[MR] Wikipedia: Siege of Calais Ends, 1347

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1347, the fortified French town of Calais surrendered to
Edward I after an 11-month siege. The capitulation ended what is generally
known as the Crécy campaign, a part of the Hundred Years' War between
England and France.

After the stunning French defeat at the Battle of Crécy on 26 August 1346,
Edward III turned his attention to the northern port city of Calais,
directly across *La Manche* (aka the English Channel) at its narrowest
point. The siege was opened on 4 September 1346. The siege then dragged on
for months thanks to the town's large garrison, stout defences and the open
harbor that allowed French ships to dash in and drop supplies.

The English eventually were able to fortify the harbor mouth, forcing the
city into starvation. When a French relief force turned back without
engaging the English, the Calais garrison surrendered.

In a famous incident related in Jean Froissart's chronicles, Edward
demanded that six of the Calais' most prominent citizens surrender
themselves for execution in exchange for the lives of the rest of the
town's citizens. Eustache de Saint Pierre and five others volunteered to
sacrifice themselves. Edward's queen, Phillipa of Hainault pleaded for
their lives, and Edward spared the men. However, they and all of the French
were expelled from Calais.

The town became an even more heavily-fortified English port, which they
held until 1558 when the French retook the town after their own prolonged
siege.

More about the Siege of Calais is found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Calais_(1346%E2%80%931347) .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep Merry Rose relevant and in business.