The Battle of Poitiers, fought on 19 September 1356, was one of the defining engagements of the Hundred Years’ War. It marked a catastrophic defeat for the French monarchy and a crowning triumph for Edward, the Black Prince. Taking place near the city of Poitiers in western France, the battle ended with the capture of King John II of France and saw the effective use of English tactics that had already proven successful at Crécy.
Background
The battle occurred during the second phase of the Hundred Years’ War, a period marked by English raids, known as chevauchées, aimed at disrupting French logistics and economy. In the summer of 1356, the Black Prince led a raiding expedition from Aquitaine through central France. French forces under King John II pursued the English army, forcing it to stand and fight near Poitiers.
Forces Involved
| Side | Leader | Estimated Troop Numbers | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of England | Edward, the Black Prince | 6,000–7,000 | English, Welsh and Gascon soldiers |
| Kingdom of France | King John II | 12,000–15,000 | French knights, infantry and mercenaries |
The French outnumbered the English by roughly 2:1, yet tactical discipline and terrain exploitation would prove decisive.
Arms and Armour
English Forces:
- Longbowmen formed the backbone of English tactical doctrine. Armed with yew longbows capable of piercing mail and lighter plate at short distances.
- Men-at-arms wore transitional plate armour with mail elements. Breastplates, greaves and arm harnesses became more common.
- Swords: Predominantly arming swords, with some longswords in use among the higher nobility. These swords featured cruciform hilts and double-edged blades suitable for both cutting and thrusting.
French Forces:
- Knights and men-at-arms wore advanced plate armour, including visored bascinets, coat of plates, mail chausses and gauntlets. French cavalry was still heavily reliant on the shock charge.
- Swords: Arming swords were standard, though wealthier knights may have wielded war swords or early greatswords. Rondel daggers were common as secondary weapons.
- Polearms: French infantry included spearmen and those wielding glaives or guisarmes.
Battle Timeline
- 17–18 September: English forces retreat and prepare defensive positions south of Poitiers, securing a narrow defile flanked by hedges and woodland.
- Morning, 19 September: The French army advances in divisions. The first French attack fails under heavy arrow fire.
- Midday: A second assault, including cavalry, also collapses under the weight of English archery and counter-attacks by dismounted men-at-arms.
- Afternoon: The third division under King John II attacks but becomes bogged down. A flank attack by the Captal de Buch and mounted Gascons breaks the French cohesion.
- Late Afternoon: King John II is captured after fierce resistance. Thousands of French nobles are slain or taken prisoner.
Archaeology and Terrain
Unlike Agincourt or Towton, Poitiers has seen limited large-scale archaeological investigation. However, the battlefield’s general location near Nouaillé-Maupertuis is well established through chronicle descriptions. The terrain consisted of broken ground and vineyards, with hedgerows that hindered cavalry manoeuvre and benefited the English position.
Contemporary accounts mention how the natural bottleneck and use of the terrain by the Black Prince allowed the numerically inferior English force to manage and break the French assaults piecemeal.
Contemporary English Quotes
Chronicler Jean Froissart, although writing decades later, based much of his account on direct interviews and surviving participants. He records:
“The English archers shot so wholly together that the French did not know where to turn… they were soon discomfited.”
The Anonimalle Chronicle, written in English shortly after the battle, notes:
“Then the Prince set his men in order, and there they abode still as he bade them, and every man was glad to obey him.”
Legacy
The capture of King John II shocked France and led to severe political and financial turmoil. The Treaty of Brétigny (1360) was signed four years later, granting England vast territories and a hefty ransom. It marked the height of English fortunes during the Hundred Years’ War.
While often overshadowed by Crécy and Agincourt in popular memory, Poitiers was arguably just as significant in demonstrating the effectiveness of longbowmen, disciplined dismounted combat, and leadership under pressure.
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