Poitiers (1356)
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| Poitiers (1356) | |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Hundred Years' War |
| Partof | Hundred Years' War |
| Date | 19 September 1356 |
| Place | near Poitiers, Kingdom of France |
| Result | English victory; capture of French king |
| Combatant1 | Kingdom of England |
| Combatant2 | Kingdom of France |
| Commander1 | Edward, the Black Prince |
| Commander2 | John II of France |
Poitiers (1356) The Battle of Poitiers on 19 September 1356 was a decisive engagement of the Hundred Years' War in which Anglo-Gascon forces under Edward, the Black Prince defeated and captured John II of France. The clash occurred near Poitiers and precipitated major political and dynastic consequences for the Capetian dynasty, House of Plantagenet, and the Kingdom of France. The outcome influenced subsequent negotiations including the Treaty of Brétigny and shifted strategic initiative to the English in Aquitaine and Gascony.
Background
In the 1350s the renewed phase of the Hundred Years' War followed the death of Philip VI and the accession of John II of France, intensifying campaigns led by the Plantagenet crown in Gascony and Aquitaine. The earlier naval and land engagements including the Battle of Crécy (1346), the Siege of Calais (1347), and the activities of Anglo-Gascon captains such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster set the stage. Continental politics involving the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of France, and allies like the Kingdom of Navarre and mercenary bands including the Free Companies contributed to instability. Financial strains from the Black Death and burdens on the French royal treasury underpinned John II's attempts to restore royal authority and field a large army.
Prelude to Battle
In summer 1356 the Black Prince conducted a chevauchée from Bordeaux across Poitou and toward Tours and Orléans, prompting a French response under King John II. Strategic maneuvering mirrored earlier operations by commanders such as Earl of Lancaster and Sir Walter Manny, while allied nobles like Charles II of Navarre and Hugh de Sully factored into French dispositions. The English force, composed of Archers and men-at-arms raised in Gascony and England, entrenched near Poitiers in a strong defensive position on a ridge south of the River Clain. French attempts to force battle included probing attacks and negotiations involving emissaries from the House of Valois and captured nobles, but miscommunication and haste among French commanders such as Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Philip of Navarre contributed to the coming disaster.
Opposing Forces
The English contingent was commanded by Edward, the Black Prince, with lieutenants including Hugh Despenser and John Chandos, fielding heavily armored men-at-arms and large numbers of English longbowmen drawn from Wales and Cumberland. The command structure reflected ties to the House of Plantagenet and the Anglo-Gascon nobility. The French host under John II of France included royal knights, feudal levies from provinces such as Bretagne, Champagne, and Normandy, and notable commanders like Étienne de Vignolles (La Hire) and Walter VI, Count of Brienne. The French army outnumbered the English but suffered from poor reconnaissance, divided command between the king and nobles from the Orléans and Bourgogne factions, and limited cohesion against massed English archery.
The Battle
On 19 September the French launched a series of frontal assaults across wooded terrain and marshes toward the English position near Poitiers. English longbowmen deployed in hedged flanks decimated successive French cavalry charges, while men-at-arms formed defensive blocks reminiscent of tactics used at the Battle of Crécy (1346). Key moments included the death or capture of leading nobles from the House of Valois and the collapse of French discipline after repeated repulses. A decisive cavalry action cut off French retreat and led to the rout of many knights; contemporary chroniclers and later historians cite breakdowns in the French vanguard and the failure of coordinated reserves from commanders like Charles de Navarre and Robert II of Artois. The battlefield environment near the River Clain and the use of terrain by the English contributed to the lopsided victory.
Captivity of King John II
Following the rout, John II of France was captured along with numerous high-ranking nobles and knights, including members of the House of Blois and House of Bourbon. The king's captivity in English hands caused an immediate political crisis in Paris and among French estates such as the Parlement of Paris and provincial assemblies in Languedoc. Detention of the king led to negotiations mediated by figures including Pope Innocent VI and officials from the Kingdom of England and resulted in proposals for ransom and territorial concessions. The captured French royal family members were held in locations like Calais and exchanged through complex parleys involving envoys from Bordeaux, the English Crown, and the French regency under princes such as Charles, Dauphin of France.
Aftermath and Consequences
The English victory at Poitiers confirmed Anglo-Plantagenet leverage culminating in the Treaty of Brétigny (1360), which expanded English territorial control in Aquitaine and altered feudal relationships between the crowns. The capture and ransom of John II intensified internal unrest, contributing to uprisings such as the Jacquerie and political reforms advanced by the États Généraux. The battle affected military practice across Europe, reinforcing the prominence of the longbow and combined arms tactics exemplified by English commanders, while prompting reforms in French recruitment and command that would later influence leaders like Bertrand du Guesclin. Poitiers (1356) thus shaped the mid-14th century trajectory of the Hundred Years' War, dynastic alignments among the Capetian and Plantagenet houses, and the geopolitical map of Western Europe.