Battle of Crécy facts for kids

Battle of Crécy

The Battle of Crécy was a very important fight during the Hundred Years' War. It happened on 26 August 1346 near Crécy-en-Ponthieu in northern France. The English army, which was smaller, won a big victory against the much larger French army.

This battle was special because of new tactics and weapons. The English used powerful longbows. These bows could shoot arrows faster and farther than the crossbows used by the French and Genoese soldiers. Longbow arrows also hit with more force. Before this battle, knights on horseback were the most important part of an army. But at Crécy, the longbow changed everything. Some historians even say this battle marked the beginning of the end for chivalry, which was the code of honor for knights.

How the Battle Unfolded

French Knights' Difficult Charge

The French knights wore chain mail armor, often with metal plates. They charged several miles into the battle, even though their king didn't want them to. Their horses struggled through deep mud and had to charge uphill towards the English and Welsh archers. Many French nobles died as they were cut down by arrows.

The knights' horses had very little protection. A storm of arrows killed or hurt the horses. This left the knights stuck in the mud on foot, still under a hail of arrows.

Genoese Crossbowmen's Struggle

The Genoese crossbowmen were at the front of the French army. Their heavy arrows, called bolts, could not reach the English. This was because their crossbow strings were wet from the rain. The archers also shot too early and too low, misjudging the distance.

The English army was on higher ground. They could run a short distance down the hill and easily shoot the Genoese with many arrows. As the Genoese tried to retreat, the French knights attacked them. The knights thought the crossbowmen were being cowardly. This wasted the first charge of the French cavalry and made them disorganized for their attack on the English.

English Strategy and Defense

King Edward III of England was in a strong defensive spot. He ordered all his soldiers to fight on foot. He split his army into three groups. One group was led by his sixteen-year-old son, Edward, the Black Prince.

The English archers stood in a 'V-formation' along the top of the hill. While they waited, the English built defenses. They dug ditches and pits. They also placed caltrops on the ground. Caltrops are sharp metal spikes designed to hurt and stop enemy cavalry horses.

Images for kids

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  Edward III of England
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  Philip VI of France
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  A modern copy of a bodkin point arrowhead. English longbows used these to pierce armor.
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  A picture of an English bombard (a type of cannon) used at the Battle of Crécy.
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  Italian crossbowmen
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  Battle of Crécy (an engraving from the 1800s)
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  The Battle of Crécy, as imagined 80 years after it happened.
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  Edward III counting the dead on the battlefield of Crécy
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  The battlefield in 2018

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Crécy para niños