The Black Prince Of France

As a child he was given his own suit of armor; at the age of sixteen, he helped defeat the French at Crécy. At Poitiers, in 1356, his victory over King John II of France forced the French into a humiliating surrender that marked the zenith of England’s dominance in the Hundred Years War. As lord of Aquitaine, he ruled a vast swathe of territory across the west and southwest of France, holding a magnificent court at Bordeaux that mesmerized the brave but unruly Gascon nobility and drew them like moths to the flame of his cause. He was Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III, and better known to posterity as “the Black Prince.” His military achievements captured the imagination of Europe: heralds and chroniclers called him “the flower of all chivalry” and “the embodiment of all valor.” But what was the true nature of the man behind the chivalric myth, and of the violent but pious world in which he lived?

This study of Medieval military leadership offers a critical comparison of two great rivals of the Hundred Year War. Known to history as The Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock led the English army to victory at the Battle of Poitiers against the French King Jean II. With an illuminating analysis of these fourteenth century commanders, historian Peter Hoskins examines the importance of leadership, strategic vision, and tactical skill in medieval warfare. Paying close attention to their strengths and weaknesses as soldiers, both on campaign and on the battlefield, Hoskins also considers their contrasting characters and backgrounds as well as the military traditions of their time. The Black Prince was one of the most admired generals of his generation: a charismatic leader, decisive commander, and shrewd tactician and strategist. In contrast King Jean was impulsive, driven more by pride than by strategic priorities. When he was put to the ultimate test at Poitiers, Jean lost control of his army. Meanwhile, the Black Prince took the initiative personally to secure victory against the odds. Peter Hoskins analyses the leadership qualities of the prince and the king according to the principles of war enunciated by Sun Tzu and Vegetius as well as the modern principles of war of the United Kingdom armed forces. He gives readers a fascinating insight into the nature of command and the conduct of war in the Middle Ages.

The author has retraced on foot the routes taken by the Black Prince during the French campaigns of 1355-1356, enabling him to provide an entirely new dimension to the events.

Detailed account and analysis of a major event of the Hundred Years War, stressing the logistical efforts behind the fighting. On 19 September 1356 Edward of Woodstock, known as the Black Prince, and his Anglo-Gascon army defeated Jean II of France at the Battle of Poitiers. The victory was the culmination of an expedition which had begun in England in 1355, and saw the successful undertaking of the so-called "grande chevauchée" - which depended on a system of purveyance and recruitment in England, in addition to an efficient supply train which accompanied the army. This book examines in detail the efficient and effective logistics that drove that success; it also shows the powerful connection between tactics and strategy on the one hand, and geography, human topography, and the need for food, water and rest, on the other. MOLLIE M. MADDEN holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota.

Edward, the Black Prince, is one of the legendary figures of English history. The first son of Edward III and an outstanding military leader, he is famous for his decisive victory at the Battle of Poitiers, and he is one of the most charismatic characters of the Hundred Years' War. This classic study focuses on the crucial phase of his extraordinary career - his daring campaign against the French in central and southwestern France in 1355-7. H.J. Hewitt's work is one of the key texts on the Prince, and it will be fascinating reading for anyone who is interested in medieval warfare.

One of the most charismatic and enigmatic personalities of the High Middle Ages, Edward the ' Black Prince' commanded an English division at the battle of Crecy when just sixteen years old. But despite his battlefield exploits, romantic reputation and popularity among the people, Edward has become notorious as a proponent of 'scorched earth' campaigns, or chevauchee. These expeditions amounted to little more than the licensed plunder of undefended towns and the murder of non-combatants. The premature death of Edward saw his infant son ascend to the throne and led, eventually, to the fracticidal chaos of the Wars of the Roses and the emergence of the Tudor dynasty. In this startling reappraisal of the prince's life, David Green assesses his actions in their historical context and examines what might have been had Edward the Black Prince become King Edward IV.