Top 10 Greatest Medieval Battles

this is one for the history books

this is one for the history books welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 greatest medieval battles pardoned by

greatest medieval battles pardoned by

greatest medieval battles pardoned by the presence of the true cross the

the presence of the true cross the

the presence of the true cross the Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

Knights of the Kingdom of Jerusalem marched out to face Saladin

marched out to face Saladin

marched out to face Saladin for this list the medieval period refers

for this list the medieval period refers

for this list the medieval period refers to that chunk of European history from

to that chunk of European history from

to that chunk of European history from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire

the collapse of the Western Roman Empire

the collapse of the Western Roman Empire until roughly the fall of the Eastern

until roughly the fall of the Eastern

until roughly the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire a thousand years later so

Roman Empire a thousand years later so

Roman Empire a thousand years later so anything outside that time in place

anything outside that time in place

anything outside that time in place roughly the 5th through the 15th century

roughly the 5th through the 15th century

roughly the 5th through the 15th century won’t be included Joan does not liberate

won’t be included Joan does not liberate

won’t be included Joan does not liberate the French as her legend suggests the

the French as her legend suggests the

the French as her legend suggests the war continues for another 20 years

war continues for another 20 years

war continues for another 20 years number 10 the Battle of Crecy though the

number 10 the Battle of Crecy though the

number 10 the Battle of Crecy though the Hundred Years War began as a simple feud

