History of Warfare Summary 2 - The Hundred Years' War Part 2: The Battle of Crécy and England's Victory

Early in the war, Edward III launched a large-scale expedition against France. England secured control of the English Channel after a victory at the Battle of Sluys in 1340, and subsequently intensified its attacks on mainland France. In 1346, Edward III landed in Normandy and moved across northern France. When the French army, led by Philip VI, pursued them, the two armies clashed at Crécy on August 26, 1346. The English army established a defensive line on a hill and deployed longbowmen. French knights charged multiple times, but their attacks were ineffective due to concentrated longbow fire and unfavorable terrain. The French army suffered heavy casualties, and the English achieved a decisive victory. Following this, Edward III besieged and captured Calais in northern France. The Battle of Crécy demonstrated that victories were becoming difficult to achieve solely through the charge of heavily armored knights, and the importance of infantry and long-range weapons was growing. However, this did not signify France's defeat, and the war continued.