Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

BATTLE OF CRECY c.1346



The Battle of Crécy (26 August 1346), also called Battle of Cressy, was an English victory during the Edwardian phase of the Hundred Years' War. Married with the later battles of Poitiers in 1356, and Agincourt in 1415, it was the first of three famous English successes during the conflict. The battle was fought on 26 August 1346 near Crécy, in northern France. An army of English, Welsh, and allied mercenary troops led by Edward III of England, engaged and defeated a much larger army of French, Genoese and Majorcan troops led by Philip VI of France. Emboldened by the lessons of tactical flexibility and utilization of terrain learned from the earlier Saxons, Vikings, Muslims and the recent battles with the Scots, the English army won an important victory. The battle heralded the rise of the longbow as the dominant weapon on the Western European battlefield, and helped to continue the rise of the infantryman in medieval warfare. Crécy also saw the use of the ribauldequin, an early cannon, by the English army. The heavy casualties taken by the French knightly class at the hands of peasants wielding ranged weapons was indicative of the decline of chivalry, and the emergence of a more practical, pragmatic approach to conducting warfare.[15] The battle crippled the French army's ability to come to the aid of Calais, which fell to the English the following year. Calais would remain under English rule for over two centuries, falling in 1558. Wikipedia.




A knights coat-of-arms were often cataloged for events such as jousts and tournaments, but also for battles, coronations and even marriages of the upper nobility. Some consisted of a shield, crest and mantling, others were just the shield. In this example the shield is the only part shown.
Battle of Crecy
c.1346




Some of the different armorials types were ordinaries, which were arranged by shield type, (lions, crosses, animal type, etc). There were event type armorials, such as the Dunstable Tournaments of 1308 and 1334. One of the most famous events of the 14th Century was the Battle of Crecy, fought between English and French Knights. Wikipedia





Armorial of Battle

Luxemburg Knights



Bohemian Knights



French Knights



English Knights - 1st Division (Black Prince)



English Knights - 1st Division



English Knights - 1st Division



English Knights - 2nd Division



English Knights - 2nd Division



English Knights - 3rd Division (King Edward III)



English Knights - 3rd Division



English Knights - 3rd Division



English Knights - 3rd Division






List of Participants

All materials at this site are Copyright © 2002 Jon Sneddon unless otherwise noted.
Use of any materials contained herein are subject to stated terms or written permission.
Address any questions to jonsneddon@yahoo.com