Hundred Years War began as a simple feud

Hundred Years War began as a simple feud between the ruling families of England

between the ruling families of England

between the ruling families of England and France it forever changed the way

and France it forever changed the way

and France it forever changed the way war was fought in Western Europe he had

war was fought in Western Europe he had

war was fought in Western Europe he had an army of 14,000 men the largest army

an army of 14,000 men the largest army

an army of 14,000 men the largest army that had ever set sail from England at

that had ever set sail from England at

that had ever set sail from England at that point the Battle of Crecy was the

that point the Battle of Crecy was the

that point the Battle of Crecy was the first of England’s decisive victories

first of England’s decisive victories

first of England’s decisive victories and they won it by bucking the trend of

and they won it by bucking the trend of

and they won it by bucking the trend of relying on heavy cavalry and instead

relying on heavy cavalry and instead

relying on heavy cavalry and instead focused on a combined arms approach the

focused on a combined arms approach the

focused on a combined arms approach the key to which was their longbow infantry

key to which was their longbow infantry

key to which was their longbow infantry though the French force was much larger

though the French force was much larger

though the French force was much larger they couldn’t compete with the long bows

they couldn’t compete with the long bows

they couldn’t compete with the long bows firepower and the day was won not by

firepower and the day was won not by

firepower and the day was won not by noble knights but by tactical use of

noble knights but by tactical use of

noble knights but by tactical use of well-trained peasants the bow the

well-trained peasants the bow the

well-trained peasants the bow the longbow holds a special significance in

longbow holds a special significance in

longbow holds a special significance in the hearts of Englishmen it’s the weapon

the hearts of Englishmen it’s the weapon

the hearts of Englishmen it’s the weapon of the underdog against the oppressor

of the underdog against the oppressor

of the underdog against the oppressor number 9 the Battle of Stirling Bridge

this was the first important victory of

this was the first important victory of the Scottish rebellion William Wallace

the Scottish rebellion William Wallace

the Scottish rebellion William Wallace was besieging the last English castle in

was besieging the last English castle in

was besieging the last English castle in central Scotland when he heard of an

central Scotland when he heard of an

central Scotland when he heard of an advancing army and went to intercept

advancing army and went to intercept

advancing army and went to intercept them at a narrow wooden bridge over the

them at a narrow wooden bridge over the

them at a narrow wooden bridge over the river 4th King Edward’s treasurer

river 4th King Edward’s treasurer

river 4th King Edward’s treasurer persuaded the English commander to take

persuaded the English commander to take

persuaded the English commander to take the quickest cheapest route even though

the quickest cheapest route even though

the quickest cheapest route even though there was another way around so the

there was another way around so the

there was another way around so the Scots just let as many of the enemy

Scots just let as many of the enemy

Scots just let as many of the enemy cross as they could handle then cut them

cross as they could handle then cut them

cross as they could handle then cut them off and fell on them as they struggled

off and fell on them as they struggled

off and fell on them as they struggled in the marshy ground this narrow

in the marshy ground this narrow

in the marshy ground this narrow structure was a key part of Wallace’s

structure was a key part of Wallace’s

structure was a key part of Wallace’s plans

plans

plans the remaining English forces smashed the

the remaining English forces smashed the

the remaining English forces smashed the bridge and retreated

bridge and retreated

bridge and retreated he had his carpenters undermined the

he had his carpenters undermined the

he had his carpenters undermined the bridge the night before they let the

bridge the night before they let the

bridge the night before they let the cavalry go through and did the bridge

cavalry go through and did the bridge

cavalry go through and did the bridge and separated them from the infantry

and separated them from the infantry

and separated them from the infantry number 8 the Battle of Moki the Mongols

number 8 the Battle of Moki the Mongols

number 8 the Battle of Moki the Mongols objective was the great flat fertile

objective was the great flat fertile

objective was the great flat fertile plains of Hungary there they could graze

plains of Hungary there they could graze

plains of Hungary there they could graze their horses before moving deeply into

their horses before moving deeply into

their horses before moving deeply into Europe though several of Hungary’s

Europe though several of Hungary’s

Europe though several of Hungary’s neighbors had succumbed to Mongolian

neighbors had succumbed to Mongolian

neighbors had succumbed to Mongolian attacks many nobles would have preferred

attacks many nobles would have preferred

attacks many nobles would have preferred to see their unpopular new king defeated

to see their unpopular new king defeated

to see their unpopular new king defeated rather than risk their necks against

rather than risk their necks against

rather than risk their necks against what they considered a minor threat

what they considered a minor threat

what they considered a minor threat turns out they were super wrong soon the

turns out they were super wrong soon the

turns out they were super wrong soon the Mongols pored through the valleys and

Mongols pored through the valleys and

Mongols pored through the valleys and down onto the Hungarian Plains troops

down onto the Hungarian Plains troops

down onto the Hungarian Plains troops were mobilized to mow he and the first

were mobilized to mow he and the first

were mobilized to mow he and the first few skirmishes went well but by the time

few skirmishes went well but by the time

few skirmishes went well but by the time the full Mongol force finally revealed

the full Mongol force finally revealed

the full Mongol force finally revealed itself the Hungarians had been lured

itself the Hungarians had been lured

itself the Hungarians had been lured even deeper into their false sense of

even deeper into their false sense of

even deeper into their false sense of security with tried-and-tested tactics

security with tried-and-tested tactics

security with tried-and-tested tactics the Mongols drew the European cavalry

the Mongols drew the European cavalry

the Mongols drew the European cavalry out into the open

out into the open

out into the open almost the entire Hungarian army was

almost the entire Hungarian army was

almost the entire Hungarian army was destroyed and the ensuing countrywide

destroyed and the ensuing countrywide

destroyed and the ensuing countrywide devastation saw up to a quarter of the

devastation saw up to a quarter of the

devastation saw up to a quarter of the population slain Europe took the Mongols

population slain Europe took the Mongols

population slain Europe took the Mongols a little more seriously after that

a little more seriously after that

a little more seriously after that soon after Mongol patrols reached to the

soon after Mongol patrols reached to the

soon after Mongol patrols reached to the very walls of Vienna indeed no army of

very walls of Vienna indeed no army of

very walls of Vienna indeed no army of any consequence stood between the

any consequence stood between the

any consequence stood between the Mongols and the Atlantic Ocean number 7

Mongols and the Atlantic Ocean number 7

Mongols and the Atlantic Ocean number 7 the Battle of had team 88 years after

the Battle of had team 88 years after

the Battle of had team 88 years after the end of the First Crusade Europeans

the end of the First Crusade Europeans

the end of the First Crusade Europeans ruled Jerusalem but the Kurdish high

ruled Jerusalem but the Kurdish high

ruled Jerusalem but the Kurdish high Ubud Sultan Saladin controlled the

Ubud Sultan Saladin controlled the

Ubud Sultan Saladin controlled the surrounding

surrounding

surrounding territories Crusaders make poor

territories Crusaders make poor

territories Crusaders make poor neighbors and after diplomacy failed

neighbors and after diplomacy failed

neighbors and after diplomacy failed both sides mustered their largest armies

both sides mustered their largest armies

both sides mustered their largest armies yet now at Hattin he would confirm his

yet now at Hattin he would confirm his

yet now at Hattin he would confirm his authority amongst the other Arab leaders

authority amongst the other Arab leaders

authority amongst the other Arab leaders by unleashing his great Islamic army on

by unleashing his great Islamic army on

by unleashing his great Islamic army on the Franks though Saladin’s was larger

the Franks though Saladin’s was larger

the Franks though Saladin’s was larger he drew away to attack undefended

he drew away to attack undefended

he drew away to attack undefended Tiberias and lured the Crusaders from

Tiberias and lured the Crusaders from

Tiberias and lured the Crusaders from their fortifications at Hattin Saladin

their fortifications at Hattin Saladin

their fortifications at Hattin Saladin destroyed the bulk of Frank’s army on

destroyed the bulk of Frank’s army on

destroyed the bulk of Frank’s army on open ground Saladin cut off their

open ground Saladin cut off their

open ground Saladin cut off their retreat harried them long enough to

retreat harried them long enough to

retreat harried them long enough to force them to camp without water and lit

force them to camp without water and lit

force them to camp without water and lit fires around them to dry their throats

fires around them to dry their throats

fires around them to dry their throats the next day saw a vicious back and

the next day saw a vicious back and

the next day saw a vicious back and forth some Crusaders escaped many died

forth some Crusaders escaped many died

forth some Crusaders escaped many died and the rest surrendered Saladin then

and the rest surrendered Saladin then

and the rest surrendered Saladin then conquered Jerusalem prompting a Third

conquered Jerusalem prompting a Third

conquered Jerusalem prompting a Third Crusade

in early 1453 Constantinople was on the

in early 1453 Constantinople was on the ropes

ropes

ropes Constantine paid gold to his enemies in

Constantine paid gold to his enemies in

Constantine paid gold to his enemies in an attempt to keep the peace

an attempt to keep the peace

an attempt to keep the peace Muhammad watched Constantinople run out

Muhammad watched Constantinople run out

Muhammad watched Constantinople run out of money and refused to renegotiate the

of money and refused to renegotiate the

of money and refused to renegotiate the terms cut off from their allies and with

terms cut off from their allies and with

terms cut off from their allies and with Europe reluctant or unable to help they

Europe reluctant or unable to help they

Europe reluctant or unable to help they were pretty much on their own but they

were pretty much on their own but they

were pretty much on their own but they weren’t beaten yet their walls were

weren’t beaten yet their walls were

weren’t beaten yet their walls were among the best in existence and they had

among the best in existence and they had

among the best in existence and they had run a giant chain across the Golden Horn

