Chevauchée of the Black Prince (1356) Chevauchée of the Black Prince (1356) The Chevauchée of the Black Prince in 1356, which began on 4 August 1356 at Bordeaux and ended with the Battle of Poitiers on 19 September 1356, was a devastating raid of Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales (known as the Black Prince), the eldest son of King Edward III of England. This expedition of the Black Prince devastated large parts of Bergerac, Périgord, Nontronnais, Confolentais, Nord-Ouest, Limousin, La Marche, Boischaut, Champagne Berrichonne, Berry, Sologne, south of Touraine and Poitou. In the spring of 1356, the Black Prince assembled at La Réole, a force
Edward the Black Prince Renowned Son, Edward, Prince of Wales and of Aquitain, Sirnamed the Black-Prince". The origins of the name are uncertain, though many theories have been proposed. These fall under two main heads: The black field of his "shield for peace" is well documented (see Arms and heraldic badge above). However, there is no sound evidence that Edward ever wore black armour, although John Harvey (without citing a source) refers to "some rather shadowy evidence that he was described in French as clad at the battle of Crécy ' "en armure noire en fer bruni" ' – in black armour of burnished