The Battle of Poitiers 1356
James Porter SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Regions:
- Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Paid: £70 includes travel expenses.
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 29th July 2025
- Tagged:
- 14Th Century | Hundred Years War | Military History | Longbow
The Battle of Poitiers in 1356 was the second of three great victories of the English over the French during the Hundred Years War. In this talk I trace the background to the campaign - the trade disputes and the yearning of the King of France to take the many English posessions in what is today's France. I describe the campaign by The Black Prince, rampaging through France and unable initially to bring the French to battle. I also cover the organisation of the armies, revealing the gulf between society in England where a national spirit and army organisation had developed, and society in France still clinging to feudalism. I examine the weaponry of the time, particularly the use by the English of the longbow as a battle-winning weapon. The battle itself was long and on a knife-edge, and victory was by no means assured, but the prowess of the Black Prince together with the decisive contribution of the longbowmen at last gave a resounding victory at relatively little cost to the English. The talk lasts around 45 minutes.
Views: 16 | Enquiries: 0About James Porter
I am a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel. I retired in 2011 after 41 years' service. I attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, received a BA (Hons) at Lancaster University, attended the Army Staff College, Camberley. I have commanded an infantry platoon, company and battalion, and served several tours of duty in Northern Ireland. I also served in West Germany, Berlin and the Falkland Islands. I am originally from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. I live in North Dorset. I offer more than 30 different Military History talks, which may be given face-to-face or via Zoom.
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