Poitiers 1356: The Capture of a King

Opsrey's examination of the Battle of Poitiers, which was fought between France and England in 1356. When Edward the Black Prince marched out of Gascony in August 1356, his plan was to carry out a large-scale destructive raid into the territory of the French King, John II. On 18 September, however, he was cornered south of Poitiers by a larger French army, and was left with little option but to fight. The ensuing battle proved an unmitigated disaster for the French. Their army was butchered and the King himself captured. In this volume, Dr David Nicolle details a campaign that enhanced the reputation of the Black Prince and led King John to catastrophe.

Strategies, tactics and battle experiences of opposing armies Each book analyses a major battle or campaign, from outbreak to conclusion, taking stock of the opposing forces to crucial points in the fighting. Full color 3-D 'bird's eye views, ' battle scenes and maps help you to follow the action. One of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War, Poitiers was the battle in which the Black Prince and his English to the engagement to Poitiers, the Black Prince led his Anglo-Gascon army on an ambitious raid far into the heart of France, forcing King John of France to lead his army to meet them south of the Loire. This book examines the events leading up to the battle of Poitiers, and traces the course of the fighting during which King John and his son the Dauphin were taken prisoner.

David Nicolle was born in 1944 and worked in the BBC Arabic service for a number of years. He went 'back to school,' gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He has taught world and Islamic art and architectural history and written many books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare. David has written many titles for Osprey, and currently lives and works in Leicestershire, UK.