The Bloody Medieval Invasion of France | Battle of Crecy 1346

[@nishgriff1]

This channel is apparently what I've wanted since I was a kid. Real history docs of higher quality than the history channel used to have before it became the ancient aliens channel. Great work, how does it only have 1m subscribers? The quality is amazing. Thanks!

[@CelticSaint]

Ancient Aliens. What a complete and utter travesty that program is. Utter utter rubbish of the highest order. I hate it.

[@brettcurtis5710]

Another great effort from Dan Jones! Love both his and the other Dan (Snow) programmes - my go-to on a rainy day (or any day)!

[@itsnotash69]

In the UK everyday is a rainy day

[@capcompass9298]

@@itsnotash69 ...except for the sunny ones!

[@itsnotash69]

@@capcompass9298 what sunny days 🤣

[@capcompass9298]

@@itsnotash69 Get your dictionary out!

[@xdizzy12]

Earlier this year we, a group of friends, did a tour of these battle locations, including the alternative sites. Great to get some more details and information about the proposed alternative site of Crecy.

[@bf3075]

Awesome! I bet that was amazing. Was the tour a caravan led by a guide? If so I’d be interested in getting info on setting up a tour. Would you share?

[@xdizzy12]

@@bf3075 It was with Cranenburgh Travel, owned by a friend of mine who is a historian. He organises and hosts historic tours a couple times a year. It's usually in Dutch language (we are Dutch), but given enough demand he could easily do English and German language tours.

[@Deadround34]

U so lucky

[@bf3075]

@@xdizzy12 thank you so much for the info. I’ll certainly see if more people might be interested in doing this also and if so I’ll look at getting in touch. Appreciate the help.

[@paulm3033]

I did the same ,also with friends , visited Crecy and Agincourt, an ambition I've had since I was a boy , it didn't disappoint.

[@dperson9212]

Essex Dogs is as good a book that I've read about that era, its superb. The follow up was excellent too. Looking forward to the 3rd installment.

[@FreddytheRed]

Amazing documentary. Love Dan Jones, absolute baller when it comes to medieval history. I'm starting a History degree next year, it's my dream to be able to do something like this as a career. Thanks for the content HistoryHit.

[@mmtelz]

How is this content FREE?!?! Amazing ❤❤❤

[@juancana457]

The pleasure of informing others is very real.

[@rickynieves3144]

Don't jinx us 🤫

[@patrickbaumgardner2765]

War is brutal, but war with swords, spears, and arrows is freaking insane! Imagine being there, absolutely devastating carnage!

[@prometheusr]

Pure butchery.

[@keithad6485]

Seems the only modern comparison are infantry bayonet charges. Gutsy stuff to resist a bayonet charge with that unforgiving steel aimed for your belly.

[@bohemian-girl]

Yes, this is true. If you see the video on the Battle of Towton, apparently there were twenty eight thousand casualties, in a battle fought at close quarter in mud and winter blizzard conditions. ^^

[@kimberlypatton205]

There are some great doc videos here on YT featuring archaeological finds and forensic assessments of mass graves of medieval battlefields . There is one on the Battle of Towton that is excellent.

[@bohemian-girl]

@@kimberlypatton205 Thank you for the hands up I'll look at it when I find some time ^^💕

[@djjamestobin]

Great subject matter, great content, great presenter, great visuals, great sound .. thoroughly enjoyed watching this video! Thanks HistoryHit :)

[@gregedmand9939]

Before you begin to feel outrage over the English conducting this kind of warfare in the 100 years war, remember this was standard operating conduct by European armies in this time. Those who were so shocked by Edward's army conduct, had a completely different view of their own French military conduct on campaign. There were few conflicts that were black and white, good vs evil wars like we pretend only exist today. These were Game of Thrones wars... Minus the dragons and the White Walker's. With the poor townsfolk and farmers caught in the middle.

[@4362mont]

You can assume my outrage forms at tge speed of light.

