Battle of Castillon

The Battle of Castillon between the forces of England and France took place on 17 July 1453 in Gascony near the town of Castillon-sur-Dordogne (later Castillon-la-Bataille). Historians regard this decisive French victory as marking the end of the Hundred Years' War.

Battle of Castillon
Part of the Hundred Years' War

The death of John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury at the battle of Castillon from Vigilles de Charles VII by Martial d'Auvergne (1484)
Date17 July 1453
Location44°51′20″N 0°02′26″W
Result

French victory

• End of Hundred Years' War in France's favour
Belligerents
Commanders and leaders
Jean Bureau
Peter II
Jacques de Chabannes
John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury 
John Talbot, Viscount Lisle 
John de Foix, Earl of Kendal (POW)
Strength
7,000–9,000
1,000 Bretons
300 guns
5,000–10,000
Casualties and losses
100 killed or wounded 4,000 killed or captured
The rest of the army surrenders the next day
Location within current region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

On the day of the battle, the English commander, John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, believing that the enemy was retreating, led his army in an attack on a fortified French encampment without waiting for reinforcements. Talbot then refused to withdraw even after realizing the strength of the French position, causing his men to suffer severe casualties from the French artillery. Castillon was a major European battle won through the extensive use of field artillery.

The battle led to the English losing nearly all their holdings in France, especially Gascony, which had been a possession of the Plantagenet kings for the previous three centuries. Political instability ensued in England.

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