The first major encounter of the 100 Years War, Crécy was a complete victory for the English and a total justification of their belief in the longbow over the crossbow. It was King Edward III's second invasion of the land he claimed through his mother, Isabella of France - for whilst he was the grandson of King Philip IV, the current French claimant was only his nephew. At the end of the day 1,500 French knights lay dead, whilst negligible English losses meant that King Edward was free to march on and lay siege to Calais.

The victory was also largely due to the brilliance of the young Black Prince, whose position on the battlefield and later resting place back in England can be seen in the photographs. Shakespeare summarises his role perfectly when King Charles VI of France, threatened by Henry V's invasion, warns his advisers to

Witness our too much memorable shame
When Cressy battle fatally was struck,
And all our princes captiv'd by the hand
Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of Wales;
Whiles that his mountain sire, on mountain standing,
Up in the air, crown'd with the golden sun,
Saw his heroical seed, and smiled to see him,
Mangle the work of nature and deface
The patterns that by God and by French fathers
Had twenty years been made.

(Henry V, II.iv.54-63)