Scott Alexander (author/host)

Meanwhile, the main English field army gathered to attack them, coming up to meet the French at the woodlands near Patay.

The day before, both sides had camped a safe distance, well aware of their opposition, and then as the next day broke, the French and English field armies mustered for the climactic battle of the campaign.

Unfortunately for the English, the Battle of Patai is the single most one-sided climactic battle I have ever encountered in all my studies of history.

I'm not sure exactly why.

The accounts of the battle, in secondary or primary sources, disagree with each other even more than they normally do.

But so far as I can tell from the accounts and histories I've read, it happened something like this.

The English army had been divided into three forces when it camped, and as the English drew up in the morning to fight, they gathered together.

The French assembled faster in defensive formation to take an attack from the English, and then the Duke d'Alencon asked Joan what to do.

"'See that you all have good spurs.'

"'What?

Are we to turn our backs on them?'

No, said Joan, for the pursuit.

Footnote, this is a rephrasing.

The exact words from the retrial of Joan of Arc, quote, Then my lord the druke of Alençon, in the presence of the lord constable, of myself, and of several others, asked Joan what should be done.

She answered him loudly with the words, See that you all have good spurs.

When those present heard this, they answered her, What did you say?

Are we to turn our backs on them then?

End quote.

Back to the text.

and the French rushed on the English vanguard with incredible speed, which was not quite finished joining the rest of the English army.