[@kerrycooper-dean4243]

I think innocents are still caught up in the crossfire of war today.

[@robbieatvic]

Well said, it's like the brutality of the previous 1000 years didn't exist. Nothing new here. Great show tho really enjoyed it.

[@Gloocar]

Where is the proof that dragons and white walkers didn't exist then?? I don't believe you

[@danielwarren8539]

Yeah. Both the English and French were arseholes.

[@paulmilsommusic]

Does Dan Jones make the best medieval vids or what! Thats a rhetorical question...he does. Thoroughly enjoyable Dan. Thank you. From your friend paul

[@craftygnome97]

Love these docs, the music is a real pain in the butt though when your trying to go to sleep

[@JohnJ-p7o]

Great historical documentary once again . Dan Jones is the best .

[@elainewilliams8938]

this has been so good to listen too thank you Dan so good

[@arg1051]

Never would have looked at this guy on the beach and expected to hear him say, "I've always been fascinated by Edward III's 1346 campaign."

[@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont]

The fact that it was an English victory must help.

[@garethjones4742]

I'm ex millitary, tattoos and to be honest a bit rough looking. I got my undergrads in history when I got out. I've had most of the best historical discussions with people who don't look like stereotypical history nerds. History is for everyone. That's its delight. You don't need a physics degree to be intensly interested in a place/story/event/epoch as an amateur.

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

Great video! Just a small (pedantic!) point that Edward The Black Prince, would have been known as Edward of Woodstock around the time of the battle. The Black Prince epithet seems to be applied around the 16th Century, probably referencing his armour or the shield he used in jousting. (Of course I'm sure Dan knows this and is just choosing the more famous name, but for anyone who didn't know, it might be worth something to you!)

[@ellie698]

One of my favourite poems is set in the battle of Crecy. The Fly by Miroslav Holub

[@poet.alhashimi]

Excellent documentary, thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@jeffreymanestar5319]

Outstanding documentary, so interesting. Thank u

[@paulm3033]

Let's not forget that the doctrine of chivalry didnt extend to the common soldiers and the french nobiilty who made up the bulk of the french army ,were particularly contemptible of the english and welsh archers, and would have shown them no mercy whatsoever, its sometimes easy and tempting for the vanquished to claim unfairness .

[@fizzmoe9846]

Let’s also not forget that the idea of chivalrous knights in armor is complete hogwash

[@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont]

It is said that at the end of the Battle of Formigny (1450), the English archers preferred to fight to the de-ath rather than be captured by the French.

[@dogrudiyosun]

How can bulk of an army be of aristocrates?

[@Delfringer]

@@dogrudiyosun a question of culture above all, France had chivalry as a culture and it was reserved for the noble being knight the loss of many nobles in the war even benefited the French king who gained power

[@Pincer88]

This is so well done. An honest and fascinating account of how brutal warfare was and how close it got. Is Dan's book already available by the way?

[@LuzMaria95]

yes I think it is.

[@robertthomas1717]

Very interesting, I learned a lot. Thanks

[@DJHalfbarr]

Damn, going to have to pick up the Thomas of Hookton books by Bernard Cornwell again... (Starts with Harlequin/ The Archers Tale and is a great picture of Edward's and his sons Chevauchees of the 100s years war, from the perspective of a group of war bow archers)

[@asburycollins9182]

Those are great! Saxon chronicles are s bit better tho imo

[@bkp7777]

it was fantastic that you had Michael Livingston on, with the actual field of battle... great job!

[@bradleypierce1561]

Thank you for this video. Always interesting to see the history between England and France. ❤

[@nataliavinokurova9535]

Thank you very much! The documentary is absolutely amazing!

[@AdamSullivan-o9c]

Great stuff. Keep up the good work.

[@billyt7081]

Wow I've read The Black Prince by Michael Jones, among other "historically accurate" pieces of this time, and there were some real eye openers here.

[@Dotson6996]

You guys should do a series on the Sharpe books and series. Show what's taken from history and what's fiction.

[@along9971]

I just love Dan,both of them lol

[@PavelD83]

Blind King John of Bohemia came to Crécy to basically die in battle. He tied his horse's bridle to those of his attendants and galloped at the English into the melee; all were killed.

[@craigcoates6247]

Great documentary, thank you very much

[@shackledcitizen]

Thank you father, well said. keep up giving your message.

[@donaldedgar1004]

A brilliant documentary and well put together I wish there was even a dvd player about when I was at school and no we didn’t us slates and chalk we had paper and pen

[@Lokipoisonivi]

Where are these documentaries in the app. I haven’t much choice

[@Medievalshields]

Fascinating and informative

[@oldbari2604]

The longbow men did not shoot their arrows into the air as your live clips kept showing. They shot them straight at the enemy as the old medieval illustrations you use show.

[@asburycollins9182]

Not exclusively. But youre mostly correct in that assertion

[@jbagger331]

Just history, no politics, no weird agendas, just what happened. Great stuff.

[@abasudoh7459]

I'm currently reading Essex Dogs

[@madabouthistory4611]

love history 😎

[@nickwilliamson2365]

Great video. Would have liked more about how and why the 'new' battlefield site can be justified. And 'a senior commander on the French side' said we shouldn't attack based on the disposition of the armies. And who is the quote from? *Blind* King John of Bohemia!

[@abskhan8334]

Thanks for enlightening us, your great, real Patriots want our country to prosper not decline.

[@JohnMacFergus-oz5cp]

Great episode, great knowledgeable presenters! An important slice of history from which we should all learn. Thanks Dan, and the whole team at History Hit!

[@jamesroberts2216]

I started by wondering if I was going to enjoy this but by the end I was gripped. 👏🏼

[@laurag7295]

The long bow archers certainly made a difference

[@JonathanJBoyle]

I’ve read that a good description of the war bow (not ordinary longbow) - The cruise missile of its time.

[@janpipal9500]

very exciting documentary , hope there might be some archeological finds on this site

[@taramilton8695]

Excellent documentary!

[@LuzMaria95]

Dan Jones is awesome and so is the historian Prof. Michael Livingston!

[@brutus4013]

Loved it! Cheers 😎🥃

[@noreenclark2568]

It's nice to see these French town's /, cities when Dan visits the areas where Edward 111 army was in 1346 although modernised now.

[@calvanoni5443]

Thanks this was great!

[@katherinecollins4685]

Fantastic documentary

[@mikelanglow-bi2sv]

Very good history lesson ❤😊

[@helenejampierremarsh1896]

Merci !

[@Kingshieldwall]

Surely all History is 'what if ? ' Take this episode in history as a hell of an achievement against the odds 🤔

[@donaldgraham6414]

Then French had it coming to them. They should never have taunted King Arthur and Michael Palin like that.

[@Pincer88]

For those wondering: it's called a Chevauchée: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevauch%C3%A9e

[@LuzMaria95]

thanks

[@Bobbymaccys]

The more civilised we become, the more horrific our ancestors appear. But at the time this was standard operating procedure.

[@guyfawkes8384]

56:21 Wow, what a stark difference between the France now and the France that this documentary iis covering.

[@zackhartley4718]

Good stuff 😎

[@cleverusername9369]

Sad to think that we'll soon lose all of these veterans.

[@jaxellis3008]

Veterans of the Battle of Crecy?

[@cleverusername9369]

@@jaxellis3008 (it's a joke)

[@jaxellis3008]

@@cleverusername9369 Hahaha. Thank God. Sorry to ask but some are truly that daft!

[@cleverusername9369]

@@jaxellis3008 I mean, it is sad to think that we will lose D-Day veterans soon, but also I'm sure there are people dumb enough to see "invasion of France" and immediately think "D-day" and they're probably American. And I'm American, so I can say that.

[@jaxellis3008]

@@cleverusername9369 and sadly you are not wrong 🤓

[@JonathanJBoyle]

While listening to the monologue we MUST remember that France was the European superpower of the age. The whole script portrays the English as the most powerful country. Is this another attempt by the BBC (it is aBBC documentary) to demean England? It certainly seems to be. Chevauchee was a tactical method of battle by all European armies at the time. The difference is - the English were better at it than any other army.heading from Caen to the northeast was to pull the French army out of Aquitane - Edward’s duchy.

[@waynestackpoole3652]

I believe the "leopards" on Edwards tabard are the English lion rampant which is still used today. Theres a History Hit.

[@dnmurphy48]

no they are different. The royal lion rampant is Scottish and reflected the later union of the crowns. The leopards or lions (they are referred to as leopards at one time and lions at another) started with the early plantagents. The royal coat of arms changed numerous times over the centuries.

[@markg454]

great presentation

[@JasonD-yc3oy]

Omg what happened to his arms

[@johnnicholas1657]

is this new or old? I feel i have seen some of the sequences here

[@paulm3033]

It would have been helpful if some of Michael's research could have been referenced in the video to explain his claims for suggesting that the battlefield site was about 3 miles away from the traditional accepted location and that the teenage future Bkack Prince wasnt just under pressure during the battle,but actually captured, as both are pivotal to an understanding of the battleod Crecy . I thoight this was a weakness of the video which was otherwise well presented and informative.

[@garyjohnson4778]

He cited some obscure unsupported French source that was not even present at the battle. This guy is no historian. Even his formation theory is completely unsupported. The guy is just a contrarian looking for a point of difference. He ruined this.

[@robertmastnak581]

Very interesting fakts. Thx

[@ArmenianKingdom]

what is wrong with his arms? leprosy?

[@2serveand2protect]

...and then the Plague came.

[@BeeKool__113]

The OG D Day Landing ⚔️

[@shealey9763]

Interesting documentary for sure, I'd like to see the evidence for things such as the Black Prince's capture, never heard that before anywhere.

[@Deluxedracula]

“Woooooooooouhhhhh” ⚔️

[@victorydaydeepstate]

What did his boats look like?

[@paulm3033]

The sack of Caen was horrible but the french would have done the same if the roles had been reversed and they did in fact do just that but on a much larger and longer scale when William the Conqueror laid waste to vast tracts of land between 1069/70 in what has become known as the harrying of the North .

[@Conquerthemall]

Wanted view half now half later But to good to watch separate So I will watch later ;)

[@peterplotts1238]

I would love to see Edward's face if someone told him he was a war criminal due to the conduct of his army in Normandy 21st-century style. I admit I am unduly influenced by the portrayal of Edward in Brave Heart, a telling far from historical, but I loved the character. I can't remember the actor's name, but his depiction was entertaining and funny.

[@DaughterofLir]

The Edward in Braveheart is Edward I. This is much later and is his grandson, Edward III.

[@peterplotts1238]

@@DaughterofLir Oh, that is embarrassing. I should have realized that. The Braveheart Edward I was still entertaining, nevertheless. There are just too many Edwards among the Kings of England.

[@GeorgeTenev]

I respect historical accuracy and this is exactly why it is ridiculous when they start explaining how massive was an army of 15000 men... I am not going into details you would see that this is nothing, compared to other armies even from this period.

[@deanagarnes2676]

Was war any different from what we are exposed to or experiencing in modern warfare? I feel only weapons have charged. The reason has not changed much either. Someone has something someone else wants, and they are going for it. There will always be those who try to make it right, but they usually lie. Just a thought, mine!

[@9er..]

Only a matter of time before Sir Scott ( and eventually Sir Jones) make a movie🤞🤞🤞

[@rolandscales9380]

He pronounced "Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue" correctly! A lot of KZbinrs wouldn't bother to find out.

[@andrasszabo1570]

Dan Jones isn't a KZbinr. He's a proper historian, with the appropriate expectations for himself.

[@juliangilbert5465]

Did King Edward speak French, or English?

[@otteotte7698]

What music is this?

[@jmwilliamsart]

How many of these medieval buildings, cathedrals, and castle walls survived the destruction of the 2nd World War? Are these medieval cathedrals, walls,and structures the real deal or were they reconstructed after the 2nd World War? How did they reconstruct medieval structures to make them look like how they looked back then?

[@LuzMaria95]

these are all good questions and deserve their own documentary

[@davidtownsend6092]

Frenchman: it was an absolutely horrible event for the French. Englishman interviewing him : Dang how horrible......thanks for the pad tho. Scoreboard!

[@Rod1Malkin]

Excellent presentation!!!!! [+ a very minor side comment. wiki: "Tattoos are meant to be permanent, ... complete tattoo removal is difficult. Some degree of scarring or skin color variation is likely to remain, regardless of the specific method of tattoo removal" ]

[@robbyakes8736]

WAR IS EVIL

[@danielmartin7838]

Not inherently

[@TheUltimateWriterNZ]

39:06 Hmmmm….

[@PSDuck216]

Speaking as a medieval historian and economist: Jones falls into the trap many Victorian “historians” (and others subsequently) have before him: that is to rate events of the past subjectively, from his own modernist views and mores. This, instead of observing objectively, based on the facts (as we know them) from the historical standpoint and the morality of the day, which is markedly different from our own. The medieval median age was about half ours. It was a young, violent culture that encouraged blood sports, and condoned slavery. And not just the English: everyone did it, every country. Remember, Froissart was first and foremost French, pro French, and hardly criticized the French leaders. He wanted to keep his head on his shoulders, after all. I tired of his modernist views, especially “war criminal” observations. Every side, in modernist eyes, was chock full of “war criminals”, from kings, leaders, churchmen and commons. So, Mr Jones, do not tar one side liberally with that appellation. Historians should be objective, not subjective, lest their presentation be labeled a hit piece and propaganda. Just as Mr Jones judges from his personal perspective, we too will be judged in twenty, fifty and a hundred years hence as barbarians if not judged from the point of view of today, not those of future days. Cheers!

[@danielmartin7838]

Annoying and unfair! Or, just ignorant

[@robert-surcouf]

There's one thing about Jean Froissart that many people misunderstand as he was "french" speaker but not french himself as he was born in the county of Hainaut which was in the HRE. The other thing is that many falsely believe the war was strictly between france and england but many duchy in france were loyal or ally with the Plantagenet (the dynasty whic ruled england) rather than with the Valois (the dynasty which ruled france) so their interest was to to portray "england" (more accurately the plantagenet) in a better way than france (more accurately the valois). As Philippa (Edward 3 wife) was from the Hainaut, Froissart was rather pro "english" rather than pro "french". Froissart himself worked mostly for Philippa between 1361 and 1369. In the 1370's and 1380's, he worked for the duke of luxembourg, then the duchess of Brabant, then the count of Blois then the duke of Hainaut (none of them besides Blois were lands in france). He finally worked for the count of Foix (who played both sides in the war) and returned in england in 1395 and it was in that time that he criticized "england" (rather Richard 2 rule). Froissart worked only 2 years at the french court (between 1386 and 1388 when he was under the count of Blois) but spent far more time at the english court so it's a long way to say he tried to please the Valois rulers and the french nobles who supported them.

[@fredengels8188]

we still act as barbarians in many instances

[@Trecesolotienesdos]

Whilst Edward III won hat part of the war, he lost to the French king later in the 14th century.

[@DavoidJohnson]

The enthusiasm shown here for the brutality of the English in their endeavours will be recognised by those in other countries such as Scotland and Ireland.

[@bernhardfraser]

Pathetic.

[@Onora619]

Normandy, 1346: "The English are coming! By sea! By sea!" Massachusetts, 1775: "The British are coming! By sea! By sea!"

[@jadeyork4919]

France is so beautiful. We English are a savage lot, I don't know about Essex, but life in the north is harsh, the weather, the landscape, and this produces a certain type. I'm convinced the English establishment keeps us brutalised, as the North, Scotland, Ulster is a fertile recruiting ground for the armed forces. You only have to look at the English abroad on holiday, or abroad at football matches, to imagine what went down in the middle ages.

[@Onora619]

Also laid the groundwork for the aggressive behavior of the United States and other colonized nations in the centuries to come. They mimicked the Romans philosophy though, so that may be partially why.

[@srebuck]

France, Spain, and Portugal were all brutal colonial powers. Read also about the violent and oppressive Romans. I could go on. We’re nothing special when it comes to brutality.

[@jimkirby1799]

Were not the seeds of Edwards invasion of France sown in the Norman invasion of England in 1066.

[@wisconsinatIon]

Fascinating glimpse of ancient times, and my ancestors. I am a descendant of Edward III via his granddaughter Anne, daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, hence also descended from the Counts of Eu you also mentioned. I want to note that the closed captions to this documentary are VERY DISAPPOINTING., Caen comes out Kong or K, and Chevauchée comes out various ways, but NEVER anything close to the right word, beyond a couple times when it is "chev." Those unfamiliar with the French language or these specific terms or names of geographical place-names will get no help from the closed captioning, and that is sad. There is a massive boatload of information delivered in verbal form, and that limits availability to those already familiar with what you're telling them. Sadly, I find this often to be the case with documentaries of this ilk. Edward III was a bit of an SOB, which made him highly regarded at the time, but I am not really proud of him as my ancestor. I guess the ancestor I'm proudest of would be Eleanor of Aquitaine; I'm descended from one of her sons and two of her daughters. Oh those inbred royals! KUDOS to the French historians who were willing and able to speak with you in English for your English speaking audience. EDIT: Sorry, forgot to say THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK!!!!!

[@laurag7295]

Gee the samecthing happened at Azincourt!

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

No mud happened at Agincourt and poor tactics by the French the use of Longbow has been proven to be formidable but not as overpowering as you were taught

[@brandmotivo]

Dan you should do a documentary with the american guy together..

[@steveford1070]

1000 ships holding 15,000 soldiers?

[@mt_baldwin]

So the Black Prince at Crecy did exactly the same thing, for the same reason, with the same results, as Union general Daniel E. Sickles did at the battle of Gettysburg. The Union army is on the defensive in a fish-hook formation having solid success gunning down the attacking rebel army, then in a foolhardy bid for glory (though he claims he saw an opening) Sickles orders his division to go the offensive, breaks the integrity of the fish-hook by creating two gaps on either side of his division (he stuck out like a sore thumb said witnesses), his division gets enveloped and badly mauled by the rebels, Sickles gets his leg shot off, and General Meade has to send reinforcements to save Sickles and stabilize the line. I guess some things in war never change. Another thing that hasn't changed, The Black Price gained much glory for his foolhardy actions and Sickles did too, being awarded the Medal of Honor for his self-inflicted fiasco. Edit: oh the opening Sickles claimed he saw absolutely did not exist, in fact that rebel position was their strongest on the battlefield and they nearly broke through the Union lines, had Meade not moved to save Sickles the battle of Gettysburg would've had a different outcome.

[@JonathanJBoyle]

The whole documentary (23 mins in) appears to demonise the English. Remember Edward Third was a PLANTAGENET. A French duke. That is why the French army was in Aquitaine - Edward was Duke of Aquitaine. Besides, the French used the same tactics. Also remember how the French treated their own subjects at Soissons, also during the 100 years war, before Henry 5th defeated the French at Azincourt to become king of BOTH England and France (unfortunately, he died before ascending the throne).

[@laurag7295]

I love the regular soldiers then, men who, given a second chance, made something of themselves, their commanding officers and their country😊

[@gio-oz8gf]

Did you not hear the things they did? I doubt you'd have admired them had you been one of the French citizens just going about your daily life. They make the Russians in Ukraine seem like pussy cats.