The Cavalry Reserve at Poitiers
Now that the more recent events have been covered, this entry will take us to the Middle Ages at the opposite end of the timeline. The Battle of Poitiers in 1356 CE is sometimes eclipsed by the Battle of Crécy a decade earlier and the Battle of Agincourt half a century later as far as significant conflicts of the Hundred Years War (1340-1457) are concerned. Following the landmark victory at Crécy and the termination of the 10-year cease-fire, a 12,000-man English force led by Prince Edward "The Black" launched a raid into central France. Despite Prince Edward's best efforts to flee, they were ambushed by a force of 40,000 French soldiers led by King John II. The combat started on September 19 as a result.
Similar to Crécy, the longbowmen once again had a terrible impact on the French, but this time, the battle was far from being so one-sided. They presented the English army with a serious danger by launching three waves of attack. The French army became fearful that they were being surrounded when Edward deployed a troop of 160 cavalrymen to surround them. King John II was captured as a result of this sneak attack, and his ransom wasn't paid until 1360.
Date: 19 September 1356
Location: Near Poitiers, France
