Editing Battle of Poitiers (section)

===Anglo-Gascon army===
[[File:The battle of Poitiers.jpg|thumb|alt=A contemporary depiction of men-at-arms fighting on foot|{{center|The Battle of Poitiers}}]]
The Anglo-Gascon army is generally considered by modern historians to have consisted of 6,000 men: 3,000 men-at-arms, 2,000 English and Welsh [[English longbow|longbowmen]] and 1,000 Gascon infantry.{{sfn|Rogers|2014|p=352, 352 n. 20}} The latter included many equipped with either [[crossbows]] or [[javelin]]s, both classed as [[light infantry]].{{sfn|Nicolle|2004|p=21}} Some contemporary accounts give lower numbers of 4,800 or 5,000.{{sfn|Rogers|2014|p=352, 352 n. 20}} The division of the men-at-arms between English and Gascons is not recorded, but the previous year, when campaigning with a similarly sized army, 1,000 of the Prince's men-at-arms had been English.{{sfn|Rogers|2014|p=305 n. 103}} All of the Anglo-Gascons travelled on horses, but all or nearly all of them dismounted to fight.{{sfn|Sumption|1999|p=225}}

The men-at-arms of both armies were, broadly, [[knight]]s or knights in training. They were drawn from the landed gentry and ranged from great lords to the relatives and attendants of minor landowners. They needed to be able to equip themselves with a full suit of armour and a warhorse.{{sfn|Wagner|2006a|pp=21–23}} They wore a quilted [[gambeson]] under [[mail (armour)|chain mail]] which covered the body and limbs. This was supplemented by varying amounts of [[plate armour]] on the body and limbs, more so for wealthier and more experienced men. Heads were protected by [[bascinet]]s: open-faced military iron or steel helmets, with mail attached to the lower edge of the helmet to protect the throat, neck and shoulders. A moveable visor (face guard) protected the face. [[Heater shield]]s, typically made from thin wood overlaid with leather, were carried. The English men-at-arms were all dismounted. The weapons they used are not recorded, but in similar battles they used their [[lance]]s as pikes, cut them down to use as short [[spear]]s, or fought with swords and battle-axes.{{sfn|Edge|Paddock|1988|pp=68–83}}{{sfn|Mallett|1974|p=37}}
[[File:Bodkin1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|alt=A photograph of an iron arrowhead|{{center|A modern replica of a [[bodkin point]] arrowhead used by [[English longbows]] to penetrate armour}}]]

The [[longbow]] used by the English and Welsh archers was unique to them; it took up to ten years to master and an experienced archer could discharge up to ten arrows per minute well over {{convert|330|yd}}.{{#tag:ref|This range is given by material scientists and is supported by most modern historians. Some historians argue that the range of a longbow would not have exceeded {{convert|210|yd|sigfig=1}}.{{sfn|Mitchell|2008|p=242}}|group=note}} Computer analysis by [[Warsaw University of Technology]] in 2017 demonstrated that heavy [[bodkin point]] arrows could penetrate typical plate armour of the time at {{convert|250|yd}}. The depth of penetration would be slight at that range; predicted penetration increased as the range closed or against armour of less than the best quality available at the time.{{sfn|Magier|Nowak|Tomasz|Zochowski|2017|pp=73, 77, 81, 84}}{{#tag:ref|When computer modelling from 2006 was matched against the performance of replica bows, these were found to be "in good agreement with experimental measurements".{{sfn|Pratt|2010|p=216}}|group=note}} At short range longbow arrows could pierce any practicable thickness of plate armour if they struck at the correct angle.{{sfn|Rogers|2014|p=379}}{{sfn|Rogers|1998|p=239}} Archers carried one [[quiver]] of 24 arrows as standard. There may have been a resupply of ammunition from the wagons to the rear during the battle to at least some longbowmen; the archers also ventured forward during pauses in the fighting to retrieve arrows.{{sfn|Strickland|Hardy|2011|pp=31, 278–279}}

The Anglo-Gascons were divided into three divisions or "[[Battle (formation)|battles]]". The one on the left was commanded by [[Thomas Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick|Thomas, Earl of Warwick]],{{sfn|Hoskins|2011|p=179}} [[Earl Marshal|marshal of England]]{{sfn|Livingstone|Witzel|2018|p=41}} and a veteran of the Battle of Crecy, where he had been guardian to the Black Prince. He had as deputies [[John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford|John, Earl of Oxford]], and the Gascon lord [[Jean III de Grailly|Jean]], [[Captal de Buch]]; they were assisted by mostly Gascon lords. As well as 1,000 men-at-arms, Warwick's division contained approximately 1,000 archers. The archers were positioned to the left of the men-at-arms. The right flank was under [[William de Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury|William, Earl of Salisbury]], deputised by [[Robert Ufford, 1st Earl of Suffolk|Robert, Earl of Suffolk]], and [[Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley|Maurice, Baron Berkeley]]. Salisbury's division, like Warwick's, consisted of about 1,000 men-at-arms and 1,000 Welsh and English longbowmen. Again the archers were positioned on the flank of the men-at-arms, in this case the right.{{sfn|Hoskins|2011|p=179}}{{sfn|Livingstone|Witzel|2018|p=41}} The Black Prince took command of the centre division, which consisted of men-at-arms and Gascon infantry: about 1,000 of each, only the flanking divisions contained longbowmen. He had two veteran campaigners, [[John Chandos]] and [[James Audley (died 1369)|James Audley]], as his deputies. Initially the Prince's force was held back behind the other two divisions as a reserve.{{sfn|Hoskins|2011|p=179}}{{sfn|Livingstone|Witzel|2018|p=41}} Each division deployed four to five men deep.{{sfn|Jones|2019|p=184}} It is possible a further, small, reserve was held back behind the Prince's division.{{sfn|Sumption|1999|p=242}}