The Hundred Years War - Battle of Crécy
Visit
Handbags of Fashion Co UK today
2008
Fashion Collection
The
Battle of Crécy, fought on Saturday, August 26, 1346 was the first of
several significant battles during which the longbow triumphed over
crossbowmen and armoured knights.
The Hundred Years War
In
1337 based on the strength of his claim to the French throne as a
direct descendant of Philip IV through his mother, Isabella of France,
Edward III of England refused to do more than simple (non-liege) homage for
Guyenne to the French King Philip VI.
The resulting war that started shortly after between France and England
continued, with periodic truces, until 1453.
The place
named Cressey (Crecy) is a small village in Northern France, it was brought from
obscurity to fame as the scene of a decisive victory in 1346 of King
Edward III of England over King Philip VI of France. King Philip marched
from Abbeville, crossed the Somme river to the village of Cressey, where the
battle took place. King Edward used the much boasted
windmill as an observation post.
The 'Black Prince', was the foremost leader of the English army and he so
gallantly won his spurs that his father, the King, took the hero in his arms
and kissed him.
It was
Saturday, the 26th of August, 1346. On that memorable day, that picturesque
old figure of the battle of Cressey, the blind and gray-headed King John of
Bohemia, son of one monarch and father of another, was slain; linked to two
of his knights with their horses fastened to each other by the bridles and
fighting most valiantly with his sword to his death.
The
thought is an inspiring one. However, the ghastly sight the next day moved
King Edward to tears. But that did not prevent him taking the motto (I
Serve) and feathers of the dead monarch for his own and the English princes
of Wales have ever since retained them. The English took 9 princes,
over 1,200 knights, 1,500 lords, and over 4,000 men-at-arms. The
victory became the pride and boast of the English for centuries. They fought
with bows and arrows, swords and small cannon. King John is one
of the few characters of history that the despoiling hand of the
'fact-lover', has not touched, and the story of his gallant bearing
remains today in all its simple majesty.
This
famous village was from that day to be widely known to fame as the place
where the great 'Plantagenet', or members of the English royal family, a
line of Kings which ruled England for nearly 350 years, after being so
keenly hunted, turned to bay. It was Cressey.
Some highlights
of the battle of Crécy - referenced from the works of Jean Froissant and
The Longbow by Robert Hardy:
French forces numbered approximately 36,000.
English forces numbered approximately 12,000 of which 7,000 were
archers.
The battle line was approximately 2,000 yards wide
The English army, occupying the top of a gentle ridge near the town,
consisted of three groups of men-at-arms and spearmen, with archers
placed on their sides. The archers formed ranks resembling an outward V.
Each English archer carried 2 sheaves of arrows (48) into battle.
Resupply was accomplished by going back thru the lines or having more
brought forward.
The bow draw weights were normally from 80 to 120 lbs.
Arrows, depending on type and weight, could be shot 250 to 300 yards.
The English archers could shoot an average of 10 arrows per minute.
The total number of arrows shot during the battle is estimated at a
half million.
There were 14 to 16 charges made against the English lines from the
start of the battle at 4:00 PM until the completion at midnight.
Casualties were estimated from 5,000 (low) to 10,000 or more (high) for
the French Knights and Genoese crossbowmen. English casualties were
several hundred.
| NOTE: It was during
Edward's taking of Caen, on the way to Crecy, that the "mooning"
incident occurred. Several hundred Norman soldiers exposed their
backsides to the English archers. It is told that many of them paid a high price
for doing so. |
Roll
of Honour Index
Cressey Name Historical
Cressey
Family Historical Data/Index
<Click
Back on your Browser to return to last viewed page>
Hand Bags of
Fashion From Nordham
2008
Fashion Collection
Shona Klien
acknowledges any registered trademarks that may have been used in the
construction of this site The following are also acknowledged for their
contributions. Hull Council Cemeteries Department.
London Institute of Historical Records.
Hull University, Hull Central Library. Norfolk Records Office, PRO and
associated sites. Ministry of Defence, Army and Naval Museums, London.
Records at Netley Hospital. Church of Latter Day
Saints.
Cave-kids
with Clan 2000 The Universal Network of Family Genealogy