Okla-homey
8/26/2007, 06:39 AM
August 26, 1346 Battle of Crécy
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/25072/2002651378155150333_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002651378155150333)
661 years ago, on this day in 1346, the world was rawked when everyone realized two facts. First, having reached the limit of tolerable armor thickness, the massive number of dead French knights on the battlefield at Crecy in Normandy meant the jig was up for the millenial battlefield superiority of mounted knights versus infantry.
Second, a normally ignorant grubby, profane, stinky common soldier had demonstrated he could kill large numbers of noble, wealthy, perfumed, privileged and educated knights.
At Crecy, during the Hundred Years War, King Edward III's English army annihilated the much larger French force under King Philip VI. The battle, which saw an early use of the deadly longbow by the English, is regarded as one of the most decisive in history.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/76/edward20iii20crossing20the20so.jpg
Edward III plundering his way through France
Here's more on why this battle is so noteworthy. Prior to this battle, and for the preceding thousand years or so, a soldier on horseback could usually have his way with a guy on foot. The odds were even higher for the guy on the horse if he wore armor.
By this time, the science and art of armor making was pretty close to being at its peak. Armor makers had to walk a fine line between making the stuff too thin, or so thick that the knight could barely move, much less fight.
Weeks earlier, on July 12, 1346, the English King Edward had landed an invasion force of about 14,000 men on the coast of Normandy. From there, the English army marched northward, plundering the French countryside. Edward lost a lot of guys along the way to sickness, accident, probably even desertion, but he had at least 10,000 left by mid-August.
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/6863/03a8sw.jpg
Typical 14th c. knights and longbowman...relax, they're "only a model."
Learning of the Englishmen's arrival, King Philip of France rallied an army of 12,000 men, made up of approximately 8,000 mounted French knights and 4,000 mercenary Italian crossbowmen. That should have been more than enough to put the smackdown on Edward, since his force was mostly guys on foot (infantry.)
At Crécy, Edward halted his English army and decided to make Phillip attack him. He set his boys to work making hasty defenses preparing for the French assault. Late in the afternoon of August 26, Philip's army attacked.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2104/battlecrecy0sj.jpg
Period image of the battle. French on left. Note Italian crossbowmen on that side.
The hired Genoese crossbowmen led the assault, but they were soon overwhelmed by Edward's 10,000 longbowmen, who could reload faster and fire much further. The crossbowmen then skedaddled and the French mounted knights attempted to penetrate the English infantry lines.
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1531/piccrecy7ge.jpg
In charge after charge, the horses and riders were cut down in the merciless shower of arrows. At nightfall, the French finally withdrew. Nearly a third of their army lay slain on the field, including Philip's brother, Charles II of Alençon,; his allies King John of Bohemia and Louis II of Nevers; and 1,500 other knights and esquires.
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/25966/2002656081561460359_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002656081561460359)
The battlefield at Crecy
King Philip himself escaped with a wound. The flower of French nobility lay dead, most looking like big metal pin-cushions full of English arrows. English losses were less than a hundred.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/646/crecy4lm.jpg
English Longbowmen
The battle marked the beginning of the end of the mounted knight in European warfare and the rise of England as a world power. From Crécy, Edward marched on to Calais, which surrendered to him in 1347.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/3735/crecy017qb.jpg
Battle monument in the French town of Crecy
Today only six longbows survive, none from the "golden age" and sources do not agree on the dimensions. Most give the length as about 70in. which was taller than most men of the era, with a drawing weight of 75-100lbs. The arrows were between 27-36" long.
A trained archer could shoot 12 arrows a minute, but some sources say that the most skilled archers could fire twice this number. In fact, historians have found period accounts in which leaders expected a trained longbowman to put three arrows into the air before the first one struck the ground. The arrow could wound at 250 yards, kill at 100 yards and penetrate armor at 60 yards.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2503/broadarrow1ec.jpg
The arrows were tipped with steel broadheads because they were practically impossible to remove without doing more damage to tissue.
As an aside, those English longbows were made from a certain kind of wood called "yew." Based on what happened on this day in 1346, for the next three hundred years, the English crown maintained and protected by royal statute several forests of yew trees in order to ensure there would always be a good supply for longbow-making.
http://aycu02.webshots.com/image/27561/2002639022499079067_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002639022499079067)
Additionally, for the next three hundred years or so, English towns maintained a "butt" (an archaic term for a rudimentary archery range.) Able-bodied men were expected to regularly visit the butt and fire a few dozen arrows at a stump target from a distance of 100 yards or so just to stay in practice. Thus, Englishmen "went to the butt" on a weekly basis.
http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/24205/2002612656132604162_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002612656132604162)
This practice is important because consistently drawing a 75-100lb. longbow requires conditioning. In fact, skeletons of seasoned English crossbowman recovered from the wreck of a contemporary English ship named Mary Rose which were examined by modern forensic paleontolgists revealed these guys' right chest, shoulder and forearms were markedly more developed than their weak side.
