King John II’s Pursuit of the Black…
1356 CE
King John II’s Pursuit of the Black Prince and the Mobilization at Chartres (September 1356)
As the Black Prince’s army conducted its scorched-earth chevauchée through central France in August–September 1356, King John II of France abandoned his siege of Breteuil in Normandy to intercept the English forces before they could retreat back to English-held Aquitaine.
John II’s Strategic Mobilization at Chartres
- To increase the speed and mobility of his advancing army, John II gathered his forces at Chartres, north of Tours, where the English were stalled due to weather.
- He made the critical decision to dismiss approximately 15,000 to 20,000 lower-quality infantry, allowing his main force to move faster.
- This maneuver allowed him to close in on the Black Prince’s army, preventing them from escaping unchallenged.
French Tactical Adjustments and the Road to Poitiers
- By reducing the size of his army, John hoped to force the Black Prince into a decisive engagement before he could reach safety.
- With his elite knights, men-at-arms, and cavalry, John II prepared for a major confrontation with the English.
- His strategy set the stage for the Battle of Poitiers (September 19, 1356), a catastrophic defeat for the French, in which John II was captured by the English, leading to a national crisis in France.
Significance
- John’s decision to trim his forces for mobility was a bold but ultimately flawed maneuver, as the remaining troops would still suffer a crushing defeat at Poitiers.
- His attempt to cut off the Black Prince ultimately led to his own capture, worsening France’s position in the Hundred Years’ War.
King John II’s mobilization at Chartres and pursuit of the Black Prince was a decisive moment leading up to Poitiers, marking one of the most significant turning points of the Hundred Years’ War.
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