What was the Siege of Calais?

The Siege of Calais took place during the Hundred Years’ War, from September 4, 1346, to August 4, 1347. Following his victory at the Battle of Crécy, Edward III of England besieged Calais, the closest port to England. Edward's army was unable to penetrate the city’s defenses, and the English cannons made no impact on the city’s walls. While the French initially brought in new supplies, Edward eventually prevented supplies from reaching Calais by sea, which caused the 8,000 citizens to starve. The English needed a secure port to receive fresh supplies and reinforcements, and Calais was ideal because it could be easily supplied and defended by English ships. The English victory exhausted both sides, and a truce was soon declared in the Hundred Years’ War.

Which countries were involved in the Siege of Calais?

During the Siege of Calais (1346-1347), England under Edward III besieged Calais, a French port city. Edward needed a secure port for supplies and reinforcements after landing in France in the summer of 1346. Although the French tried to defend the city, the English army, numbering around 34,000, prevented supplies from reaching Calais by sea, leading to the starvation and surrender of its citizens. The English victory exhausted both sides, resulting in a truce in the Hundred Years’ War.

Why did the English army lay siege to the city of Calais in 1346?

Edward III of England besieged Calais in 1346 to secure a reliable port for supplies and reinforcements after landing in France. Calais was ideal because it was close to both the Cinque Ports of England and Flemish trade cities allied with England, such as Antwerp. The city's location on the English Channel meant English ships could easily supply and defend it after capture. Although Edward's army numbered around 34,000 men, they could not penetrate the city’s defenses. By February 1347, Edward cut off supplies to Calais by sea, leading to the starvation and eventual surrender of its 8,000 citizens. The siege resulted in an English victory, followed by a truce in the Hundred Years’ War.

How long did the siege last, and what were the living conditions like for the people in Calais?

The Siege of Calais during the Hundred Years’ War, initiated by Edward III of England, spanned from September 4, 1346, to August 4, 1347. Initially, a stalemate persisted because the English could not penetrate the city's defenses, and the French were able to get supplies into Calais. However, by February 1347, the English had blockaded the city, leading to starvation . Food and water dwindled, forcing citizens to eat vermin and excrement.

What strategies did the English use to capture Calais?

During the Siege of Calais (1346-1347), the English army, led by Edward III, aimed to capture Calais to secure a reliable port for supplies and reinforcements from England. Initially, the English army of around 34,000 men, along with twenty cannons, could not penetrate the city's defenses. Edward III then prevented supplies from reaching Calais by sea and besieged the city, starving the citizens into surrender . By February 1347, the lack of fresh water and food forced the citizens to eat vermin. The English victory exhausted both sides, leading to a truce in the Hundred Years’ War.

How did the capture of Calais affect the Hundred Years’ War between England and France?

The Siege of Calais significantly impacted the Hundred Years’ War because the English victory provided them with a secure port for supplies and reinforcements, being the closest port to England. Edward III's army, though large, couldn't initially breach Calais' defenses, leading to a stalemate. However, by February 1347, the English successfully blockaded the city, starving the inhabitants into surrender . Although the siege exhausted both sides, it resulted in a truce that lasted eight years. Despite this, the English retained Calais until 1553, and English kings continued to claim the title of King of France until 1801, highlighting the long-term implications of the capture of Calais .

Siege of Calais

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Rodin's The Burghers of Calais at Calais

Painting by Jean-Simon Berthelemy showing Philippa of Hainaut kneeling and pleading before a standing armored man, surrounded by soldiers and townspeople at the Siege of Calais.

Quick Facts

Date:: September 4, 1346 - August 4, 1347

Location:: Calais; France

Participants:: France; England

Key People:: Edward III

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Siege of Calais

French history [1346-1347]

Written by

Simon Adams

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Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What was the Siege of Calais?
The Siege of Calais took place during the Hundred Years’ War, from September 4, 1346, to August 4, 1347. Following his victory at the Battle of Crécy, Edward III of England besieged Calais, the closest port to England.

Edward's army was unable to penetrate the city’s defenses, and the English cannons made no impact on the city’s walls. While the French initially brought in new supplies, Edward eventually prevented supplies from reaching Calais by sea, which caused the 8,000 citizens to starve. The English needed a secure port to receive fresh supplies and reinforcements, and Calais was ideal because it could be easily supplied and defended by English ships. The English victory exhausted both sides, and a truce was soon declared in the Hundred Years’ War.
1 Britannica Source
1. Siege of Calais
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Which countries were involved in the Siege of Calais?
During the Siege of Calais (1346-1347), England under Edward III besieged Calais, a French port city. Edward needed a secure port for supplies and reinforcements after landing in France in the summer of 1346.

