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England's strategy and preparation
Prior to the Battle of Malden, the Kingdom of England had a relatively large army, and according to historical records, the English army had about 12,000 soldiers in this battle, including a large number of experienced longbowmen.
Longbowmen were the right-hand men of the English army, equipped with powerful longbows and arrows, with the advantage of long-range shooting, and the English army also had a part of cavalry and infantry, as well as some heavy weapons such as warhammers and spears.
Edward III was the king of England, he showed a certain talent in military command and leadership, he adopted a series of strategies before the battle, including choosing favorable terrain for defense, and dividing the army into multiple parts for formation, Edward III also strictly trained the army, improving the soldiers' combat literacy and morale.
The main strategic plan of the English army was to adopt a defensive stance, using the terrain and the army's long-range firing capabilities to withstand the French offensive.
Malden was a fortified castle on top of a hill with strong walls and defenses, and the English army was prepared to use the castle as a defensive line, using the superiority of longbowmen's firepower to block and adopt guerrilla tactics against the French.
Although England had certain advantages in terms of strength and equipment, its strategy and preparation still had some shortcomings.
The English army, which was relatively small in number at the Battle of Malden, had a distinct disadvantage compared to the French army, which was exhausted after a long march and sustained fighting, and the physical strength and morale of the soldiers may have been affected.
Although the English army chose the city of Malden as a line of defense and used the advantage of the longbowmen for long-range fire, they did not take full advantage of the defensive advantage of the city of Malden.
The English army failed to effectively use the castle's facilities and fortifications during the campaign to withstand the French offensive to the maximum.
They failed to make full use of walls, trenches, and other defensive structures to limit enemy attacks and to set up reasonable defensive positions within the city.
The leadership of the English army may have made some mistakes at the Battle of Malden, although Edward III showed some talent in military command.
However, it was reported that his command in the early stages of the battle was not smooth, he failed to effectively coordinate the coordination between the various units, and did not make timely adjustments and decisions on the development of the war situation.
The French had more troops and adopted some tactics before the battle to weaken the English advantage, the French army adopted the tactics of the sea of men, through intensive charges to destroy the firing positions of the English army, they also sent a cavalry unit to bypass the English army's defenses and attack from the flank.
The French army also took advantage of factors such as terrain and weather to put the English army in an unfavorable environment, and in the Battle of Malden, which coincided with autumn, the weather was wet, which caused problems for the English army, which relied on bow and arrow shooting, and weakened their combat effectiveness.
War background
The Battle of Malden was an important battle during the Hundred Years' War, a long conflict between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France between 1337 and 1453.
The cause of this war can be traced back to the claim of King Edward III of England to the French throne, triggering a power struggle between France and Britain.
During the Hundred Years' War, the English army, with its powerful longbowmen and flexible tactics, achieved several important victories, such as the Battle of Cressy and the Battle of Pova Czech.
By 1346, the English army faced a powerful counterattack from the French king's army, and the Battle of Malden became a turning point in the Hundred Years' War.
The importance of the Battle of Malden
The Battle of Malden took place on October 25, 1346 in the Malden region of northern France, and its importance is not only reflected in the overall context of the Hundred Years' War, but also in its significant impact on the course of the subsequent war and the position of the two countries.
The Battle of Malden was a major challenge for England, who for the first time faced the size and strength of the French king's army.
The English army suffered heavy losses in this battle and suffered strategic setbacks, which had a negative impact on subsequent war plans and morale.
And for the French, the Battle of Malden was an important victory, although they did not succeed in capturing Malden Castle, they managed to besiege the English army and achieved more victories in the following wars.
The battle boosted the self-confidence of the French kingdom and laid the foundation for the wars that followed.
French strategy and preparation
At the Battle of Malden, the French army had a relatively large superiority in strength, and according to historical records, the French army had about 30,000 to 60,000 soldiers, including cavalry, infantry, and archers.
They were armed with various types of weapons and armor, including spears, swords, shields, and light armor, and the French army also used auxiliary weapons such as catapults and siege ladders.
The leadership of the French king's army in the Battle of Malden had some excellent generals and commanders, most importantly King Philip VI of France.
He showed some talent in strategic and military command, and Philip VI developed a clear strategic plan before the war and ensured effective coordination and cooperation among generals and commanders.
The main strategic plan of the French army was to force the English army to surrender by besieging and oppressing the city of Malden, and the French army first used its numerical superiority to surround the English army around Malden Castle.
Using siege equipment and war machines, they tried to break through the walls and fortifications in order to quickly capture the castle.
The French army also sent a cavalry unit to try to bypass the English army's defenses and attack it from the flank, hoping to force the English army to disperse its forces and gradually deplete their fighting power and morale through a multifaceted attack.
The battle passed
The French army first deployed a large number of troops to surround the English army at the city of Malden, who set up siege equipment around the castle.
These included siege ladders, ladders and siege towers in order to break through the walls, and the French army also used siege weapons such as large stones and catapults to heavily shell the walls.
