The Siege of Calais (September 1346 – August 1347): Edward III Secures England’s Foothold in France

Following his victory at the Battle of Crécy (August 26, 1346), Edward III of England advanced north and besieged the city of Calais, an important seaport on the English Channel. This siege, which lasted nearly a year, resulted in one of England’s most significant territorial acquisitions of the Hundred Years’ War, allowing the English to maintain a permanent military presence in northern France for over two centuries.

The Strategic Importance of Calais

• Calais, originally a fishing village, had grown into a prosperous seaport, serving as a major crossing point between England and France.
• Situated on an island surrounded by canals and harbors, the city was strongly fortified and could be supplied by sea, making it difficult to capture by land.
• Edward III recognized its strategic value, as controlling Calais would:
  • Secure an English foothold in northern France.
  • Provide a base for further invasions.
  • Ensure safe passage for English reinforcements and supplies.

The Siege (September 1346 – August 1347)

• Edward III began the siege in September 1346, following his triumph at Crécy.
• The French garrison, led by Jean de Vienne, resisted fiercely, relying on naval resupply to sustain itself.
• However, Edward’s blockade cut off the city’s food and reinforcements, leading to widespread starvation among the defenders.
• By early 1347, the city’s population was exhausted and starving, forcing the leadership to negotiate surrender terms.

The Surrender: The Burghers of Calais

• To avoid mass slaughter, six prominent burghers (citizens) of Calais offered themselves as hostages to Edward III.
• They walked out of the city barefoot and wearing only sackcloth, expecting to be executed as a symbolic act of submission.
• Edward’s wife, Queen Philippa of Hainaut, intervened, pleading for their lives to be spared, which Edward granted.

The Establishment of the Pale of Calais

• With Calais now in English hands, Edward III expelled the city’s French inhabitants and repopulated it with English settlers.
• The English established the Pale of Calais, a fortified English-controlled zone around the city.
• Calais became a critical stronghold for England, allowing them to:
  • Station troops safely in northern France.
  • Launch further military campaigns into France.
  • Control a major trade and naval route in the English Channel.

Calais Under English Control (1347–1558)

• Calais remained an English possession for over 200 years, serving as a military and commercial hub.
• Even after England lost most of its French territories, Calais remained its last continental stronghold.
• It was finally recaptured by the French in 1558 during a successful siege by Francis, Duke of Guise, marking the end of English rule in France.

The Siege of Calais (1346–1347) was one of Edward III’s greatest strategic victories, providing England with a lasting base in France and further cementing English dominance in the early phases of the Hundred Years’ War.