Here in Oklahoma, Indian archers regularly participate in "cornstalk shoots" in which a pile of corn stalks are stacked in a pile as the target similar to the medieval English butt protocol. Then, a line of archers takes it's position about 100 yds uprange. The goal is to elevate and have your arrow plunge into the pile and spear as many stalks as possible.
Each man fires three arrows, all individually marked. After they are fired, a scorer extricates the arrows from the pile of corn stalks assigning points according to the number of cornstalks each arrow penetrates. These points are tallied and at the end of the afternoon, a winning team is announced who amassed the most points.
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/25512/2006105552576446799_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006105552576446799)
Cornstalk shoot target
You can observe a cornstalk shoot any third Saturday during dry weather over in Tahlequah. It's run by the Cherokee Nation's Cornstalk Shooting Society. You don't have to be Indian to participate, but you must use a "self" bow. Your correspondent is the token white guy on a team of Creeks from Okmulgee who enjoy doing this stuff.
Finally, ever wonder why Brits often flash the backwards "Peace" sign (palm towards the gesturers face) as a gesture of disdain or derision, rather like our "bird?" Lots of historians believe it literally derives from this battle.
Remember, the English bowman used three fingers on their right hands to "nock" (hold arrow to the bowstring) and shoot. The index and middle finger were essential because it was between those two fingers the arrow's nock was held to the bowstring. Flashing those two fingers to a hated Frenchman for centuries afterwards was a visual reminder of kicking arse at Crecy on August 26. Now, its become more of a general "I'll kick your arse!" gesture.
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/1720/untitled6wh.png
Churchill flashing the "V" for victory. Note his palm is facing you.
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6028/image26ex.gif
Churchill flashing the "F-you buddy!" See the difference?
Have a great weekend folks, its almost time for Sooner football!
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/7486/insane7zo4rk.jpg
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/25072/2002651378155150333_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002651378155150333)
661 years ago, on this day in 1346, the world was rawked when everyone realized two facts. First, having reached the limit of tolerable armor thickness, the massive number of dead French knights on the battlefield at Crecy in Normandy meant the jig was up for the millenial battlefield superiority of mounted knights versus infantry.
Second, a normally ignorant grubby, profane, stinky common soldier had demonstrated he could kill large numbers of noble, wealthy, perfumed, privileged and educated knights.
At Crecy, during the Hundred Years War, King Edward III's English army annihilated the much larger French force under King Philip VI. The battle, which saw an early use of the deadly longbow by the English, is regarded as one of the most decisive in history.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/76/edward20iii20crossing20the20so.jpg
Edward III plundering his way through France
Here's more on why this battle is so noteworthy. Prior to this battle, and for the preceding thousand years or so, a soldier on horseback could usually have his way with a guy on foot. The odds were even higher for the guy on the horse if he wore armor.
By this time, the science and art of armor making was pretty close to being at its peak. Armor makers had to walk a fine line between making the stuff too thin, or so thick that the knight could barely move, much less fight.
Weeks earlier, on July 12, 1346, the English King Edward had landed an invasion force of about 14,000 men on the coast of Normandy. From there, the English army marched northward, plundering the French countryside. Edward lost a lot of guys along the way to sickness, accident, probably even desertion, but he had at least 10,000 left by mid-August.
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/6863/03a8sw.jpg
Typical 14th c. knights and longbowman...relax, they're "only a model."
Learning of the Englishmen's arrival, King Philip of France rallied an army of 12,000 men, made up of approximately 8,000 mounted French knights and 4,000 mercenary Italian crossbowmen. That should have been more than enough to put the smackdown on Edward, since his force was mostly guys on foot (infantry.)
At Crécy, Edward halted his English army and decided to make Phillip attack him. He set his boys to work making hasty defenses preparing for the French assault. Late in the afternoon of August 26, Philip's army attacked.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2104/battlecrecy0sj.jpg
Period image of the battle. French on left. Note Italian crossbowmen on that side.
