One of the best examples of the longbow’s effectiveness was the Battle of Crécy in 1346. Edward III’s army, though significantly outnumbered, decisively defeated the French forces by relying on disciplined formations of longbowmen. These archers devastated the French cavalry and disrupted their lines before they could close in.
The longbow gave rise to a new era of infantry-focused tactics and marked the beginning of the decline of the mounted knight as the dominant force on the battlefield. English victories at Crécy, Poitiers (1356), and Agincourt (1415) owe much to this humble weapon—and to the peasant-class archers who wielded it.
The Black Prince Captured a King
In 1356, the English achieved one of their most spectacular victories at the Battle of Poitiers. Leading the English forces was Edward, the Black Prince, the eldest son of Edward III. The French army was commanded by King John II of France.
Outnumbered and facing a superior force, the English again used longbows and clever tactics to their advantage. French forces were drawn into disarray, and King John was captured during the melee. The image of a king taken prisoner by a foreign prince sent shockwaves through Europe.
King John was treated honorably and taken to London, where he lived in relative comfort but under guard. His capture eventually led to the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360, in which Edward III renounced his claim to the French crown in exchange for vast territorial concessions. France, however, struggled with internal instability, as the king’s ransom created financial strain, and the country descended into chaos during his absence shutdown123