| Abstract | Godina je Gospodnja 1346. i kralj Edvard III. se sprema isploviti iz Engleske na pohod koji je do tada bio najveći koji je isplovio iz Engleske, a tako će ostati za čitav srednji vijek. Razlog tom pohodu je veliki ratni sukob koji će u povijesti ostati zapamćen kao Stogodišnji rat čiji korijeni sežu još u vrijeme Vilima Osvajača koji je istovremeno bio i vazal francuske krune preko vojvodstva Normandije i engleski kralj. Prilikom isplovljavanja Edvardova vojska je brojila oko 14.000 ljudi dok je njegov neprijatelj, kralj Filip VI., sakupio oko 30.000 ljudi. Nisu nam posve jasni Edvardovi planovi nakon iskrcavanja, međutim, ubrzo se iskristalizirala njegova taktika velikog pljačkanja tzv. chevauchée. Njime je želio politički i ekonomski oslabiti Filipa te - ovisno o tome čijoj se teoriji priklonimo - ili izbjeći sukob ili zametnuti bitku. Prema predaji, bitka se odigrala kod mjesta Crécy, međutim, novija istraživanja sugeriraju i alternativnu lokaciju. Edvardova prednost bilo je iskustvo iz prijašnjih sukoba sa Škotima zahvaljujući kojem je strijelce, vrlo vjerojatno, postavio na bokove iako postoje i teorije koje tvrde suprotno. Njegovi oružnici borili su se kao pješaci te su pružali sigurnost strijelcima koji su zauzvrat remetilački djelovali na neprijateljsko napredovanje. Unatoč brojčanoj prednosti, naklonjenost ratne sreće je bila na Edvardovoj strani te je potukao Filipa u bitci koja će postati jedna od najpoznatijih bitaka u srednjovjekovnoj povijesti. |
| Abstract (english) | It is the Year of our Lord 1346 and the King Edward III is planning to set sail on the campaign that was, at that time, the largest one to set sail from England, and would remain so for the entirety of the Middle Ages. The reason for the campaign was a military conflict that would be remembered in history as the Hundred Years War, a war with roots spanning back to the time of William the Conqueror who was, at the same time, the Duke of Normandy and the King of England. At the time of setting out, Edward's army numbered some 14,000 men, while his enemy, King Philip VI, gathered some 30,000 men. We do not know what Edward's exact intentions at the time of his disembarking were, but he quickly began with raiding tactic known as chevauchée. With this tactic he wished to weaken Philip politically and economically, and, depending on which theory we choose to believe, to avoid battle or to incite it. As traditionally told, the battle was fought at a place called Crécy, although recent research suggests a new location. Edward had the knowledge which he had gathered in wars with Scots, which he now used to, most likely, place his archers on the flanks of the main army, although there are theories which propose otherwise. His men-at-arms fought on foot and by doing that they provided security to the archers which in return had a destabilizing effect on the enemy’s charge. Despite his enemy’s advantage in numbers, the fortunes of war were on Edward's side and he bested Philip in the battle which will be remembered in history as one of the greatest battles of Middle Ages. |
