The Battle of Crécy is one of the most famous military engagements in history. Within the battle-torn context of the Hundred Years War, only Agincourt has carved so deeply in the national memories of England and France, and only Poitiers can rival it in its geo-political impact. Outnumbered, exhausted, and facing what should have been a decisively stronger force in arms, on 26 August 1346 the English achieved a resounding victory under the banner of King Edward III. It was a triumph that would not only earn its high place in history, but would also pass quickly into heroic legend and national myth. That much is not in doubt.

For all its obvious fame, however, there have long remained questions about what happened on that Saturday in August. Why did the French attack so late in the day? Why were the Genoese crossbowmen employed by the French so ineffective? Why did the French ride down their own men? Did the English longbow really determine this victory, as legend so often relates? How was the English position so unassailable? And where exactly did the battle take place?

In this book we will provide solutions to these and other lingering questions about the Battle of Crécy. Perhaps more vitally, we hope that by gathering together in one place the most important primary documents related to the event, we will provide future researchers with the means to question our answers and better fashion their own.

The introductory essay that follows this preface addresses the context of the Battle of Crécy — what Edward III was hoping to accomplish in France, and why this monumental engagement came to take place in such a seemingly unimportant location. Following this introduction is the core of the book: over 80 sources for the study of the battle, from eyewitness accounts to subsequent retellings in the succeeding generation. These sources are printed in their original languages alongside new translations. Following these are the combined textual and explanatory notes for the sources, among which are many discoveries.

Much of the remainder of the book is made up of 6 new essays that reveal some of our latest discoveries about the battle.