The Battle of Crecy (Part 2)

Question 1

What day was the Battle of Crecy? (1)

Answer 1

26th August 1346

Question 2

Where did the French army arrive from? (2)

Answer 2

• Philip’s army came north from Abbeville

- The advance guard arrived before the Crécy-Wadicourt

Question 3

What advice did some of the French knights give to Philip VI before the battle started? (2)

Answer 3

They advised the King that his army should encamp (1) and wage battle the next day when concentrated and fresh. (1)

Question 4

Why was the French army disorganised before the start of the battle? (3)

Answer 4

• The army’s top level of arrogant and independent minded nobles did not listen to the King
• They were all jealous of each other and determined to show themselves the champions of France.
• They all wanted to attack without delay, which Philip gave into.

Question 5

Name three French commanders, other than Philip VI, at the battle? (4)

Answer 5

• Duke of Alencon
• Count of Blois
• Duke of Lorriane
• John the ‘blind’ King of Bohemia.

Question 6

How many (approx) in each army? (2)

Answer 6

• 14,000 Englishmen

- 26,000 Frenchman

Question 7

What type of mercenaries did the French employ? (1)

Answer 7

• Genoese crossbowmen.

Question 8

What happened around 5.30pm? (1)

Answer 8

• A sudden summer thunderstorm swept through the battlefield.

Question 9

Why did the rain harm the French chances of victory? (2)

Answer 9

• The bow strings of the Genoese were soaked.

- They lost considerable power and range in their weapons.

Question 10

Why did the rain not harm English chances of victory? (2)

Answer 10

The English archers removed their bowstrings (1) and put them inside their jackets (1)

Question 11

How did the French chronicler Jean Froissart describe the first arrow volley from the English? (3)

Answer 11

“The English archers each stepped forth one pace, drew the bowstring to his ear, and let their arrows fly; so wholly and so thick that it seemed as snow.”

Question 12

Apart from the rain what else stopped the Genoese crossbowmen from being effective? (2)

Answer 12

• They had left their pavises (shields) back in the baggage train (1) and could not find any cover from the longbow arrows. (1)

Question 13

How did the arrow storm affect the crossbowmen and what was the French reaction? (2)

Answer 13

• The barrage inflicted significant casualties on the Genoese.
• It forced them to retreat
• The French knights killed the crossbowmen who they believed were retreating

Question 14

Why were the French ‘funnelled’ towards the English position? (2)

Answer 14

• Horses could not get down the steep ridge (1) that ran along the south side of the valley (1) (Valleés des Clercs) (1)

Question 15

How many charges are the French said to have made up the slope? (1)

Answer 15

17.

Question 16

What did Edward, the Black Prince, ask for from his father during battle? (2)

Answer 16

• At some point the Black Prince requested extra men (1) to help him in his fight against the French vanguard.

Question 17

What was Edward III’s reaction when he heard that his son needed help? (3)

Answer 17

• He is said to have said -“I am confident he will repel the enemy without my help. Let the boy win his spurs.”

Question 18

What other weapon helped, in a small way, the English in the battle? (2)

Answer 18

• 5 canons (1) – the first time to be used in a European battle. (1)

Question 19

Around what time did Philip VI concede defeat? (1)

Answer 19

• 11.30pm

Question 20

What were the losses (approx) on each side? (3)

Answer 20

• 100-300 Englishmen killed
• 2,000-4,000 French knights killed
• Unknown number of French infantry

Question 21

Which notable casualty did the Black Prince honour and how? (4)

Answer 21

• The blind King John of Bohemia
• He decided to use his motto ‘Ich Dien’ (I serve)
• He used his coat of arms the three feathers
• These are still used by the Prince of Wales to this day.

Question 22

What did Edward III do after the battle? (3)

Answer 22

• He besieged the port at Calais (1) until it fell in 1347 (1)
• It would remain in English hands until 1558 during the reign of Mary Tudor.

Question 23

Why did this victory not see an end to the Hundred Years’ War? (2)

Answer 23

• The siege of Calais took longer than expected

- The outbreak of the Black Death brought hostilities to an abrupt end.