Below is a curated list of the 21 of the largest and most consequential medieval battles (5th–15th centuries), ranked by estimated troop numbers, strategic impact, and historical significance. Medieval chronicles often exaggerate figures, so these numbers reflect scholarly consensus where possible.
1. Battle of Tours (732)
Location: Near Tours, France
Combatants: Frankish Kingdom vs. Umayyad Caliphate
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Franks: Charles Martel Umayyads: Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi |
| Notable Nobles | Frankish infantry lords; Umayyad Berber cavalry leaders |
| Weapons | Franks: Spears, spatha (longsword), axes Umayyads: Scimitars, lances, composite bows |
| Tactics & Outcome | Franks formed a defensive infantry square, repelling repeated cavalry charges. Umayyad commander’s death caused retreat. Frankish victory halted Muslim advance into Europe. |
2. Battle of Hastings (1066)
Location: Hastings, England
Combatants: Normans vs. Anglo-Saxons
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Normans: William the Conqueror Anglo-Saxons: Harold Godwinson |
| Notable Nobles | Odo of Bayeux (Norman), Gyrth Godwinson (Anglo-Saxon) |
| Weapons | Normans: Chainmail, arming swords, lances Anglo-Saxons: Dane axes, seaxes (short swords), shields |
| Tactics & Outcome | Norman feigned retreats lured Saxons from shield wall. Harold killed by arrow/sword strike. Norman victory led to William’s coronation. |
3. Battle of Manzikert (1071)
Location: Manzikert, Byzantine Empire (modern Türkiye)
Combatants: Byzantines vs. Seljuk Turks
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Byzantines: Romanos IV Diogenes Seljuks: Alp Arslan |
| Notable Nobles | Andronikos Doukas (Byzantine traitor), Afşin Bey (Seljuk general) |
| Weapons | Byzantines: Spathion (longsword), lance, Greek fire Seljuks: Scimitars, composite bows, light cavalry |
| Tactics & Outcome | Seljuk horse archers encircled Byzantine heavy infantry. Romanos captured; Seljuk victory opened Anatolia to Turkic conquest. |
4. Battle of Hattin (1187)
Location: Near Tiberias, Levant
Combatants: Ayyubids vs. Crusaders
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Ayyubids: Saladin Crusaders: Guy of Lusignan |
| Notable Nobles | Raynald of Châtillon (Crusader), Al-Adil (Saladin’s brother) |
| Weapons | Crusaders: Longswords, crossbows, kite shields Ayyubids: Scimitars, kilij swords, javelins |
| Tactics & Outcome | Saladin cut off Crusader water supplies, forcing them into open battle. Ayyubid victory led to recapture of Jerusalem. |
5. Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212)
Location: Jaén, Spain
Combatants: Christian Iberia vs. Almohad Caliphate
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Christians: Alfonso VIII of Castile Almohads: Muhammad al-Nasir |
| Notable Nobles | Sancho VII of Navarre, Pedro II of Aragon |
| Weapons | Christians: Longswords, lances, crossbows Almohads: Scimitars, falarica (javelins), composite bows |
| Tactics & Outcome | Christian coalition exploited Almohad flank weaknesses. Decisive Christian victory accelerated the Reconquista. |
6. Battle of Mohi (1241)
Location: Mohi, Hungary
Combatants: Mongols vs. Hungarians
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Mongols: Subutai, Batu Khan Hungarians: Béla IV |
| Notable Nobles | Coloman of Galicia (Hungarian), Kadan (Mongol prince) |
| Weapons | Mongols: Recurve bows, tulwar swords, lances Hungarians: Longswords, crossbows, maces |
| Tactics & Outcome | Mongols used feigned retreat and river-crossing siege engines. Mongol victory devastated Hungary. |
7. Battle of Ain Jalut (1260)
Location: Galilee, Levant
Combatants: Mamluks vs. Mongols
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Mamluks: Saif ad-Din Qutuz Mongols: Kitbuqa |
| Notable Nobles | Baibars (Mamluk general), Kitbuqa’s Nestorian Christian aides |
| Weapons | Mamluks: Scimitars, javelins, composite bows Mongols: Recurve bows, sabres, lances |
| Tactics & Outcome | Mamluks lured Mongols into ambush near springs. Mamluk victory halted Mongol expansion into Africa. |
8. Battle of Crécy (1346)
Location: Crécy-en-Ponthieu, France
