The french king mounted a defence near the forest at crecy, which ended in another english victory. The english army triumphed despite being outnumbered and it established the reputation of the longbow as a fearsome weapon. The battle announced the end of the age of chivalry. At the battle of shrewsbury, the longbowmen also played a key role.
The battle of crecy was the first major land battle of the hundred years war. Blocks of bowmen darkened the skies with their arrows, sometimes firing as many as ten a minute. Despite the battles historical reputation and despite the subtitle of this book which states that the battle represents the triumph of the longbow, this book actually presents a new theory of why the battle was won by the english. It pitted the french army, then considered the best in europe, and their miscellaneous allies against the english under king edward iii and the black prince, who. A late 15th century illustration of the battle of crecy.
Moving through normandy, he turned north and was engaged by the philip vis army at crecy on august 26. With him is his sixteenyearold son, edward of woodstock also known as the black prince. Other battles of the hundred years war at which english and welsh longbowmen played major roles in english victories were at poitiers 56, sluys 40, and crecy 46, while they also played a major role in the wars against the scots and in the wars of the roses. English use of longbows was effective against the french during the hundred years war, particularly at the start of the war in the battles of sluys 40, crecy 46, and. The french cavalry at crecy were combining what they termed as bravery, with reckless abandon. Longbow hundred years war royal armouries collections. The english longbow was then the most devastating weapon on the. On august 26, 46, during the hundred years war 371453, the army of englands king edward iii 1277 annihilated a french force under king philip vi 129350 at the battle of crecy in. The english army numbered some 4,000 knights and menatarms, 7,000 welsh and english archers and some 5,000 welsh and irish spearmen. Jul 28, 2019 the battle, which saw an early use of the deadly longbow by the english, is regarded as one of the most decisive in history. Crecy 46 dvd 100 years war battlefield history tv on 11 july 46 the anglowelsh army of edward iii started to disembark in the bay at st vaast in the cotentin peninsula. The battle, which saw an early use of the deadly longbow by the english, is regarded as one of the most decisive in history.
Edward iiis household knights and the crecy campaign of 46. Like the earlier engagement at crecy, the power of the english army lay in the longbow, a tall, thick selfbow made of yew. Battle of crecy, august 26, 46, battle that resulted in victory for the english in. The longbow was a formidable weapon during the middle ages and thus changed the nature of warfare. The battle of crecy in 46, established the military supremacy of the english longbow over the french crossbow and armored knights. English king who felt he had a better claim to the french thro english victory over the french in 46. The longbow was used all over europe, but was the favoured weapon of the english and welsh infantry.
It was during the hundred years war 37 1453 that the longbow became legend after it played a key role in securing the great english victories at crecy 46, poitiers 56, and agincourt 1415. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. Edward iiis reign was of course dominated by the hundred years war which actually lasted from 371453. The power of the longbow the medieval knight had no protection against the arrows of the longbow. Choose from 500 different sets of hundred years war flashcards on quizlet. The english longbow was one of the most famous weapons of the medieval period. Infantry tactics at the battle of crecy, 26 august 46. The battle of crecy was fought against the french army of king philip vi and eventually led to the port of calais becoming an english enclave. The english longbow was a powerful medieval type of longbow a tall bow for archery about 6 ft 1. A paper presented by upper warden tony kench to the worshipful company of bowyers, london, 19. This single battle is taken as proof of how just effective the longbow was as a weapon. The battle of crecy on 26 august 46 ce saw an english army defeat a.
English use of longbows was effective against the french during the hundred years war, particularly at the start of the war in the battles of sluys 40, crecy 46, and poitiers 56, and perhaps. The battle of crecy took place on 26 august 46 in northeast france between a french army commanded by king philip vi and an english army led by king edward iii. The battle, which saw an early use of the deadly longbow by the english, is regarded as one of the most decisive in. May 03, 2016 though the extended weapon of longbow precedes the medieval englishman by over 3,500 years with the first known specimen dating from 2665 bc, it was the renowned longbowman of the middle ages who made a mark in the tactical side of affairs when it came to famous military encounters. The english army in 46 represented a midway point in this evolution, consisting of men recruited through both obligation and contract. The english first used the weapon to effect at the 18 battle of the standard, when william of aumale defeated king david i of scotland. The longbow as we recognise it today, measuring around the height of a man, made its first major appearance towards the end of the middle ages. Longbows had demonstrated their effectiveness against massed infantry and cavalry in several battles, such as falkirk in 1298, halidon hill in 33, and crecy in 46.
English longbow the reliable assualt rifle of the middle ages. The army was,500 in total, half of it being the best and ablest longbow archers. How the longbow ended knights in shining armor tales from the trenches historians love watershed moments, and few in military history in the west. Dec 09, 20 the longbow was a formidable weapon during the middle ages and thus changed the nature of warfare. The battle of crecy was the first major battle of the hundred years war. At crecy in 46, poitiers in 56, and agincourt in 1415, the effectiveness of the english archers won the day. In 46 at the battle of crecy, english archers devastated the french who lost 11 princes, 1,200 knights and 30,000 common soldiers. Crecyenponthieu, a population point in northeastern france department of somme, near which english troops commanded by king edward iii routed the french army of king philip vi on aug.
Edwards forces were continually tracked by a much larger french army, until they finally arrived at crecy in 46 with a force of 8,000. The idea that there was a standard formation for english longbow armies was argued by alfred byrne in his influential work on the battles of the hundred years war, the crecy war. The crossbow vs the longbow in the medieval period on. The longbow was used in hunting and in medieval warfare. English use of longbows was effective against the french during the hundred years war, particularly at the start of the war in the battles of sluys 40, crecy 46, and poitiers 56, and perhaps most famously at the battle of agincourt 1415. All were provided with horses, to give the army high mobility.