run a giant chain across the Golden Horn

run a giant chain across the Golden Horn to block naval access that said the

to block naval access that said the

to block naval access that said the Ottomans got around this by dragging

Ottomans got around this by dragging

Ottomans got around this by dragging their ships overland across a makeshift

their ships overland across a makeshift

their ships overland across a makeshift road of greased logs and once assembled

road of greased logs and once assembled

road of greased logs and once assembled they outnumbered the defenders about

they outnumbered the defenders about

they outnumbered the defenders about seven to one the siege lasted 53 days

seven to one the siege lasted 53 days

seven to one the siege lasted 53 days and ended with the Ottomans attacking

and ended with the Ottomans attacking

and ended with the Ottomans attacking the walls until they fell snuffing out

the walls until they fell snuffing out

the walls until they fell snuffing out the glory of Rome once and for all

the glory of Rome once and for all

the glory of Rome once and for all leading the attack sultan mehmet ii

scholar warrior obsessed number five the

scholar warrior obsessed number five the siege of Ohio 91 years into the war

siege of Ohio 91 years into the war

siege of Ohio 91 years into the war England controlled northern France and

England controlled northern France and

England controlled northern France and just needed olea

just needed olea

just needed olea to begin invading the center their

to begin invading the center their

to begin invading the center their assault started off well but soon lost

assault started off well but soon lost

assault started off well but soon lost momentum so they decided to starve the

momentum so they decided to starve the

momentum so they decided to starve the city building a loose ring of

city building a loose ring of

city building a loose ring of fortifications around it not much

fortifications around it not much

fortifications around it not much happened for the next six months or so

happened for the next six months or so

happened for the next six months or so that is until one Joan of Arc arrived

that is until one Joan of Arc arrived

that is until one Joan of Arc arrived with reinforcements Joan’s arrival with

with reinforcements Joan’s arrival with

with reinforcements Joan’s arrival with more troops tips the balance in favor of

more troops tips the balance in favor of

more troops tips the balance in favor of the Audion a and the French they attack

the Audion a and the French they attack

the Audion a and the French they attack prophecies had been swirling about her

prophecies had been swirling about her

prophecies had been swirling about her and her presence galvanized the citizens

and her presence galvanized the citizens

and her presence galvanized the citizens to take up arms with her France

to take up arms with her France

to take up arms with her France dismantled the English siege fort by

dismantled the English siege fort by

dismantled the English siege fort by fort forcing them to abandon the whole

fort forcing them to abandon the whole

fort forcing them to abandon the whole endeavor and their Joan’s legend began

endeavor and their Joan’s legend began

endeavor and their Joan’s legend began inspiring the French cause to be reborn

inspiring the French cause to be reborn

inspiring the French cause to be reborn the fact that she comes back very

the fact that she comes back very

the fact that she comes back very quickly seemingly unhurt by this wound

quickly seemingly unhurt by this wound

quickly seemingly unhurt by this wound has been used as a miracle number for

has been used as a miracle number for

has been used as a miracle number for the siege of Jerusalem finally at

the siege of Jerusalem finally at

the siege of Jerusalem finally at Jerusalem the First Crusade was in

Jerusalem the First Crusade was in

Jerusalem the First Crusade was in tatters functionally leaderless and with

tatters functionally leaderless and with

tatters functionally leaderless and with several powerful Lords the ones who

several powerful Lords the ones who

several powerful Lords the ones who hadn’t quit by this point all vying for

hadn’t quit by this point all vying for

hadn’t quit by this point all vying for control more over the surrounding

control more over the surrounding

control more over the surrounding countryside had been stripped bare

countryside had been stripped bare

countryside had been stripped bare meaning no food water or lumber for

