Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the brutal events of 26 August 1346, when the armies of France and England met in a funnel-shaped valley outside the town of Crécy in northern France. Although the French, led by Philip VI, massively outnumbered the English, under the command of Edward III, the English won the battle, and French casualties were huge. The English victory is often attributed to the success of their longbowmen against the heavy cavalry of the French. The Battle of Crécy was the result of years of simmering tension between Edward III and Philip VI, and it led to decades of further conflict between England and France, a conflict that came to be known as the Hundred Years War. With Anne Curry Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Southampton Andrew Ayton Senior Research Fellow in History at Keele University and Erika Graham-Goering Lecturer in Late Medieval History at Durham University Producer Luke Mulhall
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On the 26 August 1346, two armies met in a funnel shaped valley outside the village of Crecy in northern France.
The French, led by Philip VI, far outnumbered the English under the command of Edward III.
However, the English won the battle, a feat often put down to their use of longbowmen against the french heavy cavalry.
French casualties were huge.
The battle of Crecy was the result of years of simmering tension between Edward III and Philip VI, and it led to decades of further conflict between England and France, a conflict that came to be known as as the Hundred Years War.
With me to discuss the battle of Crecy are Andrew Eyton, senior research fellow in history at Keele University, Erica Graham Goering, lecturer in late medieval history at Durham University, and Anne Currie, emeritus professor of medieval history at the University of Southampton.
Anne Currie, can you tell us something about Edward III?