Chevauchée facts for kids

A chevauchée (pronounced "sheh-voh-SHAY") was a type of military raid used in the Middle Ages. It comes from a French word meaning "horse charge" or "promenade." The main goal of a chevauchée was to weaken an enemy by burning and looting their land. This would destroy crops and homes, making it harder for the enemy to feed their people and armies. It was often used during wars of conquest or as a way to punish an enemy.

This tactic was similar to "scorched earth" strategies used in more modern wars. Towards the end of the 1300s, the use of chevauchées became less common. Warfare then focused more on sieges, which involved surrounding and attacking fortified towns or castles.

In the area of Spain and Portugal, this type of raid was called a cabalgada. Another similar raid was the razzia used by Ghazi warriors. A chevauchée could also force an enemy to fight. Or it could make people lose trust in their government. This often caused many people to flee to safe towns and castles. These strongholds were usually not attacked by a chevauchée.

Early Raids in History

The chevauchée became well-known during the Hundred Years' War. This was a long conflict between England and France. But it was not a new idea. It had been used many times before. For example, William the Conqueror used it before the Battle of Hastings. He wanted to make Harold fight him.

During the Hundred Years' War, chevauchées were used more often. They were also done on a larger scale. English armies used them instead of having a very large standing army. These raids were usually carried out by small groups of mounted soldiers. Often, there were only a few thousand men. This was a common English strategy in the 1340s and 1350s. Edward III of England first used these tactics in the Second War of Scottish Independence. These raids sometimes forced the French into big battles, like the battle of Crécy.

The main goal was to weaken the enemy's government. They would destroy resources and take hostages or valuable goods. They tried to avoid large battles.

In medieval Bedouin culture, a ghazwa was a type of limited warfare. It was like raiding and looting. It avoided direct fights. The poet al-Kutami wrote about raiding enemies, neighbors, and even brothers. William Montgomery Watt thought that Muhammad used this raiding idea against non-Muslims. This became a basis for Islamic holy war. Christian states in Spain later copied this razzia style of warfare.

A large raid by a Christian king in Muslim land was called a fonsado. This was perhaps the first word for such raids. Later, cabalgada meant a smaller raid, mainly for plunder. Algaras were even smaller raiding parties. A writer in the 1100s said knights would leave castles daily. They would go on "algarades" to pillage and burn lands around Seville, Córdoba, and Carmona.

An example of a cavalgada happened in 1231. Ferdinand III of Castile ordered it. His forces left Andújar and went towards Córdoba. They destroyed everything in their path. They attacked Palma del Río, killing many people. Then they went to Seville, bypassing it. They continued towards Jerez and Vejer. An army led by Ibn Hud stopped them near the Guadalete river. This led to the battle of Jerez. The Castilian raiders won. They took their loot and left. But they killed all their prisoners. This raid was written about in the chronicles of Alfonso X of Castile.

How Chevauchées Developed

Historian Kelly DeVries says chevauchée tactics became a regular strategy. This happened during the Hundred Years' War after the Black Death. Edward III of England did not have enough soldiers for big battles. So, they used "a quick cavalry raid through the countryside." They would pillage villages and towns that were not fortified. They would destroy crops and houses. They also stole livestock. This tactic aimed to terrorize rural society.

Most soldiers in a chevauchée during the Hundred Years' War were light horsemen or hobelars. These were lightly armed cavalry. Mercenary groups called 'Free companies' also used chevauchées a lot. These tactics had been used successfully against the English by the Scots. This was during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Especially James Douglas, Lord of Douglas and Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray raided Northern England.

Famous Chevauchées

Even though mercenaries often used chevauchées, famous medieval leaders also led them.

War of the Two Peters

The War of the Two Peters was a long fight in Spain from 1356 to 1379. During this war, the forces of Castile constantly destroyed crops. They burned olive trees and vineyards in the Kingdom of Valencia. They kept going until nothing was left. The Spanish word for this was cavalgada. A cavalgada did not always mean mounted troops. It could also be a surprise attack by infantry. After 1340, the early Reconquista ended. For over a century, fighting between Granada and its Christian neighbors was mostly cavalgadas and razzias.

Hundred Years' War Raids

English armies often used the chevauchée during the Hundred Years' War with France. After Calais fell to the English in 1347, Edward III of England launched many raids. He felt the French were weak. Edward, the Black Prince, led his mounted force into Artois. Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster burned Fauquembergues.

Edward III then planned a huge chevauchée with his whole army. It would go from Calais into the heart of France. But his soldiers were tired, just like the French. So, a truce was made that month. This disappointed some soldiers who wanted loot.

In 1355–1356, Edward the Black Prince led a chevauchée from Bordeaux. He went towards the French Mediterranean coast. This caused a lot of destruction. It also challenged French power. Extra defenses were built at Tours to stop the Black Prince from attacking.

In the 1370s, the English launched more chevauchées. These were led by Robert Knolles and John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. But these raids did not achieve much militarily.

Crécy Campaign (1346)

The Crécy campaign was a very large chevauchée. An English army went through northern France in 1346. It destroyed much of the French countryside. It ended with the famous Battle of Crécy. The campaign started on July 12, 1346. English troops landed in Normandy. It ended when Calais fell on August 3, 1347. Edward III led the English army. Philip VI of France led the French army.

