Taillebourg

Taillebourg is a small town abord the Charente river. In 1242 just here the "Battle of Taillebourg" started between the troops of Louis IX and his brother Alphonse of Poitiers and the troops of King Henry III of England and his ally Hugh X of Lusignan.

In a the fierce battle the French attacked the bridge. The decision finally resulted in a pontoon bridge built by the French downstream, over which the French could advance to the left bank of the Charente.

Richard of Cornwall negotiated a 24-hour armistice, which enabled the English to withdraw, rather than flee to Saintes. Henry III is said to have forgotten his crown. He could not hold Saintes with his weak forces and had to withdrew to Bordeaux. The "Treaty of Paris" finally ended 100 years of conflicts between the Capetian and Plantagenet dynasties in 1259.