H. J. Hewitt

This is a classic book. Which is not to say that it's a particularly fun book.

This is one of the most, if not the most, detailed study ever made of the organization of a medieval army. Making excellent use of the few records at his disposal, author H. J. Hewitt studies the structure of the armies that fought the first battles of the Hundred Years' War, their logistics, and their transportation -- both land transportation and the ships that took them to France. This examination is meticulously detailed and, despite the relative lack of documentation, probably substantially correct.

That makes it a useful tool to the military historian. And someone trying to design a strategy game based on the Hundred Years' War would probably find it invaluable.

Odds are, though, that you are neither of those things. And if you are not, there may not be much here for you. Most readers who pick up this book will probably want to know how the Bordeaux campaign of 1345 (say) was fought, not a list of the ships used to carry the soldiers there. But it is the latter that the book supplies.

Overall, it's a pretty dry read. Useful, yes, if you desire the dirty details of medieval warfare. If you just want the overall picture, you'll want a different book.… (meer)

This book is a very informative source on the two campaigns undertaken by the Prince of Wales in 1355 and 1356 respectively. The word "campaign" is probably not entirely accurate when referring to the large raids carried out during the Hundred Years War by successive monarchs and their lieutenants alike. But when detailing the preparation and logistical mayhem that occurs before any such endeavour, Mr. Hewitt makes it perfectly clear that these 'chevauchee' were indeed great in their scale.
After the obligatory 'origins of the Hundred Years War' chapter, the author dives into the logistical planning and inspiration for a large raid to be carried out under The Black Prince's command. The starting point of the raid was to be Gascony, but the majority of the force hailing from England. Mr. Hewitt certainly did his research homework concerning the supplies, recruiting, and shipping for the adventure.
The remainder of the book is sectioned into chapters detailing the first raid, the period of wintering in Gascony before the second raid, and finally the raid of 1356 which resulted in the battlel of Poitiers. On this point, sadly, not enough content spent on the battle itself. There is a very interesting section dealing with the aftermath of the battle/raid and the curious practice of loot division and prisoner ransoming.
All in all a very good book. If you are not an experienced student of the Hundred Years War this book will probably leave you asking more questions than it answers. But for the seasoned historian, it is valuable indeed.… (meer)

The Black Prince's Expedition is neither a biography of the Black Prince, nor a battle study of his great victory at Poitiers in 1356. Rather, it is a campaign study of his two great chevauchee's or raids from Gacony into France in 1355 and 1356, the latter resulting in the Poitiers battle. Hewitt relates the battle with a keen a eye to detail, focusing on the resources required to mount such an expedition, the route and progress of the raids, and the disposition of the spoils after Poitiers.

Interestingly, he makes no pretense that the book is a biography or a battle book, and despite a brief description of the battle, keeps to his words. Interesting, brief, expanded my knowledge of this campaign.… (meer)