Henry of Grosmont's Campaign (1346)

Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster led a chevauchée from September 12 to October 31, 1346. His Anglo-Gascon force had 2,000 soldiers. They marched 160 miles (260 km) north from Gascony. They sacked Saint-Jean-d'Angély and Poitiers. After Poitiers, they pillaged much of Saintonge, Aunis, and Poitou. They captured many towns and castles. These included Rochefort and Oléron.

Black Prince's Campaign (1355)

The chevauchée by the Black Prince in the autumn of 1355 was one of the most destructive. It started from Bordeaux. The Black Prince went south into lands controlled by Jean I, Comte d'Armagnac. Toulouse seemed to be his main target. Edward had an Anglo-Gascon force of 5,000 men. He destroyed the lands of Armagnac. He also spoiled the Comté de Foix. Then he turned east into Languedoc.

The Count of Armagnac strengthened his fortresses. He did not fight Edward. The people of Toulouse got ready for a siege. But the Black Prince was not ready for a difficult siege. He bypassed the city. He crossed two rivers to the south. The French thought these rivers could not be crossed by a large army. So, they had left them unguarded.

Edward kept going south. He pillaged and burned. He caused a lot of chaos. Armagnac's forces stayed in Toulouse. Edward went back across the two rivers without much trouble. Only when Edward was leaving did Armagnac bother the English. After the campaign, Armagnac was criticized by James I, Count of La Marche. He lost favor with the people of Toulouse for being cowardly.

This chevauchée made the important city of Toulouse realize they had to protect themselves. They had to become militarily self-reliant. This happened across France after chevauchées. Toulouse became a key part of France's security for the next two centuries. The 1355 chevauchée was the only time Toulouse was seriously threatened during the Hundred Years' War.

Unlike big cities, French rural villages were not built for defense. These small villages had few fortifications. So, they were easier targets for chevauchée raiders. Without strong walls, villagers would pick a building to defend themselves. Often, this was a stone church. They would dig ditches around it. They would stock it with stones and crossbows. But even with these efforts, peasants had little chance against professional soldiers. Even if they resisted for a short time, they could not last long. Surrendering after resisting was often more costly than giving up right away. Nobles and knights could be held for ransom. But villagers usually could not pay enough ransom. So, raiders would often just kill them instead of taking them hostage. It is not surprising that peasants put up what little resistance they could.

Black Prince's Campaign (1356)

In the summer of 1356, the Black Prince led a second great chevauchée. This one also lacked a clear main goal. Edward had about 7,000 men. The chevauchée began on August 4, 1356. It was aimed at the city of Bourges. This chevauchée was different from the first. Besides raiding, burning, and looting, there was also military action. Edward burned the suburbs of Bourges. But he did not capture the city. He did capture the smaller city of Audley.

Several small groups of French knights were defeated. Edward stopped to besiege and capture the small town of Romorantin. Several French leaders were hiding there. By this time, the army of John II of France was chasing him.

Edward marched west along the Loire River to Tours. He burned the suburbs before marching south. By now, the French army was only 30 miles (50 km) away. They had more soldiers. The French chased faster than the English marched. By September 18, 1356, Edward entered Poitiers. The next day, outside the city, the Battle of Poitiers was fought. This was a great English victory. John II of France was captured. He later died in captivity. His huge ransom, twice France's yearly income, was never paid.

John of Gaunt's Campaign (1373)

In August 1373, John of Gaunt led a force of 9,000 men. He was with John de Montfort, Duke of Brittany. They left Calais on a major chevauchée. At first, they were successful. French forces were not strong enough to stop them. But as they moved south, the English met more resistance. French forces began to gather around the English. But King Charles V ordered them to avoid a big battle. Instead, they attacked smaller groups of English soldiers. These groups had left the main army to raid or find food. The French followed the English. In October, the English were trapped against the River Allier. Four different French forces surrounded them. With some difficulty, the English crossed the bridge at Moulins. But they lost all their baggage and loot. The English continued south across the Limousin plateau. But the weather became very bad. Many men and horses died. Many soldiers had to walk. They threw away their armor. In early December, the army finally reached friendly land in Gascony. By the end of December, they were in Bordeaux. They were starving and poorly equipped. They had lost over half of the 30,000 horses they started with. The march across France was amazing. But it was a military failure.

Earl of Buckingham's Campaign (1380)

In July 1380, the Earl of Buckingham led an expedition to France. He was helping England's ally, the Duke of Brittany. The French refused to fight outside Troyes on August 25. So, Buckingham's forces continued their chevauchée. In November, they besieged Nantes. But the Duke of Brittany did not send the help they expected. Buckingham faced heavy losses of men and horses. He had to give up the siege in January 1381. In February 1381, Brittany made peace with the new French king, Charles VI. Brittany paid 50,000 francs to Buckingham to end the siege and campaign.

Chevauchées in the 1400s

The French campaigns of Henry V of England offered new chances for chevauchées. One example in March 1416 was not very successful. It led to the Battle of Valmont. By the 1420s, many important French towns were under English control. These included Caen, Falaise, Cherbourg, and Rouen. This meant there was less need for chevauchées. The focus shifted to conquering France. After Henry's death, things got worse for the English. Sir John Fastolf, an experienced English commander, suggested returning to aggressive chevauchée tactics in 1435. But his ideas were not used.

See also

• Early thermal weapons: Fire and Sword
• Hit-and-run tactics
• Horses in the Middle Ages
• Scorched earth
• Sherman's March to the Sea