On the 19th of September, 1356, an English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince defeated the French army at the Battle of Poitiers.
The roots of the Battle of Poitiers lie in the complex dynastic disputes that fuelled the Hundred Years’ War. Edward III of England claimed the French crown through his mother, a French princess. This claim was contested by the Valois dynasty, leading to intermittent warfare beginning in 1337.
By 1356, Edward, the Black Prince, son of Edward III, was leading a formidable English army on a chevauchée, a raiding campaign through southern France. The objective was to weaken French morale, devastate the countryside, and provoke the French King, John II, into open battle. Edward’s forces, composed of English, Welsh, and Gascon troops, excelled in mobility and long-range combat, particularly with their famed longbowmen.
King John II of France, eager to protect his realm and assert his authority, mustered a large army to intercept the Black Prince. The French forces significantly outnumbered the English, with estimates suggesting around 20,000 French troops against approximately 6,000 English and allied soldiers.
The English army, though smaller, was highly disciplined. It consisted of dismounted men-at-arms, longbowmen, and light cavalry. The French army included heavily armoured knights, crossbowmen, and a considerable contingent of foot soldiers. However, internal divisions and overconfidence among the French nobility would prove detrimental.
Choosing a strong defensive position near Poitiers, the Black Prince arranged his forces behind natural obstacles, including hedges and vineyards, which funnelled the French attackers into narrow fronts. This terrain negated the French numerical advantage and allowed the English longbowmen to dominate the battlefield.
King John ordered a series of frontal assaults against the English lines. The initial charge by French cavalry was repelled with devastating volleys of arrows, causing chaos and heavy casualties. Subsequent infantry assaults fared no better, as disciplined English soldiers held their ground, exploiting the disorganised French advances.
Recognising an opportunity, Edward launched a counterattack. His forces, including a contingent led by the Captal de Buch, executed a flanking manoeuvre. This surprise attack from the rear shattered French cohesion, leading to a complete rout.
The Battle of Poitiers was a catastrophic defeat for France. King John II was captured, along with many high-ranking nobles, including his son, Philip the Bold. The French suffered enormous casualties, both in battle and from subsequent chaos.
King John’s capture had profound political and financial repercussions. The Treaty of Brétigny, signed in 1360, secured significant territorial concessions for England and an enormous ransom for the king’s release. France was plunged into further instability, exacerbated by internal conflicts and the economic burden of the ransom.
For England, Poitiers was a triumph demonstrating the effectiveness of tactical innovation and disciplined soldiery. The victory enhanced the prestige of Edward the Black Prince, though his later campaigns would not replicate this success.
The Battle of Poitiers exemplified the decline of medieval chivalric warfare. The reliance on heavily armoured knights proved outdated against more flexible tactics and ranged weaponry. The battle also highlighted the importance of leadership, terrain, and morale in determining outcomes.
Furthermore, the capture of a reigning monarch on the battlefield underscored the vulnerabilities of even the most powerful figures, reshaping diplomatic and military strategies across Europe.