Battle of Crécy

battle_name=Battle of Crécy

English dispositions

As in the previous battles against the Scottish, Edward III placed his forces in an area of flat agricultural land, surrounded by natural obstacles in the flanks. The king placed himself and his staff in a windmill at the small hill that protected the rear, where he could control the course of the battle.

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In a strongly defensive position, Edward III ordered that everybody should fight on foot and distributed the army between three groups. His sixteen-year-old son, Edward, the Black Prince, was to command one of them. The army's secret weapon, the longbowmen were formed in a V-formation along the crest of the hill. In the period of waiting time that followed, the English built a system of ditches, pits and caltrops to maim and bring down the enemy cavalry.

Related Topics:
Edward III - Edward, the Black Prince - Longbowmen - Caltrop - Cavalry

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