Loyset Liedet: The Battle of Crécy, 26 August 1346 (1470)

(Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France)

An illuminated page made by the French-Flemish artist Loyset Liedet (1420- after 1479). This miniature comes from an manuscript today called 'Froissart's Chronicles'. Written by the French author Jean Froissart (1337 – 1405), the book covers the history of western Europe from 1326 to 1400. The main focus of the book is the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) between France en England which was fought over the right to rule the kingdom of France. The battle of Crécy took place during a large scale raid conducted by an English army, led by king Edward III. The campaign began on 12 July 1346, with the landing of English troops in Normandy, and ended with the capitulation of Calais on 3 August 1347. While traversing northern France, the English army met a large French army, commanded by king Philip VI of France, near the town of Crécy-en-Ponthieu. Although the French army outnumbered the English army, Edward III managed to defeat the French. The English longbowmen played an important part in the battle by breaking the charge of the French knights. Page from 1470.