The Battle of Poitiers in 1356. The brilliant victory of the Black Prince

For more than a century, Poitiers has been an arena for bloody battles. Medieval Europe is not surprised by frequent wars, but the curious fact is that it was the battles under this city that changed the destinies of states, rulers, the course of history. The first significant battle at Poitiers occurred in 486, when the Franks defeated the Roman ruler of Gaul and created their own state. In 732, local residents managed to defend the onslaught of the Arabs and preserve the south-western regions. But the most grandiose battle took place during the Hundred Years War between the King of France John II and the Black Prince, the son of an English ruler.

Prerequisites for a bloody battle

The British needed one thing - full control over the southwestern Aquitaine, but the King of France did not want to yield to the enemy these lands, because under such conditions the state could not become strong and independent. Edward III decided to put John II in his place and planned an offensive in three directions. Viceroy in Aquitaine was the Black Prince, the son of Edward III, he was remembered by his contemporaries as a fearless warrior, an intelligent strategist. It was allocated completely black decoration: black shield, helmet, armor, the same color of feathers, black horse.

In the year of the Battle of Poitiers, the Black Prince walked through Aquitaine with fire and sword, pacifying the rebellious inhabitants. Those who resisted, he captured and killed. At the end of the summer, John II decided to try his luck and defeat the British army. He collected a huge army, the number of soldiers superior to the enemy twice, and went to the southwest. The Black Prince began to retreat hastily, but suddenly fell into a trap. The Battle of Poitiers was inevitable, because the British army was surrounded by Frenchmen from all sides.

An attempt at a peaceful resolution of the conflict

The Black Prince immediately realized that his army was doomed, so he tried to settle the conflict peacefully. On his behalf, John II was spoken by the papal cardinal, negotiating a truce. The Prince offered 100,000 gold florins, the return of all fortresses and castles, which he captured in three years. In addition, the son of Edward III offered himself as a hostage, provided that his troops can go home without hindrance. But John II, foreseeing a brilliant victory over the enemy, renounced all conditions.

The most brutal battle of the Hundred Years War

The Battle of Poitiers in 1356 is considered one of the most bloody and unpredictable. The Black Prince realized that he would have to fight to the last, so he carefully thought through everything, personally bypassed all the fighters and cheered them with a parting speech. The English settled on a hilly field with vineyards surrounded by a hedge. From the left flank they were protected by a stream and a swamp, archers were lined up along the hedge, heavy horsemen were behind the hedge.

All indicated that the Battle of Poitiers would be a failure for the British, but the French made a fatal mistake. Their army they built four detachments, moving one after another. In addition, the king refused to help the citizens, fearing that this would diminish the glory of his victory. As a result, the marshals were the first to attack, but they broke away from the main army so that they were instantly beaten and taken prisoner. Then the Duke of Normandy went, but his men were in a cloud of arrows.

The French fled wherever, some troops did not even warn the king of the retreat, so John II lost his cavalry under the control of the Duke of Orleans. The Battle of Poitiers became a real disgrace for the French. The king fought to the last, his squad most affected by the English archers. When the whole army fled, John II surrendered.