Edward III’s Invasion of Normandy and March …

Years: 1346 - 1346
July

Edward III’s Invasion of Normandy and March Toward the Somme (July–August 1346)

In July 1346, King Edward III, accompanied by his eldest son, Edward of Woodstock (later the Black Prince), launched a major invasion of France, landing with a 20,000-man army at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue on the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy. This marked the beginning of the Crécy campaign, one of the most significant offensives of the Hundred Years' War.


The English Capture Caen in a Single Day

  • The French were completely unprepared, and Edward’s army quickly overran Normandy.
  • On July 26, 1346, the English stormed Caen, one of the largest cities in northern France, in just one day.
  • The capture was a major shock to Philip VI, as Caen had been lightly defended despite its importance.
  • Thousands of French troops and citizens were massacred, and the city was thoroughly pillaged, yielding immense spoils for the English army.

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