Imperial war theory holds that victory often has a culminating point. Situations like "annihilating the enemy" or "being completely wiped out" are exceptionally rare. As a battle continues, it becomes increasingly difficult for the advantaged side to expand its gains, while the problems caused by its own casualties and logistical shortages escalate.
For a defeated army, whether they stabilized the situation or were utterly crushed after losing a battle depended on the quality of its commanders and the troops themselves. As a professional force, the Empire Army had to "retreat like lions" even in defeat. They did their utmost to pull out any remaining combat-effective units to harass and pin down the high ground controlled by the Valois people, covering the retreat of the others.
The clear victor of this battle was the National Guard.
