Reconstructing Hundred Years War battlefields through terrain analysis, primary sources and on-site research
Walking the ground of the Hundred Years’ War battlefields – from Crecy to Formigny
The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) was a series of campaigns, chevauchées, sieges and field battles fought across the landscapes of medieval France and England. Although defined by dynastic claims and shifting alliances, the war’s outcomes were repeatedly shaped by the ground itself — the slopes, hedgerows, meadowland, river crossings and fortified towns through which armies moved and fought.
From the ridge at Crécy and the muddy fields of Agincourt, to the forested paths at Patay and the Loire River barriers at Orléans, commanders relied heavily on terrain to offset disadvantages in numbers, armour, or tactical flexibility. The English longbowmen exploited defensive positions and prepared killing grounds, while French forces adapted over time, embracing dismounted tactics, artillery and coordinated assaults on fortified positions.
This collection of battlefield studies examines the Hundred Years War through a modern, terrain-focused lens, drawing on period chronicles, contemporary illustrations, archaeological findings and first-hand field reconnaissance. By walking the ground at Crécy, Agincourt, Patay and the Tourelles/Orléans, these studies aim to reveal why battles unfolded as they did — how armies deployed, manoeuvred and fought within the constraints and opportunities provided by the landscape.
Together, these battlefield studies offer a clear, evidence-based view of one of the most formative conflicts in medieval European history.
Hundred Years War Battlefield Studies
Below are all current BattlefieldTravels studies for the Hundred Years War, covering key battles, campaign phases and associated sites. New studies are added as further battlefields are walked and analysed.
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⚔️ Battle of Patay, France,
18 June 1429
In the English-speaking world, the Battle of Agincourt in October 1415 is legendary. But there was a lesser-known battle a few years later where the outcome was reversed. A combat-experienced French army, inspired by Jeanne d’Arc, the Maid of Orleans, launched a lightning campaign that overwhelmed multiple English strongholds before wiping out an entire English…
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⚔️ Battle of Agincourt, France,
25 October 1415
The Battle of Agincourt is one of the most famous battles in history. A small English force is trapped by a much larger French force but prevails against the odds. Shakespeare wrote about it and Hollywood continues to make movies about it. The battle reinforced the legend of the sturdy English longbowmen, equipped with the…
Hundred Years War Field Notes
Below are all current BattlefieldTravels Field Notes for the Hundred Years War, shorter articles direct from the battlefield
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📝🔒 Field Note: Siege of Orléans, France, May 1429 —battle for the Tourelles
October 2024, Orléans, south side of the Loire River. I am exploring the Hundred Years War battle locations around the city of Orléans. On this site on 7 May 1429, a French Army led by Count John Dunois, ‘The Bastard of Orléans’, and Captain La Hire, and inspired by Jeanne d’Arc, a 17-year old French…
Authored by Mick Prictor, a retired military officer with 40 years’ service, and a military historian specialising in terrain-focused analysis of tactics, doctrine, and command decision-making in land warfare. His work draws on extensive battlefield fieldwork—more than 280 sites worldwide—and one of the world’s largest private collections of historic military arms, uniforms, and equipment. About me
⚔️ Go deeper — Members get exclusive access to the Deep Research Collection, Field Notes, and monthly Research Dispatches. Try membership free for 7 days, cancel anytime. From $9/month.
Explore Related Themes
Armies: English Army • French Army
Commanders: Henry V • Joan of Arc
Methods: Longbow • Mounted warfare • Siege warfare
Environments: Forest Warfare • Mountain Warfare
Further Study: Medieval Warfare Reading List
Each study uses terrain analysis, period sources and on-site fieldwork to explain how ground, weapons and command decisions shaped each battle.
Currently Agincourt and Patay are published, with Crécy and the Tourelles/Orléans forthcoming.
Yes. Many remain accessible farmland or preserved sites where key terrain features are still visible.
Each study integrates medieval chronicles, modern scholarship, period maps and GIS-based analysis from field visits.
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