[MR] Wikipedia: Battle of Poitiers

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Archers,

On this date in 1356, an archery-heavy English army led by The Black 
Prince won a major victory over the French at the Battle of Poitiers: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poitiers .

Poitiers was significant because the French king John II (or John the 
Good) was taken prisoner: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_of_France . John has been accused 
of being the worst king in French history by some historians. This seems 
to be a base slander, as he had no control over the Black death that 
ravaged France during his reign, nor over the English who invaded his 
country. He would be better described as the most unfortunate King of 
France, at least until Louis XVI was topped.

John was taken to England where he was held for a true king's ransom, 3 
million crowns (also given as 4 million ecus) and a number of 
territorial concessions, according to the treaty of Bretigny: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_of_France . With the ransom 
payments slow in coming, John was released back to France to raise the 
money. His second son, Louis, Duke of Anjou, and 39 other nobles became 
substitute hostages. Louis, anxious to pursue his own kingdom in Italy, 
escaped from the English. When John learned of this, he voluntarily 
returned to captivity in England. John was lauded by the English for 
this knightly gesture. He died a few months later. I have not been able 
to determine from my readings if the rest of the ransom was ever paid.

Also taken prisoner with King John was his fourth son, the 14-year-old 
Lord Philip. Philip earned the title "The Bold" for a defense of his 
father, and later was created Duke of Burgundy. He would also rule 
France as regent for many years: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_the_Bold .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot