Chevauchée: The brutal war tactic knights used to terrorize the people of medieval Europe

The historical roots of the Chevauchée can be traced back to the feudal warfare of the Middle Ages, but its most notable usage occurred during the Hundred Years' War, a series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453.

This period was defined by a struggle for dominance over the French throne, with England's Plantagenet kings asserting claims over French territories.

The Chevauchée emerged as a key tactic in these prolonged engagements, primarily used by the English to exploit their mobility and to disrupt French resources.

One of the earliest and most significant uses of the Chevauchée was by Edward III of England in 1339, aiming to disrupt the French economy and force Philip VI of France into a decisive battle.

However, it was Edward, the Black Prince, son of Edward III, who perfected this tactic.

The Chevauchée was not solely an English tactic; however, its use by the English is most prominently recorded in historical accounts.

The strategy played a crucial role in weakening the French economically and in undermining their morale.

It was instrumental in the English victories of the early phase of the Hundred Years' War, despite their numerical inferiority.

The term 'Chevauchée' itself, derived from the French word for horseback riding, encapsulates the essence of this strategy: rapid movement, surprise attacks, and extensive mobility.

Unlike pitched battles, the primary goal of a Chevauchée was not to engage the enemy in direct combat but to disrupt and demoralize by attacking non-military targets.

Central to the strategy was the use of lightly armed cavalry, capable of moving quickly across enemy territories.

These forces would bypass heavily fortified positions and target villages, farms, and small towns instead.

The main objectives were to destroy crops, livestock, and infrastructure, effectively weakening the enemy's economic base and their ability to sustain prolonged military campaigns.

Another key aspect of the Chevauchée was psychological warfare. By inflicting damage on civilian populations and property, these raids aimed to undermine the confidence of the local populace in their rulers and create a climate of fear and instability.

This tactic also forced enemy forces to spread out to protect wide areas, thereby diluting their strength and making them less effective in confronting the main invading army.

The Chevauchée also had strategic implications in terms of logistics and resource acquisition.

Raiders would often seize supplies and valuables, reducing the need for a supply train and simultaneously depriving the enemy of resources.

This aspect made the Chevauchée a self-sustaining operation, allowing forces to continue their campaign without needing extensive support from back home.

However, the Chevauchée was not without its limitations. The reliance on speed and surprise meant that these forces were often lightly armored and vulnerable to well-coordinated counterattacks.

The tactic also depended heavily on the element of surprise, and over time, as defenses improved and counterstrategies developed, its effectiveness diminished.

Among the most significant is the Great Chevauchée of 1355, led by Edward, the Black Prince.

This raid, spanning October to December 1355, saw the Prince lead his forces from Bordeaux in English-held Aquitaine deep into the heart of France.

The raiders swept through the countryside, reaching as far as Carcassonne and Narbonne.

This campaign was devastating for the French, with vast tracts of land ravaged, and it severely disrupted the French economy.

The following year, 1356, witnessed another major Chevauchée by the Black Prince, culminating in the decisive Battle of Poitiers on September 19.

During this campaign, the English forces once again employed the tactic of scorched earth, laying waste to the lands they traversed.

The campaign ended with a significant English victory, where King John II of France was captured, tipping the balance of the Hundred Years' War in favor of England.

Another notable instance of a Chevauchée was undertaken by Henry V of England in 1415.

This campaign, part of the larger Agincourt campaign, involved Henry leading his army on a raiding expedition through Northern France.

This Chevauchée aimed to challenge the French to battle and also to gather supplies for the English army.

The campaign led to the famous Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415, where the English achieved a remarkable victory against a numerically superior French army.

The Chevauchée of 1373, led by John of Gaunt, was one of the longest and most ambitious of these raids.

Starting from Calais, Gaunt's forces traversed a great arc through France but faced considerable resistance and logistical difficulties.

This Chevauchée is often cited for its ambition but also for its limited strategic success, showcasing the challenges of sustaining long-distance raids in hostile territory.

These raids were designed to disrupt the economic and logistical support systems of the enemy, but in doing so, they inflicted great suffering on non-combatants.

The immediate impact was the destruction of homes, farms, and villages, leading to widespread displacement and hardship for the local populace.

An essential aspect of the Chevauchée was the deliberate targeting of agricultural resources.

By burning crops, slaughtering livestock, and destroying storage facilities, these raids caused severe food shortages.

The resultant famine conditions not only weakened the enemy's ability to sustain a war effort but also led to increased mortality and suffering among civilians.

The disruption of local economies had a long-term impact on the affected regions, often taking years, if not decades, to recover.

The fear and uncertainty generated by these sudden and brutal attacks led to a breakdown of societal norms and order.

Civilians, often left unprotected by their rulers, were forced to fend for themselves, which sometimes led to social unrest and a loss of faith in leadership. 

Moreover, the displacement of populations due to Chevauchées contributed to the spread of disease.

As people fled their homes and lived in crowded, unsanitary conditions, the likelihood of epidemics increased.

This was exacerbated by the malnutrition and weakened health resulting from the raids.

Initially, during the Hundred Years' War, these raids were highly effective due to the lack of fast-moving, responsive forces capable of countering them.

However, as military tactics evolved, so did the means to counteract such raids.

By the late 14th and early 15th centuries, changes in military organization and fortification began to reduce the effectiveness of the Chevauchée.

One significant development was the improvement in the design and construction of fortifications.

The emergence of the bastion and the star fort, along with more robust castle and town walls, made it more difficult for raiding parties to inflict significant damage.

These fortifications enabled defenders to withstand sieges for longer periods, thus reducing the vulnerability of key locations to quick raids.

As European monarchies consolidated power and resources, they began to maintain larger, better-trained, and more disciplined forces.

This shift from feudal levies to professional soldiers meant that armies could be mobilized more quickly and effectively to respond to threats, including Chevauchées.

The development of better logistical support systems also allowed for these standing armies to be sustained in the field for longer periods.

The introduction of gunpowder weaponry, particularly artillery, further altered the landscape of warfare.

The increased use of cannons and firearms in the 15th century made heavily armored knights, the mainstay of Chevauchée forces, increasingly vulnerable.

This vulnerability was starkly demonstrated in battles such as the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where English longbowmen decimated French knights, and later in the Burgundian Wars (1474–1477), where gunpowder artillery played a significant role.

Moreover, the growing centralization of states and the development of more sophisticated administrative systems allowed for better coordination and control of territories.

This centralization meant that states could respond more effectively to the threat of raids, not just through military means but also through improved intelligence and communications.