The hired Genoese crossbowmen led the assault, but they were soon overwhelmed by Edward's 10,000 longbowmen, who could reload faster and fire much further. The crossbowmen then skedaddled and the French mounted knights attempted to penetrate the English infantry lines.
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1531/piccrecy7ge.jpg
In charge after charge, the horses and riders were cut down in the merciless shower of arrows. At nightfall, the French finally withdrew. Nearly a third of their army lay slain on the field, including Philip's brother, Charles II of Alençon,; his allies King John of Bohemia and Louis II of Nevers; and 1,500 other knights and esquires.
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/25966/2002656081561460359_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002656081561460359)
The battlefield at Crecy
King Philip himself escaped with a wound. The flower of French nobility lay dead, most looking like big metal pin-cushions full of English arrows. English losses were less than a hundred.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/646/crecy4lm.jpg
English Longbowmen
The battle marked the beginning of the end of the mounted knight in European warfare and the rise of England as a world power. From Crécy, Edward marched on to Calais, which surrendered to him in 1347.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/3735/crecy017qb.jpg
Battle monument in the French town of Crecy
Today only six longbows survive, none from the "golden age" and sources do not agree on the dimensions. Most give the length as about 70in. which was taller than most men of the era, with a drawing weight of 75-100lbs. The arrows were between 27-36" long.
A trained archer could shoot 12 arrows a minute, but some sources say that the most skilled archers could fire twice this number. In fact, historians have found period accounts in which leaders expected a trained longbowman to put three arrows into the air before the first one struck the ground. The arrow could wound at 250 yards, kill at 100 yards and penetrate armor at 60 yards.
http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/2503/broadarrow1ec.jpg
The arrows were tipped with steel broadheads because they were practically impossible to remove without doing more damage to tissue.
As an aside, those English longbows were made from a certain kind of wood called "yew." Based on what happened on this day in 1346, for the next three hundred years, the English crown maintained and protected by royal statute several forests of yew trees in order to ensure there would always be a good supply for longbow-making.
http://aycu02.webshots.com/image/27561/2002639022499079067_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002639022499079067)
Additionally, for the next three hundred years or so, English towns maintained a "butt" (an archaic term for a rudimentary archery range.) Able-bodied men were expected to regularly visit the butt and fire a few dozen arrows at a stump target from a distance of 100 yards or so just to stay in practice. Thus, Englishmen "went to the butt" on a weekly basis.
http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/24205/2002612656132604162_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002612656132604162)
This practice is important because consistently drawing a 75-100lb. longbow requires conditioning. In fact, skeletons of seasoned English crossbowman recovered from the wreck of a contemporary English ship named Mary Rose which were examined by modern forensic paleontolgists revealed these guys' right chest, shoulder and forearms were markedly more developed than their weak side.
Here in Oklahoma, Indian archers regularly participate in "cornstalk shoots" in which a pile of corn stalks are stacked in a pile as the target similar to the medieval English butt protocol. Then, a line of archers takes it's position about 100 yds uprange. The goal is to elevate and have your arrow plunge into the pile and spear as many stalks as possible.
Each man fires three arrows, all individually marked. After they are fired, a scorer extricates the arrows from the pile of corn stalks assigning points according to the number of cornstalks each arrow penetrates. These points are tallied and at the end of the afternoon, a winning team is announced who amassed the most points.
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/25512/2006105552576446799_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006105552576446799)
Cornstalk shoot target
You can observe a cornstalk shoot any third Saturday during dry weather over in Tahlequah. It's run by the Cherokee Nation's Cornstalk Shooting Society. You don't have to be Indian to participate, but you must use a "self" bow. Your correspondent is the token white guy on a team of Creeks from Okmulgee who enjoy doing this stuff.
Finally, ever wonder why Brits often flash the backwards "Peace" sign (palm towards the gesturers face) as a gesture of disdain or derision, rather like our "bird?" Lots of historians believe it literally derives from this battle.
Remember, the English bowman used three fingers on their right hands to "nock" (hold arrow to the bowstring) and shoot. The index and middle finger were essential because it was between those two fingers the arrow's nock was held to the bowstring. Flashing those two fingers to a hated Frenchman for centuries afterwards was a visual reminder of kicking arse at Crecy on August 26. Now, its become more of a general "I'll kick your arse!" gesture.
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/1720/untitled6wh.png
Churchill flashing the "V" for victory. Note his palm is facing you.
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6028/image26ex.gif
Churchill flashing the "F-you buddy!" See the difference?
Have a great weekend folks, its almost time for Sooner football!
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/7486/insane7zo4rk.jpg