Number of actions
- Two connected engagements
- English initial losses
- Horses and baggage lost in first action
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Hundred Years' War, an English raiding force under Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Dorset, operated in Normandy near the English-held town of Harfleur. A larger French army under Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac, moved to confront and destroy this force in the area around Valmont.
The encounter unfolded in two phases between 9 and 11 March 1416. In the first action near Valmont, the English were driven back and lost their horses and baggage. They regrouped and withdrew toward Harfleur, only to find the French had blocked their route. A second engagement followed, in which the English force combined with a garrison sally from Harfleur to repel the French army.
The French army was defeated despite its numerical advantage, and the English garrison at Harfleur was preserved. The two-stage victory demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated action between a field force and a fortified garrison, relieving pressure on this strategically important Norman port town.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Dorset.
Side B
1 belligerent
Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac.