Edward of Woodstock, more commonly referred to as the Black Prince, was a legendary figure during one of the most significant periods of European history--the Hundred Years' War. As the eldest son and heir apparent of King Edward III of England, Edward embodied an idealized image of chivalry, military prowess, and nobility, earning him the legendary status he holds today. Edward's military exploits and actions as England's Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Knight of the Garter have cemented his place in history as one of the greatest warriors of his time. In evaluating the legacy of the Black Prince, a crucial question arises: did he deserve to be remembered as a heroic warrior of his time, or was he instead a ruthless and savage killer who took the lives of innocent non-combatants without just cause?

The Black Prince is well known for his participation in several noteworthy battles of the Hundred Years War. Below are a few.

Battle of Crecy - 26 August 1346 Crecy Campaign 26 July 1346 – 3 August 1347
Edward's military brilliance was evident from a young age, playing a crucial role in his father's victory at the famous Battle of Crecy when he was only 16 years old. The battle was a significant event that marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

The Black Prince's forces were significantly outnumbered by the French, who had a much larger army and were led by King Philip VI. However, the Black Prince was able to make up for this disadvantage through his tactical brilliance and the innovative use of his troops. He positioned his army on a hillside near Crecy-en-Ponthieu, which gave them a strategic advantage over the French. This was a bold move, as it made the English forces vulnerable to attack from the rear. However, the Black Prince was confident in his troops' ability to defend their position and hold off the French.

One of the key factors in the English victory was the use of the longbow. The Black Prince had brought a large number of archers with him, many of whom were Welsh. These archers were positioned in a defensive line in front of the English men-at-arms, and they were able to inflict heavy casualties on the advancing French forces. The longbow was a highly effective weapon, with a range of up to 250 yards, and could fire up to 12 arrows per minute. This gave the English forces a significant advantage over the French, who relied heavily on mounted knights and crossbowmen.

Top photo: Painting by Julian Russel Story of the Black Prince at the battle of Crecy, 1888. At his feet lies the body of the dead King John of Bohemia. Note: This is a scan of a magnet and does not reflect the true colors of the painting. Source: Wikipedia, in the Public Domain.

Middle photo: Portrait of Edward of Woodstock, the Black Prince and what historians believe he may have looked like.

Bottom photo: Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. 28 October 2013. Tomb of the Black Prince located in Canterbury Cathedral. The church was founded in 597 and completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077. Source: Wikipedia. Public Domain.

The Black Prince's strategic genius was also evident in his use of his men-at-arms. He had them dismount from their horses and fight on foot, which gave them a significant advantage in hand-to-hand combat against the French knights. The muddy ground and the pits dug by the English also made it difficult for the French cavalry to charge effectively. The English forces were able to hold their ground and repel the French attacks, inflicting heavy losses on the French forces.

The Black Prince himself played a heroic role in the battle, leading a charge of mounted knights against the French forces. He was able to break through the enemy lines and take part in hand-to-hand combat against the French knights. His bravery and courage inspired his troops and helped to turn the tide of the battle in the English favor. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the English forces were able to hold off the French and emerge victorious. The actual tally of casualties sustained during the battle remains uncertain to this day, but it is believed that between 100 to 300 soldiers from the Kingdom of England died on the battlefield. On the other hand, the Kingdoms of France and Bohemia lost between 1500 to 5000 soldiers.

Battle of Poitiers - 19 September 1356
Edward's strategic skills were on full display when, in his early years in Gascony, as a Commander-in-Chief, he claimed victory at the Battle of Poitiers on 19 September 1356, despite facing a numerically superior French army and superior weaponry. He led a significant victory against the French at Poitiers, taking the French King John II prisoner. Furthermore, the Black Prince's treatment of prisoners of war was also highly questionable. The Black Prince was also accused of showing excessive cruelty towards his enemies. After the Battle of Poitiers in 1356, he ordered the execution of a number of French knights who were captured, despite their pleas for mercy. The Black Prince took the King of France, John II, as a prisoner after the battle, and many of his actions towards the captive king were seen as unchivalrous. For example, the Black Prince insisted that John be carried on a litter rather than on horseback, a clear attempt to humiliate him. John was eventually released after a large ransom was paid, but the Black Prince's treatment of the king was seen by some as dishonorable. Beginning with a force of nearly 6,000, England lost approximately 40 soldiers compared to nearly 5,000 killed for France, which began the battle with approximately 15,000.

Battle of Najera - 3 April 1367
In 1367, Edward led an expedition to Spain, where he demonstrated his military prowess yet again, defeating King Henry II's ally, the Black Prince's half-brother, and would-be usurper, at the Battle of Najera, also known as the Battle of Navarrete, in northern Castile, securing the Crown of Castile for Pedro. It took place near the town of Nájera located in the province of La Rioja. The battle was a part of the first Castilian Civil War which was fought between King Peter of Castile and his half-brother Count Henry of Trastámara, who had aspirations of becoming the king himself. This civil war had a larger impact as it involved Castile in the Hundred Years' War, which was ongoing between France and England. The naval power of Castile proved to be far superior to that of both France and England, which led to their involvement in the civil war in order to gain control over the Castilian fleet.

Massacre of Limoges - August 1370
One of the most controversial aspects of the Black Prince's military tactics was his approach to warfare. He was known for his brutal tactics, particularly the infamous sack of the city of Limoges in 1370. After a long siege, the Black Prince ordered his troops to massacre the inhabitants of the city, allegedly killing over 3,000 people. His tactics were also criticized for their brutality, particularly in the sacking of the French town of Limoges in 1370. The town was pillaged, and many of its inhabitants were killed, including women and children. This act was seen as an unnecessary atrocity and alienated many of the local French population who were previously neutral or sympathetic to the English cause.

In addition to his impressive military accomplishments, Edward was well known for his chivalric qualities. Edward embodied the code of chivalry, characterized by virtues such as honor, loyalty, courage, and service to one's lord. Some of these qualities were displayed in his victorious campaigns in France and Spain. Throughout his military career, Edward treated his prisoners with chivalric courtesy and respect. Jonathan Sumption writes of Edward's intergrity at the Battle of Crecy: "The bodies of 1,542 French knights and squires were counted close to where the Prince of Wales's line had stood. Some hundreds more lay in the fields around where they had stood.... He had given orders that there was to be no pillaging of the dead and no quarter for the living, orders which he steadfastly refused to revoke until the battle was over." (Sumption 1999, 530)

Was the Black Prince a military hero for England, or as the BBC writes, "a Nasty Piece of Work?" Let us know your thoughts below.

Bibliography

"Edward, the Black Prince." English Monarchs - History of the Kings and Queens of England. Accessed November 22, 2023. https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/black_prince.htm.

Jones, Michael. The Black Prince. New York: Pegasus Books: Simon & Schuster, 2018.

Sumption, Jonathan. The Hundred Years War, Volume 1: Trial by Battle. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999.

"Was Edward the Black Prince Really a Nasty Piece of Work?" BBC News. Last modified July 7, 2014. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28161434.