[MR] Wikipedia: Battle of Poitiers and King John of France

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Archers:

On this date in 1356, an English army under Edward, The Black Prince, defeated a much larger French army led by King John II at the Battle of Poitiers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Poitiers . This battle, with Crécy <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cr%C3%A9cy> and Agincourt, was one of the great triumphs of English longbow archery during the Hundred Year’s War.

During the battle, King John was taken prisoner by a French knight fighting on the English side (no doubt for a hefty reward), and was turned over to the Black Prince. King John was eventually taken to London where he was held until a ransom could be agreed in 1360. After his release, King John's son Louis of Anjou was held hostage instead until Louis escaped. King John then voluntarily returned to English custody to redeem the dishonor. King John has been described as the worst king in the history of France by some historians, though I prefer to think of so honorable a man as the most unfortunate King of France (until a Louis lost his head long after our period of interest). You can read more about King John and the trials he faced here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_II_of_France .

The “unknown malady” which eventually struck down John II is thought by some medical historians who have studied the records to have been arsenic poisoning. If so, the most likely suspect (IMHO) was the arch-poisoner Charles II of Navarre (aka "Charles the Bad", or more charitably “Charles the Faithless"), John’s cousin, son-in-law, and general pain in the butt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_II_of_Navarre . Naughty boy. Charles' grim end was an accident, but a well deserved fate for his many crimes.

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge