Welcome to a history of Europe, Key Battles, the Battle of Poitier of 1356. In the last episode I talked about how in 1346, King Edward

III for England led his army to a resounding victory against King Philip, the Sixth of France,

at the Battle of Cressy, and the year after took control of the port town and harbour

of Calais. It was evident the momentum of the war was of the English, but what was less clear was the

precise extent of Edward's ambitions. Officially he had declared himself King of France,

and that his intention was to take the throne in Paris, which he claimed was rightfully his.

Yet to conquer the whole of France was a formidable task.

Edward and his captains led raids into French lands where they sacked numerous towns.

Yet except in Brittany and in Calais he had not yet conquered any new territory.

The failure to install garrisons may well be explained by a lack of resources,

but it may also suggest that Edward's real plan was to harass the French into some kind of settlement,

rather than to take the French throne.

Edward certainly invested considerable time, men and money in his campaigns, but his actions suggest he was an opportunist and a realist, and his plans all along was to dismember France.

It is possible that his true aim was to recreate the Angevine Empire of his illustrious ancestor, King Henry II.

An important motivation was the desire to regain glory for his family after his predecessors had lost the French territories, and also for his country.

Before Cressy, England was seen on the continent as a second-rate and rather peripheral power.

Afterwards, the English had re-earned respect by showing what an effective military threat they were now able to present.

On the 22nd of August, 1350, King Philip the 6th of France died, succeeded by his 30-year-old son, John II.

King John is described as being handsome with a fine red beard.

He had a great love of tournaments and had also participated in the war against the English in Gascany and Cressey.

His accession as king coincided with a year-long truce between England and France,

or Edward turned his attention to another problem.

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