What weapon gave English armies an advantage at battles like Crécy (1346) and Agincourt (1415)?

The story behind the answer

This tall, yew-wood bow shot heavy arrows with enough force to pierce mail and some plate at long ranges. Trained English and Welsh archers could loose 10–12 arrows per minute, creating lethal volleys that shattered cavalry charges and clogged battlefields with wounded men and horses. At Crécy and Agincourt, prepared positions, defensive stakes, and muddy ground amplified its effect, turning massed French assaults into chaos.

Originating in Wales and adopted by English kings from the 13th century, it demanded years of practice—so much that laws required regular archery training. Arrows with bodkin points targeted armor gaps, and the weapon’s speed outclassed the slower, mechanically drawn crossbow. Its dominance waned only with the rise of gunpowder firearms in the 16th century.