Ellis-Gorman, Stuart Castillon

The Last Battle of the Hundred Years War

The Battle of Castillon, which took place on 17 July 1453 outside the gates of the French town of the same name, was the last battle of the Hundred Years' War. It was also a devastating defeat for the English monarchy. It marked the death of one of England's most famous medieval generals and the complete collapse of the last remnants of English rule in Gascony, which had been in the possession of the English monarchy for almost three centuries. The French king Charles VII completed the unification of his kingdom, which had previously been torn apart by a civil war that had forced him to flee Paris, leaving England with only Calais as a bridgehead in France. Castillon brought together a host of personalities who had shaped the end of the Hundred Years' War. John Talbot and the nobility of Gascony represented the English, opposed by men who had fought alongside Joan of Arc, mercenary leaders and soldiers from all over France. The French were also supported by the cannons and defences of the Bureau brothers, who came from relatively modest backgrounds and had risen to become some of the most important military figures of their time. This battle is sometimes even regarded as a turning point the last medieval battle that heralded a more modern form of warfare. Despite its significance Castillon can easily be compared to Crécy and Agincourt in terms of important battles of the Hundred Years' War Castillon has been largely neglected in English-language research. This book is the most comprehensive study of the battle to date and aims to correct this omission by examining not only the battle itself, but also how it came to be fought in Gascony in 1453, as well as the consequences and legacy of the battle. "Castillon. The Last Battle of the Hundred Years War" covers the origins of the Hundred Years' War, the phases of the war under Edward and Lancaster, the military revolution of the 14th century and the radical restructuring of the French military by Charles VII in the 15th century, as well as a detailed examination of the battle and how we can know what happened in Gascony on that day. The book analyses this decisive battle in a far-reaching and comprehensive manner, providing readers with a thorough understanding not only of Castillon, but also of late medieval Anglo-French warfare in general.