The Battle of Crecy (Part 1) Flashcards
How far back could you take the origins of the Battle of Crécy and why? (3)
- The seeds of the Battle of Crecy were sown on the slopes of Senlac ridge at the Battle of Hastings.
- From that moment England and Normandy were connected
- The long struggle over the Angevin Empire and ultimately the crown of France began.
Why is the battle famous in England? (2)
- The battle was, for England, one of the ‘high points’ of the Hundred Years’ War (1) (1337-1453) (1)
- It saw, for the first time, the triumph of the longbow on a European battlefield. (1)
Which two military battles had Edward III had success at before Crécy (2) & what was the significance of both? (2)
- The Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333
- This made him ready to respond to a direct threat from the King of France in 1336.
- The Battle of Sluys in 1340
- It was a victory at sea and gave Edward of the channel and safe passage to France.
Why was raising an army difficult for the two sides? (1)
- Shortage of money
How did Edward raise money for the war? (2)
- He promised Lords/barons plunder and ransom through chevaucheés
What was a chevauchée? (2)
- A raid, usually on horseback, to plunder (steal goods) an area.
- It was not to take land, but to ‘lay waste’ to an area.
Why did Edward look to use longbow men in his army? (2)
- Lightly armed archers were a more effective fighting force
- Observing ‘chivalry’ meant losing battle
Why did the French detest the longbow men in the English army? (1)
- They regarded using archers as front line troops as unsporting
What type of long range troops did the French often use? (1)
- Crossbowmen
How did Edward prepare his army for the campaign? (4)
- Edward’s planning for the campaign was unusually professional for the times.
- There was physical training
- Compulsory archery practice
- The manufacture of large numbers of bows and arrows.
How many troops did Edward mobilise on the south coast of England? (1)
- 14,000
Where did Edward’s invasion force land? (2)
- At St. Vaast on the Cotentin Peninsular in Normandy.
What did Edward’s army do on the march through Normandy? (2)
- They plundered and terrorised the local population (1) on the way to Paris (1)
How did the French respond to Edward’s march through Normandy? (2)
- By raising a numerically greater army
- They began to pursue the English as they moved west.
How did the English army evade disaster near the River Somme before the Battle of Crecy? (2)
- They captured a Frenchman named Gobin Agache
- Gobin told them about a ford over the river at Blanchetaque.
