On 19 September 1356, an English army, led by Edward, The Black Prince, defeated French forces under John II at the Battle of Poitiers The late-fourteenth- century chronicler Jean Froissart, a Frenchman who later served as personal secretary to the wife of Edward III, began writing about the battle a year after it occurred, although he would continue revising his history until his death around 1405

The fighters on both sides endured much pain: king John with his own hands did that day marvels in arms: he had an axe in his hands wherewith he defended himself and fought in the breaking of the press. Near to the king there was taken the earl of Tancarville ... and a little above that under the banner of the capital of Buch was taken sir Charles of Artois and divers other knights and...