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The Battle of Poitiers - September 18, 1356

© Phyllis Agronsky

Poitiers was a victory of English strategic defense over French military ineptitude, and of the commoner armed with a longbow over the French Knight. It was a resounding defeat for the forces of chivalry; it marked the second great victory for the English in the Hundred Year's War (the first being Crecy). Attributed to Edward the Black Prince, eldest son and heir of Edward III of England, this victory earned him a place in the pantheon of English military heroes.

The story began with an English alliance with Charles of Navarre, grandson of Louis X through his mother, Margaret of Burgundy. King Philip of France, afraid of yet another challenger for his throne, attempted to mollify Charles by offering him the distant kingdom of Navarre and the county of Angouleme. Philip later went back on his word, and gave Angouleme to one of his own favorites. Enraged at Philip's perfidy, Charles entered into an alliance with Edward of England, who was already the French king's most formidable enemy.

Charles began a rebellion, and Edward III sent Henry of Lancaster to support him. By that time, however, Charles had already made a truce with Philip (February 1354), and Lancaster's invasion was postponed. Everyone seemed content, except Edward, who refused to give up his claim to the French throne. Lancaster was dispatched once again to Normandy, and he convinced Charles to join forces with the English once again. Philip had foreseen Charles' betrayal, seized his castles and announced he was unwilling to abide by the terms of the new truce: he would not part with Aquitaine. Charles gathered his army, but Lancaster didn't arrive in time, and the fickle Charles changed sides once again.

In the interim, Philip of Valois died, and the French crown passed to his son, Jean Le Bon (John II, "The Good). In 1356, the Black Prince went to Aquitaine to defend his holdings. While he was at it, this model of English chivalry decided to lead a "chevachee" through the area north of Bordeaux, his capitol. A "chevachee" was an extended raid using a scorched earth policy, aimed at depriving the French king of the ability of his population to support him. It attacked the king through his people, rather than directly.

Lancaster was directed to join the Black Prince in this little adventure, with the intention of overtaking King John. Things did not go as planned. The French king gathered an army, and marched on the invader. John, like his predecessor, destroyed all the crossings over the Loire. This kept Lancaster on the wrong side of the river, leaving the English heir isolated, and stranded. The French finally caught up with Edward at Poitiers.

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