Although the French tried to defend the city, the English army, numbering around 34,000, prevented supplies from reaching Calais by sea, leading to the starvation and surrender of its citizens. The English victory exhausted both sides, resulting in a truce in the Hundred Years’ War.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Edward III: Hundred Years’ War
2. Siege of Calais
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why did the English army lay siege to the city of Calais in 1346?
Edward III of England besieged Calais in 1346 to secure a reliable port for supplies and reinforcements after landing in France. Calais was ideal because it was close to both the Cinque Ports of England and Flemish trade cities allied with England, such as Antwerp. The city's location on the English Channel meant English ships could easily supply and defend it after capture. Although Edward's army numbered around 34,000 men, they could not penetrate the city’s defenses. By February 1347, Edward cut off supplies to Calais by sea, leading to the starvation and eventual surrender of its 8,000 citizens. The siege resulted in an English victory, followed by a truce in the Hundred Years’ War.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How long did the siege last, and what were the living conditions like for the people in Calais?
The Siege of Calais during the Hundred Years’ War, initiated by Edward III of England, spanned from September 4, 1346, to August 4, 1347.

Initially, a stalemate persisted because the English could not penetrate the city's defenses, and the French were able to get supplies into Calais. However, by February 1347, the English had blockaded the city, leading to starvation. Food and water dwindled, forcing citizens to eat vermin and excrement.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What strategies did the English use to capture Calais?
During the Siege of Calais (1346-1347), the English army, led by Edward III, aimed to capture Calais to secure a reliable port for supplies and reinforcements from England.

Initially, the English army of around 34,000 men, along with twenty cannons, could not penetrate the city's defenses. Edward III then prevented supplies from reaching Calais by sea and besieged the city, starving the citizens into surrender. By February 1347, the lack of fresh water and food forced the citizens to eat vermin. The English victory exhausted both sides, leading to a truce in the Hundred Years’ War.
1 Britannica Source
1. Siege of Calais: Stalemate and starvation
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did the capture of Calais affect the Hundred Years’ War between England and France?
The Siege of Calais significantly impacted the Hundred Years’ War because the English victory provided them with a secure port for supplies and reinforcements, being the closest port to England.

Edward III's army, though large, couldn't initially breach Calais' defenses, leading to a stalemate. However, by February 1347, the English successfully blockaded the city, starving the inhabitants into surrender. Although the siege exhausted both sides, it resulted in a truce that lasted eight years. Despite this, the English retained Calais until 1553, and English kings continued to claim the title of King of France until 1801, highlighting the long-term implications of the capture of Calais.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Siege of Calais, siege during the Hundred Years’ War on the northern coast of France, lasting from September 4, 1346, to August 4, 1347. After his magnificent victory at the Battle of Crécy in August 1346, Edward III of England marched north and besieged Calais, the closest port to England and directly opposite Dover where the English Channel is narrowest. The siege was an English victory, but it exhausted both sides. A truce was soon declared in the long-running Hundred Years’ War, and that truce held for eight years.

Why Edward III wanted Calais

After Edward landed in France in summer 1346, he sent his fleet home. He therefore needed a secure port from which he could receive fresh supplies and reinforcements. Calais was ideal. It lay near not only the Cinque Ports of England but also Flemish trade cities such as Antwerp that were then allied with England and could easily resupply Edward’s troops. Calais was surrounded by walls and a double moat and boasted a moated citadel. Its position on the English Channel meant that, once captured, the city could be supplied and defended by English ships easily. It meant that the French could easily defend it, too.

Stalemate and starvation

Edward’s army numbered around 34,000 men, but such a force was inadequate to penetrate the city’s defenses. The English also had twenty cannon, but these crude devices made no impression on the city’s walls, despite many attempts to breach them.

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At first, stalemate reigned as the French failed to intercept the English lines of supply, and the English failed to stop French sailors bringing in new supplies. Desertions among Edward’s troops were rife, and Edward replenished his ranks by recruiting prisoners in England who would be pardoned for their service if the siege were successful.

By February 1347, however, Edward managed to prevent supplies getting into Calais by sea and dug in for a long siege, starving the 8,000 citizens into surrender. Supplies of fresh water and food were reduced to almost nothing; citizens were reduced to eating vermin and excrement.

The burghers of Calais surrender

Jean-Simon Berthélemy: The Courageous Action of Eustache de Saint-Pierre at the Siege of Calais — Jean-Simon Berthélemy: *The Courageous Action of Eustache de Saint-Pierre at the Siege of CalaisThe Courageous Action of Eustache de Saint-Pierre at the Siege of Calais*, painting by Jean-Simon Berthélemy; in the Museum of Art and Archaeology of Laon, France. It depicts Eustache de Saint-Pierre (in blue on right), the city's oldest burgher, volunteering to die in order to save Calais and its population from destruction by King Edward III (left). Philippa, Edward's wife (center), appeals to him to spare the burghers, who were the city's leaders.

The surrender was signaled on August 1, but to spare the city’s inhabitants, Edward insisted on the sacrifice of six of the city’s leaders. As portrayed in Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture, the six emaciated burghers (leaders), “with bare heads and feet, with ropes round their necks, and the keys of the town and castle in their hands,” offered themselves to the English king so their fellow citizens might live. Only when Edward’s pregnant queen, Philippa of Hainaut, pleaded for mercy on their behalf were the six burghers allowed to live.

Effects of the siege

The French surrender and English victory was a great boon to England during the Hundred Years’ War, and as an English colony the city proved an excellent military base of operations in France. Edward’s finances, however, were now in ruins, and the Black Death was killing large numbers of soldiers, prompting a hastily signed truce with the French. The city was then populated with English settlers and merchants and would remain in English hands until 1558.

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