Poitiers, Battle

Poitiers, Battle of

(September 19, 1356) Catastrophic defeat of the French king John II in the Hundred Years' War between France and England. English troops under Edward the Black Prince were under pursuit from the probably superior French forces. South of Poitiers the English secured themselves in thickets and marshes, where the French knights became bogged down and made easy targets for the English archers. John II was taken prisoner and for his freedom had to consent to the disadvantageous Treaties of Bretigny and Calais.