Medieval warfare is sometimes caricatured as a matter of crude frontal collisions lacking in finesse. But the period also saw what has been called a ‘revolution in military affairs’, which coincided with the long struggle between the French and English otherwise known as the Hundred Years’ War. Spearheading this revolution on the English side was King Edward III and his son, The Black Prince.

On this episode of The PastCast, historian and teacher Graham Goodlad charts the military careers of the king and his heir, a young man who eventually became his father’s leading military commander, heading major expeditions in France and Spain. What was it about their combined genius that delivered English victories as renowned as Crécy and Poitiers?

Graham is the co-author of a special feature on this subject in the latest issue of Military History Matters magazine, which is also available in full on The Past website. On this episode he spoke with regular PastCast presenter, Calum Henderson.

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