One of the pivotal battles of the Hundred Years War was fought outside the French town of Crécy-en-Ponthieu. This was the battle where Edward the Black Prince won his spurs, and the king of Bavaria was killed. More importantly, it was the first time massed fire from longbows utterly defeated a superior force of mounted knights.
It is nearly impossible for us, now, to understand how knighthood once bound together the nobility of blood, the virtues of duty and courage, and the moral assurance that right would triumph in battle. Knights strove with knights, and princes with princes. For commoners to shoot down hundreds or thousands of French noblemen like dogs was unthinkable.
King Edward may have won the battle for the English side, but in doing so he seriously undermined the world view that had sustained Europe for centuries.
This Account of the Battle of Crecy is an abridged version of the lengthy Chronicles of Froissart.