The Hundred Years War
Battle of Crécy

English Longbowmen against crossbows (95K JPG)
Picture courtesy of Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

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 afterward between France and England continued, with periodic truces, until 1453.

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.
(Other battles were Poitiers, in 1356 and Agincourt, in 1415.)

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.
• Casulties were estimated from 5,000 (low) to 10,000 or more (high) for the French Knights and Genoese crossbowmen. English casulties were several hundred.