[MR] Wikipedia: Fall of Calais

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1558, Calais fell to a French attack. Calais was the last
English possession in France, the rest having been lost by the end of the
Hundred Years' War.

More interesting than this footnote to English history is Calais' capture
in 1347 by Edward III. Edward had a thing going on with the French, as he
and the French King Philip VI jockeyed for dominance. Edward held lands in
France -- Aquitaine and Ponthieu -- and technically owed allegiance as a
vassal to the French Kings. The French claimed that Edward was thus subject
to the French King in all matters (the same logic the English had applied
to the Scots for many years). Naturally Edward disagreed, and somewhat
rightly fearing that answering a royal summons to Paris could result in his
capture, refused to pay homage. Thus "provoked", Philip now seized Edward's
French lands. This caused Edward to land an army in France in 1346, leading
to the crushing French defeat at the Battle of Crécy
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cr%C3%A9cy>.

Edward had a somewhat dodgy claim on the French throne, being the
great-grandson of Philip III through his mother Isabella. His queen,
Philippa of Hainault had an equal claim, being also a great-grandaughter of
Philip III. The French, unsurprisingly rejected Edward's claim, since the
House of Valois had placed their butts on the throne generations before, as
well as conveniently not recognizing succession through female lines. Thus
we have the two major *casus belli*  for the Hundred Year's War (really 116
years, but hey, what's 16 years between enemies).

Calais, being the closest point in France to England and having a large
harbor, was a natural target for Edward's armies. He personally led the
siege in 1347. The French were under royal orders to hold out until help
arrived, which it didn't. When the city finally fell Edward ordered that
all the citizens be massacred for their obstinancy.

Edward softened his stance, and agreed that all others would be spared if
six of the chief burghers of Calais presented themselves to him bare
headed, barefooted and with ropes around their necks for execution. One of
the richest men, Eustache de Saint Pierre, volunteered to sacrifice
himself. He was followed by five other prominent townsmen. According
to Froissart's
chronicle, Queen Phillipa convinced Edward to spare their lives (some clam
this was all planned as a political theatre piece).

So we get August Rodin's marvelous 19th century sculpture of the six
burghers. Twelve official copies have been made, and if you want to see
one, go to the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC. Somewhat
ironically, another copy is at Victoria Tower Gardens just outside
Parliament in London:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burghers_of_Calais#/media/File:Burghers_of_Calais_London_50593.jpg
.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