The Black Prince and the Capture of a King

A new detailed account of the battle of Poitiers in 1356 which saw one of the most sensational episodes of the Hundred Years War: the capture of the French King Jean by the Black Prince. The capture of a king in the course of a battle was a relatively rare event. This, the climactic event of the Black Prince's first campaign as commander, came at the end of nearly a year of campaigning across the southwest of France. The battle of Poitiers in 1356 is less well known than more famous clashes such as Agincourt, however, Poitiers was no less dramatic, and equally important in terms of the course of the Hundred Years War. The capture of King Jean brought France to the brink of total defeat, and led to one of the most devastating and destructive periods in French history. It is not exaggeration to say that the battle of Poitiers changed the course of history for both France and England. In the summer of 1356 the Prince and his army drove northward towards the Loire, attacking once again deep into French territory. This time he met real opposition: the full French army led by King Jean and many of the leading nobility of France, some of them veterans of the defeat at Crecy ten years before. Outnumbered, the Prince fell back, but in September he turned near the city of Poitiers to make a stand. The battle that followed was a tense encounter. The French had learned much from the disastrous defeat at Crecy, and took time to organise and prepare before attacking. Their advance was deliberate and well-planned, yet the result was the same. Once again, English and Welsh archers wrought mayhem among the French ranks. The French formations disintegrated, and a violent counterattack by English men-at-arms caused it to dissolve entirely. King Jean and his eldest son made a final stand with some of their followers, but in the end they were forced to surrender and were taken back to England as prisoners. AUTHOR: Morgen Witzel is a historian and writer. He is the co-author, with Marilyn Livingstone, of The Road to Crecy: The English Invasion of France, 1346 (2004). He is a Fellow of the Centre for Leadership Studies, University of Exeter Business School and a writer on the history of business and management. He is currently editor in chief of Corporate Finance Review. 16 pages of b/w photographs

“"Witzel and Livingstone (The Road to Crecy) successfully analyze the surprising English victory at Poitiers, a significant achievement that nearly crushed medieval France decades before Joan of Arc's valiant anti-English crusade. This highly focused military history details how the "almost cat-like" Prince Edward chose highly capable soldiers to carry out his risky yet well-reasoned strategies on a battlefield where French forces outnumbered the English three to one. Campaign resources were so scarce at one point that horses died of alcohol poisoning because wine was more readily available than water. While the battle resulted in great potential for a future kingdom combining England and France, it also cemented the Black Prince's reputation as a chivalrous warrior because of his respectful treatment of the captured French king. In this account, the military movements (organized by date) and engagement remain primary, but the authors also offer clear descriptions of the chaotic French monarchy, including King Jean's patricidal heirs, and the unusually respectful and collaborative partnership between Edward III and the popular Black Prince. Ideal for military historians, this taut narrative provides clear political context and a detailed, climactic account of a legendary battle. (July)"”

The authors cover dynastic machinations, royal weddings, military systems and weaponry, notable persons, propaganda (Edward III turns out to have been a fine PR man), mobilization and logistics, and campaign planning. This is a lively account, as the authors touch on much popular lore, such as the origins of the Order of the Garter. Strategypage
The authors have successfully woven a narrative that not only demonstrates the military strategy that unfolded through 1355/56, but also places it firmly in the context of the underlying political intrigue and infighting that beset the French monarchy. Military History Matters (Reviewer)
An engaging campaign account… Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis

Morgen Witzel is a historian and writer. He is the co-author, with Marilyn Livingstone, of The Road to Crécy: The English Invasion of France, 1346 (2004). He is a Fellow of the Centre for Leadership Studies, University of Exeter Business School and a writer on the history of business and management. He is currently editor in chief of Corporate Finance Review.

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