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Setting the scene
By 1346, the Hundred Years' War was in its early phase. Edward III of England had claimed the French throne and invaded France. After chevauchée (destructive raids) through Normandy, Edward's army of 12,000-15,000 (including 7,000 English and Welsh longbowmen) was pursued by a much larger French army under Philip VI, perhaps 20,000-30,000, including Genoese crossbowmen and French knights. Edward chose to stand and fight near the village of Crécy in northern France on August 26, 1346.
What happened
Edward deployed his army on a hillside, dismounting his men-at-arms and placing longbowmen on the flanks in a 'V' formation. The French attacked piecemeal, without coordination. The Genoese crossbowmen advanced first but were outranged by English longbows (which could shoot 250 yards vs. 150 for crossbows) and were decimated. French knights then charged uphill through muddy ground, but were slaughtered by arrow storms—longbows could pierce armor at close range. The English fought defensively, and the French launched 15-16 separate charges, all failing. The blind King John of Bohemia died fighting, and the French lost 1,500-4,000 knights; English losses were minimal.
Why it still matters
The Battle of Crécy demonstrated the superiority of the longbow and defensive tactics over heavy cavalry, revolutionizing warfare. It established English military dominance and the myth of the invincible English archer. Crécy, along with Poitiers (1356) and Agincourt (1415), showed that well-trained infantry could defeat aristocratic cavalry, undermining feudal social order. The battle also demonstrated the importance of combined arms, discipline, and choosing terrain. Crécy boosted English morale and allowed Edward to capture Calais, which England held for 200 years. The battle marks the beginning of the infantry revolution that would eventually end the age of the mounted knight.
Background
It was an early major battle of the Hundred Years' War. Even centuries later, this episode remains a reference point for how empires rise, fracture, and transform.