Battle of Auberoche

Battle of Auberoche
Part of the Gascon campaign of 1345 during the Hundred Years' War
Date21 October 1345
Location
Auberoche, northern Aquitaine
45°12′32″N 0°53′45″E / 45.20889°N 0.89583°E / 45.20889; 0.89583
Result English victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England Kingdom of France
Commanders and leaders
Henry, Earl of Lancaster Louis of Poitiers †
Strength
1,200 7,000
Casualties and losses
Light Heavy
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Location of Auberoche in modern Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and other places named in the text

The Battle of Auberoche was fought on 21 October 1345 during the Gascon campaign of 1345 between an Anglo-Gascon force of 1,200 men under Henry, Earl of Derby, and a French army of 7,000 commanded by Louis of Poitiers. It was fought at the village of Auberoche near Périgueux in northern Aquitaine. At the time, Gascony was a territory of the English Crown and the "English" army included a large proportion of native Gascons. The battle resulted in a heavy defeat for the French, who suffered very high casualties, with their leaders killed or captured.

The battle took place during the early stages of the Hundred Years' War. Along with the Battle of Bergerac earlier in the year, it marked a change in the military balance of power in the region as the French position subsequently collapsed. It was one of a series of victories which would lead to Henry of Lancaster being called "one of the best warriors in the world" by a contemporary chronicler.[1]

  1. ^ Rogers 2004, p. 89.