meaning no food water or lumber for

meaning no food water or lumber for siege equipment food had always been

siege equipment food had always been

siege equipment food had always been scarce then they had the expelled

scarce then they had the expelled

scarce then they had the expelled Christians to feed as well the first

Christians to feed as well the first

Christians to feed as well the first assault failed but coincidentally a

assault failed but coincidentally a

assault failed but coincidentally a bunch of Genoa sailors soon appeared and

bunch of Genoa sailors soon appeared and

bunch of Genoa sailors soon appeared and with nothing better to do they

with nothing better to do they

with nothing better to do they dismantled their boats to build siege

dismantled their boats to build siege

dismantled their boats to build siege engines

engines

engines we took the lattice and lashed them to

we took the lattice and lashed them to

we took the lattice and lashed them to the battlements of the city

the battlements of the city

the battlements of the city an amazing number of men began to climb

an amazing number of men began to climb

an amazing number of men began to climb equipped and restocked the crusaders

equipped and restocked the crusaders

equipped and restocked the crusaders launched a two-pronged attack that

launched a two-pronged attack that

launched a two-pronged attack that breached Jerusalem’s walls resulting in

breached Jerusalem’s walls resulting in

breached Jerusalem’s walls resulting in an excessively brutal civilian massacre

an excessively brutal civilian massacre

an excessively brutal civilian massacre even by medieval standards hard to

even by medieval standards hard to

even by medieval standards hard to believe this was the most successful

believe this was the most successful

believe this was the most successful crusade ever number three the Battle of

crusade ever number three the Battle of

crusade ever number three the Battle of Agincourt after a couple of generations

Agincourt after a couple of generations

Agincourt after a couple of generations of mandatory archery training English

of mandatory archery training English

of mandatory archery training English longbowmen were truly a potent force by

longbowmen were truly a potent force by

longbowmen were truly a potent force by this point in the Hundred Years War the

this point in the Hundred Years War the

this point in the Hundred Years War the only way of getting an army that was

only way of getting an army that was

only way of getting an army that was strong was to increase the proportion of

strong was to increase the proportion of

strong was to increase the proportion of archers in it outnumbered and in a race

archers in it outnumbered and in a race

archers in it outnumbered and in a race against time henry v s– army chose a

against time henry v s– army chose a

against time henry v s– army chose a position at one end of a muddy field

position at one end of a muddy field

position at one end of a muddy field with forests protecting their sides

with forests protecting their sides

with forests protecting their sides forcing the heavily armored french

forcing the heavily armored french

forcing the heavily armored french knights to slog through mud under a hail

knights to slog through mud under a hail

knights to slog through mud under a hail of arrows when they finally reached the

of arrows when they finally reached the

of arrows when they finally reached the english position the few exhausted

english position the few exhausted

english position the few exhausted survivors were easily beaten some only

survivors were easily beaten some only

survivors were easily beaten some only needing to be pushed over by this time

needing to be pushed over by this time

needing to be pushed over by this time in history both nations were

in history both nations were

in history both nations were increasingly relying on professional

increasingly relying on professional

increasingly relying on professional soldiers like we have today and

soldiers like we have today and

soldiers like we have today and England’s archers proved that to be the

England’s archers proved that to be the

England’s archers proved that to be the way of the future this story shall the

way of the future this story shall the

way of the future this story shall the good man teach his son and Crispin

good man teach his son and Crispin

good man teach his son and Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by from this day