The English army was firmly defended within the city of Malden, using structures such as walls and fortifications to resist, and relying on long-range fire from longbowmen to weaken the French offensive.
The English army adopted guerrilla tactics, carrying out frequent raids and raids, trying to deplete the combat effectiveness of the French army.
The French army launched several attacks in an attempt to breach the walls and enter the city, using equipment such as siege ladders and ladders to try to climb the walls.
But heavy losses were suffered under the stubborn resistance of the English army, and the French cavalry units also tried to bypass the English army's defenses, but were repulsed by the cavalry and partisans of the English army.
Despite facing sieges and attacks from French troops, English troops held the castle and inflicted heavy casualties on French troops through precision fire from longbowmen.
The longbowmen of the English army played a key role in the battle, and with their powerful shooting power and accuracy, they stopped the French army's attack.
After several days of fierce fighting, the French army failed to capture Malden Castle, they faced an increase in soldier losses and a decline in the effectiveness of the battle, considering the firmness and resistance of the English army, King Philip VI of France decided to retreat, ending the Battle of Malden.
Analysis of the reasons for England's defeat
The English army was at a distinct numerical disadvantage at the Battle of Malden, with historical records numbering only about 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers.
The French army numbered between 30,000 and 60,000 men, which made it impossible for the English army to resist the French attack in the battle with numerical superiority.
The English army may have failed in strategic planning during the campaign, and although they set up strong fortifications in the castle, they failed to use these facilities effectively to limit the French army's advance.
They failed to make full use of the walls, trenches and other defensive structures to withstand the French offensive, and did not set up reasonable defensive positions in the city.
The command of the English army may have had problems with poor coordination, although King Edward III of England showed some command skills in battle.
However, it is reported that his command in the early stages of the battle was not smooth, he failed to effectively coordinate the cooperation between the various units, and did not make timely adjustments and decisions to cope with the development of the war situation.
The main advantage of the English army was its powerful longbowmen, which were limited during the Battle of Malden due to the adverse effects of the terrain and weather.
The wet weather of autumn affected the range and accuracy of the longbow, weakening the English army's superiority in long-range shooting.
Although the English army had a certain advantage in equipment and the combat effectiveness of longbowmen, the French army had an advantage in other respects.
The French army, which was numerous, used human sea tactics and siege equipment to besiege and oppress the English army, and they also sent cavalry to bypass the English army's defense line and attack from the flank.
The English army may have suffered from a shortage of supplies and supplies during the campaign, and due to the long time of the battle with the French, the English army may face difficulties in food, ammunition and medical treatment later in the battle, and the lack of materials and supplies may lead to a decline in morale and a weakening of combat effectiveness.
Prolonged battles and sieges could lead to fatigue and disease problems in the English army, and the soldiers were in a tense state of battle for a long time, facing great physical and psychological stress.
Unclean sanitary conditions in the war environment and the lack of proper medical facilities could lead to outbreaks of war diseases that weakened the fighting power of the English army.
Although the English army relied on long-range firing and guerrilla tactics of longbowmen to resist, the tactical options of the English army were limited by the siege of the French army and the threat of siege equipment.
It was difficult for them to use guerrilla tactics for effective counterattacks, and it was difficult to maintain continuity and stability in the face of a large-scale offensive by the French army.
Despite England's defeat at the Battle of Malden, their strong resistance and heroic performance boosted their prestige in Europe, and the longbowmen of the English army showed great firepower in battle, becoming the iconic force of the English army.
This made England more valued and respected in the ensuing Hundred Years' War.
Despite the French victory at the Battle of Malden, they failed to capture Malden Castle, which dealt a certain blow to the French army and the prestige of King Philip VI.
In the years that followed, the French army failed to quickly capture other English strongholds in northern France, making the French threat to England diminish.
War impact
Despite England's defeat at the Battle of Malden, this did not end the Hundred Years' War, and shortly after the battle, both sides readjusted their strategies and continued to fight for decades to come.
The Battle of Malden was only an important event in the Hundred Years' War, and the war itself continued for decades to come, until its end in 1453.
The Battle of Malden demonstrated the great power of the English army's longbowmen, making the longbow an important weapon during the Hundred Years' War, and the longbow's long range and accuracy gave the English army a great advantage on the battlefield and continued to play an important role in subsequent battles.
The siege and siege operations at the Battle of Malden led to a deeper study and improvement of castle construction and defensive techniques by all sides, and both sides became aware of the importance of the castle and the key role of siege equipment and strategy in warfare.
This prompted both sides to build castles and improve defensive techniques in subsequent wars to adapt to new war situations and siege tactics.
The Battle of Malden exacerbated the increase in the cost and economic burden of the war, which required large amounts of money to maintain the army, purchase weapons and equipment, and build and repair forts.
Both England and France faced enormous financial pressure to find more fiscal means to support war efforts, which had a profound impact on both economic and financial systems.