Siege of Thérouanne: Henry VIII’s Encampment and Military Challenges (July 1513)

In July 1513, the English siege of Thérouanne under King Henry VIII encountered stiff resistance from the French garrison commanded by Antoine de Créquy, Sieur de Pont-Remy. Despite determined efforts, the English forces—led by George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury—initially made limited progress. Shrewsbury set up artillery batteries and began mining operations toward the town walls, but the defenders, comprising both French and German soldiers, countered effectively, responding vigorously with sustained artillery fire, including one distinctive regular cannon shot nicknamed the "whistle" by the English troops.

Challenges and Setbacks

The siege faced logistical and tactical setbacks. Notably, two English cannons—prominently named "John the Evangelist" and the "Red Gun"—had been abandoned en route, and French skirmishing hindered their recovery, resulting in casualties among the English forces. The chronicler Edward Hall notes the significant involvement of prominent English commanders, including Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, and highlights tactical counsel offered by the Welsh nobleman Rhys ap Thomas.

Reports of the siege’s slow progress and logistical inefficiencies spread widely, reaching diplomatic observers as far away as Venice, damaging England's military reputation abroad. An Imperial agent of Margaret of Savoy, observing the siege, reported critically that two "obstinate men" dominated English decision-making: Charles Brandon, Viscount Lisle (whom he referred to as the "Grand Esquire"), and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the king’s influential Almoner.

Henry VIII’s Encampment

Henry VIII himself occupied a heavily fortified and carefully arranged encampment east of Thérouanne. English chroniclers vividly described Henry’s personal accommodations, including a robust wooden cabin equipped with an iron chimney, surrounded by elaborate, colorful tents of blue, yellow, and white fabric, prominently displaying the royal heraldic symbols—such as the Lion, Dragon, Greyhound, Antelope, and Dun Cow. The encampment itself was carefully positioned and fortified with extensive artillery, emphasizing Henry’s determination to maintain pressure on Thérouanne despite initial setbacks.

Military and Political Implications

The slow progress and tactical difficulties during the siege highlighted logistical weaknesses and challenged English military prestige. Nonetheless, the determined effort and significant resources allocated demonstrated Henry’s seriousness about projecting military power on the European continent, reinforcing his diplomatic leverage within the Holy League alliance.

Consequences and Legacy

The siege of Thérouanne became a significant military and symbolic event in Henry VIII’s early reign. Though fraught with operational difficulties, the eventual surrender of Thérouanne (later in the campaign) contributed to Henry’s personal reputation as a warrior-king. The siege also brought to prominence key figures—most notably Wolsey and Brandon—who would shape English politics and military strategy throughout the coming decades.

Fall and Destruction of Thérouanne (August 1513)

On August 22, 1513, after a prolonged siege and intense diplomatic maneuvering, the strategically significant French fortress-town of Thérouanne surrendered to the English forces led by King Henry VIII and his commander George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury. Following the decisive encounter at Guinegate (the so-called "Battle of the Spurs"), Henry’s forces repositioned their encampment south of Thérouanne on August 20, no longer fearing French counterattacks.

Negotiations and Surrender

Initially resistant and unimpressed by displays of captured French banners, the defending French and German garrison under Antoine de Créquy eventually capitulated due to severe shortages of essential supplies. Diplomatic sources confirmed that these supply issues proved critical in bringing defenders to negotiations. Following the surrender, Shrewsbury ceremonially presented the keys of Thérouanne to King Henry, symbolizing English victory and dominance.

Systematic Demolition of Thérouanne

Upon receiving control of the town, Henry immediately ordered its comprehensive demolition, intending to permanently disable Thérouanne’s strategic value to France. Approximately eight to nine hundred English soldiers began dismantling its defensive structures, systematically tearing down town walls and three major defensive bastions, pushing the ruins into the town’s deep, dry defensive ditches. These ditches contained deeper pits specifically designed to be set aflame, generating choking smoke as a defensive measure against attackers.

International Observations and Plans for Complete Destruction

The Milanese ambassador to Emperor Maximilian, Paolo Da Laude, reported that English plans went beyond simple demolition; he learned of intentions to completely burn the town once the defensive structures had been dismantled. This measure highlighted Henry VIII’s determination to prevent any future reoccupation or military use of Thérouanne, clearly conveying the severity of English strategic objectives.

Consequences and Legacy

The comprehensive destruction of Thérouanne marked a powerful demonstration of English military capability and Henry’s personal ambition to decisively weaken French power in the region. This episode symbolized a shift toward ruthless tactical policies, underlining the era’s increasingly destructive nature of warfare. Thérouanne’s demolition served both strategic and symbolic purposes: it demonstrated the English capacity for sustained military campaigns abroad, greatly enhancing Henry VIII’s prestige among European allies, while severely diminishing French regional defenses.