What happened at the Battle of Sluis in 1340?

The Battle of Sluys, fought on June 24, 1340, was the first major engagement of the Hundred Years’ War and a decisive victory for Edward III of England.1

Seeking to assert his claim to the French throne, Edward III led an English fleet against a French force anchored in the inlet of Sluys off the coast of Flanders. The French had lashed their ships together to form a defensive platform, while the English utilized smaller, faster vessels equipped with longbowmen who provided superior fire support.1

The battle lasted through the day and night, with the English successfully boarding and capturing the anchored French ships. The engagement resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the French, who lost approximately 170 of their 190 ships and suffered up to 18,000 casualties. Conversely, English losses were fewer than 4,000 men and only two ships. This victory secured English dominance of the English Channel and effectively neutralized the threat of a French naval invasion.1