Poitiers, Battle of

During the Hundred Years' War, victory for Edward the Black Prince on 13 September 1356 over King John II of France. King John, his son Philip, and 2,000 knights were taken prisoner, and about 3,000 French were killed.

Edward was marching north from Gienne, where he had landed in 1355, with an English army of about 8,000 troops when he found his progress barred near Poitiers by 15,000 French troops under King John. Peace negotiations failed and the battle began with a French attack by dismounted knights which was broken up by English archers. A second attack made slightly better progress but was eventually beaten off. A quarter of the French army fled, but John attacked with the remaining unblooded quarter of his force and pressed the English very hard. Edward sent a small force of English archers around a flank to attack the French from the rear, and this move decided the battle. Although the French fought strongly, by nightfall they had been routed. English losses were small, and Edward was able to make a gradual retreat to Bordeaux.