Osprey Men-at-Arms 111 : Armies of Crecy and Poitiers

By the time Philip de Valois came to be King in France, animosity between France and England had been growing for many years. When Philip, in order to annoy his rival, instructed his Flemish subjects to cease trading with the English, he set in motion events which would ultimately lead to an invasion by English troops in 1338, under the command of Edward III, eager to avenge the unforgotten expulsion of King John from Normandy. During this period of Philip's reign, English sheep were recognised as the best in Europe, so valuable that their export was prohibited in case the breed was obtained by another nation. The wool from these sheep was the raw material upon which Flanders depended for the prosperity gained in her looms and factories. In retaliation Edward ordered an end to the export of wool, and discontent with the King of France grew daily. Supported by the English sheep farmers and Flemish merchants and artisans, Edward went to war. Christopher Rothero recounts these dramatic campaigns accompanied by many splendid illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by the author himself.

Contents

• The Hundred Years War
• Crecy
• Poitiers
• The Chain of Command
• The Cavalry
• Cavalry Armour
• Infantry
• Mercenaries
• Supply
• An Analysis of Crecy and Poitiers
• The Plates