The 1429 battle in which Joan of Arc’s French allies attacked an English supply convoy near Orléans was the Battle of the Herrings.
The battle took place on 12 February 1429 at Rouvray, north of Orléans, during the ongoing siege of the city. The English convoy was carrying food supplies, including a large quantity of salted herring intended for soldiers during Lent, which gave the encounter its memorable name.
Joan of Arc had recently arrived at the French court but had not yet lifted the siege. She joined the French effort to intercept the convoy, but the attack failed. English and Burgundian forces protected the supplies, and the French army suffered a serious defeat.
The battle is often confused with Joan’s later victories around Orléans. Unlike the French relief of Orléans and the Battle of Patay, the Battle of the Herrings was an English-Burgundian success. Its failure nevertheless formed part of the tense military situation immediately before Joan helped change the campaign’s direction.