Book Review of The Great Chevauchée: John of Gaunt’s Raid on France 1373

International History

David Nicolle. The Great Chevauchée: John of Gaunt’s Raid on France 1373. Illustrated by Peter Dennis. Raid series. Botley, England: Osprey, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84908-247-1. Illustrations. Maps. Photographs. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Pp. 80. $18.95 (paperback).

The Caroline War (1369-1389/96) has received little attention outside of general studies of the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).  “This interesting conflict,” so writes Dr David Nicolle, “has been largely ignored by English historians, and has been misunderstood by some of those who did refer to it” (p.12).  As such, Nicolle’s brief study The Great Chevauchée in the Osprey Raid series is a valuable contribution to the literature.  The author is well-known for his many studies in the Osprey military history series, including French Armies of the Hundred Years War (2000), Crécy 1346: Triumph of the Longbow (2000), Poitiers 1356: The Capture of a King (2004), Orléans 1429: France Turns the Tide (2005), and The Fall of English France…

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Book Review of Edward III and the War at Sea: The English Navy, 1327-1377

International History

Graham Cushway. Edward III and the War at Sea: The English Navy, 1327-1377. Warfare in History series. Woodbridge, England: Boydell Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84383-621-6. Notes. Illustrations. Maps. Appendices. Bibliography. Index. Pp. xxii, 265. $99.00 (hardcover).

The English navy played a key role in the Hundred Years War.  Dr Graham Cushway, a maritime historian and Associate Analyst for the United Nations, explores the English navy and the war at sea from the accession of Edward II (ruled 1307-1327) to the death of  Edward III (1327-1377).  The author examines the organization and structure of the navy, along discussing political events, naval innovation, and naval campaigns.  The author argues that Edward III “would command the most potent English navy prior to the modern age” (p.1).

Cushway sets the political, strategic, and military scene for English naval operations.  This allows the author to explain naval developments and fleet movements in context to English wars. …

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Book Review of In the Steps of the Black Prince: The Road to Poitiers, 1355-1356

International History

Peter Hoskins. In the Steps of the Black Prince: The Road to Poitiers, 1355-1356. Warfare in History series. Woodbridge, England: Boydell Press, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84383-611-7. Plates. Figures. Maps. Appendices. Notes. Bibliography. Pp. xviii, 246. $90.00 (hardcover).

Peter Hoskins, a medieval military historian and former British Royal Air Force pilot, writes a fascinating study of Prince Edward’s (the Black Prince) chevauchées (mounted military expeditions) in 1355 and 1356.  The Black Prince was Edward III of England’s eldest son, heir to the throne, and his lieutenant in Gascony.  In preparing this study, the author walked over 1,300 miles retracing the steps (as much as possible) of the Black Prince and his Anglo-Gascon army.

Hoskins provides a brief discussion of the origins of the Hundred Years War and the first phase (Edwardian War) from 1337 to 1355.  The Black Prince accompanied his father, Edward III, on the chevauchée from Normandy to Flanders in…

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