Hundred Years' War: Archers Slain at Patay

June 18, 1429 - French cavalry defeat the English at the Battle of Patay. Having been defeated at Orleans and suffering a series of reverses in the Loire Valley, the English dispatched a relief column to the area under Sir John Fastolf. Linking up with the Earl of Shrewsbury, Fastolf was ultimately forced to retreat north in the face of Joan of Arc's superior French army. Pausing near Patay on June 18, the rear guard, led by Shrewsbury, inadvertently gave away their position to nearby French scouts. Shortly thereafter, French cavalry arrived on the scene. Charging forward, they quickly overran Shrewsbury's unprepared archers, cutting down or capturing the majority. Positioned on a nearby ridge with the infantry, Fastolf was unable to lend any assistance and retreated north. The victory was one of the first times that a French cavalry assault defeated English archers and brought Joan's campaign to a successful close.