Friday, March 23, 2012

The Battle of Crécy

The Battle of Crécy happened on August 26, 1346 and was the one of the most important battle in the Hundred Years War. In fact, it is one of the most important battles in the history of war.

Why? Well, the invading army of English and Welsh numbered around 9,000 to 15,000 men. They were heavily outnumbered by the French forces of 35,000 to 100,000 men. And they won. They not only won, they won so well, it changed war forever.

How many English and Welshmen were killed? Around two hundred. How many French died? Over 1,500 knights, 2,300 Genoese, 11 noblemen, and thousands of infantrymen were killed. The English overwhelmingly won with minimal casualties.

The most important aspect of the battle was this: the English army's longbowmen. They knew how to fire arrows. Many, many arrows at long distances. The French army could barely come close to them - every time they tried to charge, they were hit with a fresh barrage of arrows. Arrows that had been dipped in dirt and shit, infected with disease. Arrows that had barbs that stuck into flesh. Arrows that, if you pulled them out, would leave part of them in you, that would make your wound fester.

The English were ruthless and without mercy. Literally: as the battle waned, they went out into the battlefield and killed Frenchmen with meriscordias, "mercy-givers," thin blades that they could insert into the slit of knight's helmets or under the armpits, killing them quickly.


We must fight the war like this. We must be smart and fast. We must be ruthless and without mercy.

Our enemy is incomprehensible and unpredictable. The Slender Man has all the advantages.

But, as the Battle of Crécy shows, small armies can win against overwhelming odds.

This is the first War Station, named after the first card of the Major Arcana. Because in this fight, we are all fools.

So let's get to work.

4 comments:

  1. I think this station is aptly named for you skeptic, I'll enjoy the show you'll provide, war is bloody and tragic, but when those who can't win expect to wage it, it is a comedy of errors.
    -Manic

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    Replies
    1. Even if we have no chance of winning, we should not give up on fighting.

      I shall not die to-day, no fear:
      I shall live yet for many a year,
      And see worse ills and worse again,
      And die of age and not of pain.

      Delete
    2. Those men who have little worth saying use those of others to supplement their own, poets are fickle souls, who thrive off death as much as love, their words mean little, if naught at all, the words of the men who have fought the war are worth them even more.
      -Manic

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  2. As I've said, better die on your feet than live on your knees.

    Keep us informed. I'll try to help as much as I can.

    ReplyDelete