Combatants: England vs. France
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | England: Edward III France: Philip VI |
| Notable Nobles | Edward the Black Prince, John of Bohemia (blind king) |
| Weapons | England: Longbows, arming swords, poleaxes France: Lances, estocs, war hammers |
| Tactics & Outcome | English longbowmen decimated French knights in chaotic charges. English victory showcased longbow dominance. |
9. Battle of Agincourt (1415)
Location: Agincourt, France (modern Azincourt)
Combatants: England vs. France
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | England: Henry V • France: Charles d’Albret (Constable of France) |
| Notable Nobles | English: Duke of York • French: Duke of Orléans |
| Weapons | English: Longbows, bills • French: Lances, crossbows |
| Tactics & Outcome | English longbowmen and muddy terrain neutralised French cavalry. Decisive English victory led to the Treaty of Troyes. |
10. Battle of Grunwald (1410)
Location: Grunwald, Poland-Lithuania
Combatants: Polish-Lithuanian Union vs. Teutonic Order
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Poland-Lithuania: Władysław II Jagiełło Teutonic Order: Ulrich von Jungingen |
| Notable Nobles | Vytautas the Great (Lithuania), Grand Master’s retinue |
| Weapons | Allies: Longswords, war hammers, crossbows Teutonics: Zweihänders, lances, maces |
| Tactics & Outcome | Allied forces enveloped Teutonic flanks; Ulrich killed. Polish-Lithuanian victory ended Teutonic power. |
11. Battle of Towton (1461)
Location: Yorkshire, England
Combatants: Yorkists vs. Lancastrians
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Yorkists: Edward IV Lancastrians: Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset |
| Notable Nobles | Richard Neville (Warwick), Lord Clifford |
| Weapons | Both sides: Longswords, billhooks, daggers, longbows |
| Tactics & Outcome | Yorkists exploited wind to land arrows farther. Lancastrians broke ranks; Yorkist victory was the bloodiest English battle. |
Common Medieval Swords & Weapons
| Sword Type | Used By | Notable Battles |
|---|---|---|
| Longsword | Knights, men-at-arms | Crécy, Towton |
| Scimitar | Islamic armies | Hattin, Las Navas |
| Estoc | French knights | Crécy |
| Falchion | Infantry | Agincourt |
| Zweihänder | Teutonic Knights | Grunwald |
12. Battle of Brunanburh (937)
Location: Uncertain (likely northern England, near the Wirral or Yorkshire)
Combatants: Anglo-Saxon England vs. Celtic-Norse Alliance (Scots, Strathclyde Britons, Dublin Vikings)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Anglo-Saxons: Æthelstan (King of England) Alliance: Olaf Guthfrithson (Viking), Constantine II (Scotland), Owain I (Strathclyde) |
| Notable Nobles | Edmund (Æthelstan’s brother), Anlaf Sihtricsson (Viking prince) |
| Weapons | Anglo-Saxons: Seaxes (long knives), spears, round shields Alliance: Norse Dane axes, Celtic claymores, javelins |
| Tactics & Outcome | Æthelstan’s forces formed a shield wall to repel repeated charges. After a day-long melee, the alliance broke; Constantine’s son died. Decisive Anglo-Saxon victory secured England’s unity and Æthelstan’s reputation as “King of all Britain”. |
13. Battle of Bannockburn (1314)
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Combatants: Scotland vs. England
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Scotland: Robert the Bruce England: Edward II |
| Notable Nobles | Sir James Douglas (Scotland), Earl of Hereford (England) |
| Weapons | Scots: Claymores, spears, Lochaber axes English: Longbows, arming swords, mounted knights |
| Tactics & Outcome | Scots used schiltrons (pike formations) to repel cavalry. English trapped in marshy ground. Scottish victory secured independence. |
14. Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297)
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Combatants: Scotland vs. England
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Scotland: William Wallace, Andrew Moray England: John de Warenne, Hugh de Cressingham |
| Notable Nobles | Sir John Stewart (Scotland) |
| Weapons | Scots: Spears, dirks (daggers), axes English: Longbows, cavalry lances |
| Tactics & Outcome | Scots ambushed English crossing a narrow bridge. Scottish victory boosted morale during the First War of Independence. |
15. Battle of Bouvines (1214)
Location: Bouvines, France
Combatants: Kingdom of France vs. Coalition (England, Flanders, Holy Roman Empire)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | France: Philip II Coalition: Otto IV (Holy Roman Emperor), Ferrand of Flanders |
| Notable Nobles | Robert II of Dreux (France), William Longespée (England) |
| Weapons | French: Estocs, maces, crossbows Coalition: Longswords, lances, pavise shields |
| Tactics & Outcome | French knights outmanoeuvred coalition forces. Otto IV captured. French victory consolidated Capetian power. |
16. Battle of Nicopolis (1396)
Location: Nicopolis, Bulgaria
Combatants: Ottoman Empire vs. Crusader Alliance (Hungary, France, Burgundy)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Ottomans: Bayezid I Crusaders: Sigismund of Hungary, Jean de Vienne |
| Notable Nobles | John the Fearless (Burgundy), Mircea I of Wallachia |
| Weapons | Ottomans: Kilij swords, composite bows Crusaders: Longswords, crossbows, plate armour |
| Tactics & Outcome | Crusaders charged prematurely; Ottomans used flanking cavalry. Ottoman victory ended the last major Crusade. |
17. Battle of Poitiers (1356)
Location: Poitiers, France
Combatants: England vs. France
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | England: Edward the Black Prince • France: John II |
| Weapons | English: Longbows, falchions • French: War hammers, lances |
| Tactics & Outcome | English defensive terrain and archery led to John II’s capture. Prolonged the Hundred Years’ War. |
18. Battle of Lake Peipus (1242)
Location: Lake Peipus, Novgorod Republic
Combatants: Novgorod Republic vs. Teutonic Knights
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Novgorod: Alexander Nevsky Teutonics: Hermann of Dorpat |
| Notable Nobles | Andrey Yaroslavich (Novgorod) |
| Weapons | Novgorod: Bardiche axes, spears Teutonics: Zweihänders, crossbows |
| Tactics & Outcome | Nevsky lured knights onto thin ice; many drowned. Novgorod victory halted German expansion eastward. |
19. Battle of Shrewsbury (1403)
Location: Shrewsbury, England
Combatants: Henry IV vs. Percy Rebellion
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Royalists: Henry IV Rebels: Henry Percy (Hotspur) |
| Notable Nobles | Prince Henry (future Henry V), Earl of Douglas |
| Weapons | Both sides: Longbows, bills, daggers |
| Tactics & Outcome | Royalists used dismounted men-at-arms to counter rebel archers. Hotspur killed. Royalist victory crushed the rebellion. |
20. Battle of Kosovo (1389)
Location: Kosovo Field, Serbia
Combatants: Serbian Principality vs. Ottoman Empire
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Serbs: Prince Lazar Ottomans: Murad I |
| Notable Nobles | Vuk Branković (Serbian), Bayezid I (Ottoman heir) |
| Weapons | Serbs: Maces, spears, sabres Ottomans: Yatagan swords, composite bows |
| Tactics & Outcome | Mutual heavy losses; both leaders died. Ottoman pyrrhic victory weakened Serbia. |
21. Battle of Bosworth Field (1485)
Location: Leicestershire, England
Combatants: House of Lancaster (Henry Tudor) vs. House of York (Richard III)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Commanders | Lancaster: Henry Tudor York: Richard III |
| Notable Nobles | Lord Stanley (switched sides), Earl of Oxford |
| Weapons | Both sides: Longswords, bills, poleaxes |
| Tactics & Outcome | Stanley’s defection decided the battle. Richard III killed. Tudor victory ended the Wars of the Roses. |
Further Reading (UK English)
- The Battle of Brunanburh: A Casebook (Michael Livingston, 2011)
- Æthelstan: The First King of England (Sarah Foot, 2011)
- The Anglo-Saxon World (Nicholas J. Higham, 2013)
- The Hundred Years’ War: A People’s History (David Green, 2014)
- The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Amin Maalouf, 1984)
- The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England (Ian Mortimer, 2008)
Where to Stream Documentaries:
- Agincourt: The King’s Speech (BBC iPlayer)
- The Hundred Years’ War (Netflix)
- Decisive Battles (Amazon Prime)
