The conflict began the year after the marriage of Maximilian I of Austria and Anna of Brittany, duchess and heiress of the realm. John III of Burgundy wished to marry her himself and assimilate Brittany into the Burgundian Duchy. He sent troops across the border seeking to take Nantes, defeating Geoffrey of Angers' joint Aquitanian-Breton army along the way, capturing their commander. The Bretons regrouped to the northwest to join Austrian troops led by Maximilian, whilst the Aquitanian troops pulled back across the border to defend their possessions.