Crispian shall ne’er go by from this day

Crispian shall ne’er go by from this day to the ending of the world number 2 the

to the ending of the world number 2 the

to the ending of the world number 2 the Battle of tool this one pitted the

Battle of tool this one pitted the

Battle of tool this one pitted the Franks and Burgundians against Umayyad

Franks and Burgundians against Umayyad

Franks and Burgundians against Umayyad Arabs and Berbers invading from the

Arabs and Berbers invading from the

Arabs and Berbers invading from the Iberian Peninsula the Moors want to

Iberian Peninsula the Moors want to

Iberian Peninsula the Moors want to expand their empire and import their

expand their empire and import their

expand their empire and import their faith in Muhammed by avoiding the main

faith in Muhammed by avoiding the main

faith in Muhammed by avoiding the main roads the Franks managed to intercept

roads the Franks managed to intercept

roads the Franks managed to intercept the Umayyads by surprise choosing a

the Umayyads by surprise choosing a

the Umayyads by surprise choosing a defensible position right in their path

defensible position right in their path

defensible position right in their path with trees to mask their numbers but

with trees to mask their numbers but

with trees to mask their numbers but there the commander of the Frankish army

there the commander of the Frankish army

there the commander of the Frankish army stood

stood

stood waiting patiently for the enemy to

waiting patiently for the enemy to

waiting patiently for the enemy to strike in a tight balance they needed

strike in a tight balance they needed

strike in a tight balance they needed only to wait for their opponents to

only to wait for their opponents to

only to wait for their opponents to either go home freeze in the coming

either go home freeze in the coming

either go home freeze in the coming winter

winter

winter or else charge uphill through rough

or else charge uphill through rough

or else charge uphill through rough terrain which they did and ultimately

terrain which they did and ultimately

terrain which they did and ultimately failed Abdul Rahman may not have been

failed Abdul Rahman may not have been

failed Abdul Rahman may not have been paying as close attention to Charles

paying as close attention to Charles

paying as close attention to Charles Martel as he probably needed to in this

Martel as he probably needed to in this

Martel as he probably needed to in this case the Franks probably didn’t know

case the Franks probably didn’t know

case the Franks probably didn’t know this but they were likely the best

this but they were likely the best

this but they were likely the best defense Europe had at the time it was

defense Europe had at the time it was

defense Europe had at the time it was his stunning victory at the Battle of

his stunning victory at the Battle of

his stunning victory at the Battle of Tor that earned Martel the nickname

Tor that earned Martel the nickname

Tor that earned Martel the nickname Charles the hammer before we unveil our

Charles the hammer before we unveil our

Charles the hammer before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable

number one pick here are some honorable

number one pick here are some honorable mentions

number one the Battle of Hastings were

number one the Battle of Hastings were fired up blood was boiling we were ready

fired up blood was boiling we were ready

fired up blood was boiling we were ready for it you know we were gonna let it

for it you know we were gonna let it

for it you know we were gonna let it come to us and when it came then they’ll

come to us and when it came then they’ll

come to us and when it came then they’ll be held in pain following the death of a

be held in pain following the death of a

be held in pain following the death of a childless king several challenges arose

childless king several challenges arose

childless king several challenges arose to claim the crown of England from the

to claim the crown of England from the

to claim the crown of England from the dead Kings successor

dead Kings successor

dead Kings successor well actually happened in practices that

well actually happened in practices that

well actually happened in practices that as soon as Edward dies the throne is

as soon as Edward dies the throne is

as soon as Edward dies the throne is used upped by Horrell Godwinson having

used upped by Horrell Godwinson having

used upped by Horrell Godwinson having deflected one set of invaders from

deflected one set of invaders from

deflected one set of invaders from Norway the anglo-saxon defenders then

Norway the anglo-saxon defenders then

Norway the anglo-saxon defenders then had to rush south to face the Normans

had to rush south to face the Normans

had to rush south to face the Normans two different leaders two very different

two different leaders two very different

two different leaders two very different styles of fighting though they held the

styles of fighting though they held the

styles of fighting though they held the line for most of the day the more

line for most of the day the more

line for most of the day the more experienced Normans lured them into a

experienced Normans lured them into a

experienced Normans lured them into a charge then fell upon them and secured

charge then fell upon them and secured

charge then fell upon them and secured victory it was important because it

victory it was important because it

victory it was important because it meant that the English vaque ‘td the

meant that the English vaque ‘td the

meant that the English vaque ‘td the heddle which the Normans had been

heddle which the Normans had been

heddle which the Normans had been attacking during that day if the

attacking during that day if the

attacking during that day if the subsequent rise of the world spanning

subsequent rise of the world spanning

subsequent rise of the world spanning British Empire resembled Roman practices

British Empire resembled Roman practices

British Empire resembled Roman practices more than Scandinavian ones it can be

more than Scandinavian ones it can be

more than Scandinavian ones it can be attributed to William the Conqueror

attributed to William the Conqueror

attributed to William the Conqueror bringing England back under the

bringing England back under the

bringing England back under the influence of mainland European culture

influence of mainland European culture

influence of mainland European culture it was a quite a question the battle was

it was a quite a question the battle was

it was a quite a question the battle was won by the better-better leader on the

won by the better-better leader on the

won by the better-better leader on the day do you agree with our list

day do you agree with our list

day do you agree with our list what other medieval battles shaped

what other medieval battles shaped

what other medieval battles shaped European history for more historical top

European history for more historical top

European history for more historical top 10s published every day be sure to

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enemies that they may take our lives

enemies that they may take our lives but they’ll never take Oh radar