The power of the longbow was so great that at the battle of crecy, in 46, the french army was decimated. The longbow helps edward iii win the battle of crecy historypod. Battle of crecy summary britannica encyclopedia britannica. The battle of crecy was fought august 26, 46, during the hundred years war 371453. The crossbow vs the longbow in the medieval period on the. The first and biggest battle in which longbow men fought against knights and won against overwhelming numbers and repeated charges into the darkness.
After hours of intense fighting, the legendary black prince rallied his troops, defeated the french force. During the hundred years war it was used to devastating effect by the english army. Infantry tactics at the battle of crecy, 26 august 46 introduction crecy was the decisive opening battle of the first phase of the hundred years war. Throughout the medieval period though, crossbows became more powerful. Battle of crecy, 46 the french king, phillippe, destroyed several bridges to prevent edwards advance, but the english took the town of poissy in august and repaired its bridge in order to advance. The campaign that preceded the battle and the perplexing outcome are of unending fascination. They achieved complete strategic surprise and marched south. Jun 25, 2000 the battle of crecy august 26, 46 is the most important of all the battles of the early hundred years war. The battle of crecy was a resounding victory for the english longbow men during the 100year war and was fought on 26 august 46 by the army of king edward iii and king philip vi of france.
At the battle of crecy, which was fought on august 26, 46, king edward iii decisively won against a superior french army. How the longbow ended knights in shining armor tales from the trenches historians love watershed moments, and few in military history in the west were as important as the battle of crecy in 46. It pitted the french army, then considered the best in europe, and their miscellaneous allies against the english under. English use of longbows was effective against the french during the hundred years war, particularly at the start of the war in the battles of crecy 46 and poitiers 56, and most famously at the battle of agincourt 1415. During this period, the weapon aided in winning victories on the continent and in scotland, such as falkirk 1298. So fast was the rate of fire of the english longbows that, according to one. This weapon would earn its fame from the hundred years war fought between england and france, in battles such as crecy 46, poitiers 56 and agincourt 1415. It pitted the french army, then considered the best in europe, and their miscellaneous allies against the english under king edward iii and the black prince, who as yet had no great military reputation. English longbow the reliable assualt rifle of the middle. David nicolle the battle of crecy was the first major land battle of the hundred years war.
English longbow galnet wiki fandom powered by wikia. How the medieval longbow cut down a french army in 46. It was perhaps due this continual state of war that so many historical records survive which raise the longbow to legendary status. Durham was the target, but an english army defeated the scots at the battle of nevilles cross on 17 october 46 ce. This view was challenged by jim bradbury in his book the medieval archer and more modern works are more ready to accept a variety of formations. Crecy 26 august 46 the first and biggest battle in which longbow men fought against knights and won against overwhelming numbers and repeated charges into the darkness. If, like me, you are writing fantasty fiction or even historical fiction and are competely sick of the fallback baseline of. The battle of crecy was a resounding victory for the english longbow men during the 100year war and was fought on 26 august 46 by the army of king. Mar 07, 2020 how the medieval longbow cut down a french army in 46 the medieval english longbow first came to prominence during the hundred years war. The genoese crossbowmen were outshot by the english longbows and the pattern was set for the rest of the day. Jan 17, 2019 the english army in 46 represented a midway point in this evolution, consisting of men recruited through both obligation and contract. Landing in 46, edward iii of england sought to conduct a largescale raid through northern france in support of his claim to the french throne.
The battle of crecy was the first major land battle of the hundred years war 371453. The english longbow or welsh longbow was the ak47 of its day. Back on the medieval battlefield, in july 47 ce, an english army captured calais after a long siege. Although generally attributed to the welsh, longbows have in fact been around at least since neolithic times. In fact, there was a very valid and practical reason for the english making use of it. The battle of crecy august 26, 46 is the most important of all the battles of the early hundred years war. In this particular battle, 20,000 english soldiers defeated 60,000 french soldiers. The english gained great victories over the french at crecy, agincourt and poitiers. Though uncommonly large for its time, it thus provides a useful insight into how the household knights contributed to both the arrayed and privately recruited elements of the army. The longbow used by the english and welsh archers was unique to them. The flower of french chivalry was cut down en masse by welsh and english peasants. This article provides background on the campaign and examines the battle with respect to the. The english longbow, also called the welsh longbow, is a powerful type of medieval longbow a tall bow for archery about 6 ft 1. On july 12, 46, edward landed an invasion force of about 14,000 men.
Crecy definition, a village in n france, nnw of reims. King edward iii with his son, the black prince, against philip vi, king of france. During this conflict, the weapon proved decisive at victories such as crecy 46, poitiers 56, and agincourt 1415. In 46, english forces used it to devastating effect to. English longbowmen battle of crecy statistics 46 hundred. At the battles of crecy 46, poitiers 56 and agincourt 1415, the english smashed larger french armies through the successful use of longbows. Inigo simot loosed an arrow 462 yards 9 inches in 1914, and there is a claim of someone loosing an arrow 482 yards with a longbow. English use of longbows was effective against the french during the hundred years war, particularly at the start of the war in the battles of crecy 46 and poitiers. How the medieval longbow cut down a french army in 46 the medieval english longbow first came to prominence during the hundred years war. The english landed at saintvaastlahougue, normandy, on 12 july 46. In a period of 12 months this army won 3 major battles caen, blanchtaque and crecy and captured calais, which would remain in english hands until 1558 a thorn in the side of france. Learn hundred years war with free interactive flashcards. The objective was to land in normandy then cross to take calais. On 26 august 46, one of the most famous battles of the hundred.