Siege of Ypres (1383)
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Ypres in 1383 occurred between June 8 and August 8 as part of Despenser's Crusade
and the Revolt of Ghent (1379-1385), by English forces and forces from the Flemish city of Ghent
. The siege was a failure.
in the County of Flanders
, rebelled in September 1379 against their count Louis de Male, who supported France against England in the Hundred Year's War, which was against the economic interests of Flanders. After their defeat at the Battle of Roosebeke
in November 1382, the citizens of Ghent requested English assistance, who sent a force under Henry le Despenser, the Bishop of Norwich.
The English landed at Calais
in May 1383 and took Gravelines
, Dunkirk, Poperinge
, and Nieuwpoort
. On 25 May the crusaders put to flight a Franco-Flemish army, under the command of Louis of Male, in a pitched battle fought near Dunkirk.
Despenser was then persuaded by his Ghent allies and some of his officers to besiege
Ypres
, who had remained loyal to the count and to France.
and the stone gates of the city. A mission had been dispatched to Paris
to replace artillery powder stocks. The city was well organised under the command of the Castellan
of Ypres, John d'Oultre, and had been divided into different defensive sectors. Although the ramparts were low, they were well protected with a double wet ditch, a high thorny hedge reinforced with stakes and a wooden stockade
and fire-step.
The English attacked the Temple Gate on the first day but were beaten off. Over the next three days the city gates were attacked simultaneously, without success. Before the end of the first week of the siege, reinforcements arrived to completely encircle the city walls and the outer ditch was breached using soil. On the eighth day (15 June) Despenser attacked the defences with artillery
, firing on the Messines Gate and damaging it, but not enough to cause the city defences to be breached. Over the following days of the siege, sustained artillery attacks had little overall effect and the assaults of Despenser's troops were all beaten off.
An attempt to drain the ditches seriously threatened the citizens of Ypres, but the attempt was unsuccessful and the besieged managed to communicate with the Duke of Burgundy
through Louis of Male, who was able to raise a large French army to come to the aid of the city.
On 8 August, after nine weeks of effort, Despenser abruptly decided to abandon the siege, as did his Ghent allies on September 10.
In Ypres, the victory was attributed to the intervention of the Holy Mary.
, the bishop and Sir Hugh Calveley
wished to advance into France, but Sir William Elmham, Trivet and some of the other commanders refused to go.
The bishop, was obliged by the approaching French army to fall back upon Gravelines
. The demoralised and disease-ridden English forces were bribed to evacuate Gravelines and Despenser ordered it to be sacked. By the end of October the remaining crusaders had returned across the English Channel.
Ghent continued its revolt, until it concluded the Peace of Tournai
in 1385 with Philip the Bold
, the successor of Louis of Male.
Ypres never really recovered from this siege. The entire hinterland of the city had been destroyed and the trade with England was seriously compromised. The decline of the city continued further and the population of the city dropped from 20,000 in 1383 to only 7.600 by the end of the 15th century.
Despenser's Crusade
Despenser's Crusade was a military expedition to aid the city of Ghent from the supporters of Antipope Clement VII in 1383. It took place in the context of the Western Schism and the Hundred Years' War between England and France...
and the Revolt of Ghent (1379-1385), by English forces and forces from the Flemish city of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. The siege was a failure.
Prelude
The city of GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
in the County of Flanders
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
, rebelled in September 1379 against their count Louis de Male, who supported France against England in the Hundred Year's War, which was against the economic interests of Flanders. After their defeat at the Battle of Roosebeke
Battle of Roosebeke
The Battle of Roosebeke took place on November 27, 1382 on the Goudberg between a Flemish army under Philip van Artevelde and a French army under Louis II of Flanders who had called upon the help of the French king Charles VI after he had suffered a defeat during the Battle of Beverhoutsveld...
in November 1382, the citizens of Ghent requested English assistance, who sent a force under Henry le Despenser, the Bishop of Norwich.
The English landed at Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
in May 1383 and took Gravelines
Gravelines
Gravelines is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies at the mouth of the river Aa 15 miles southwest of Dunkirk. There is a market in the town square on Saturdays. The "Arsenal" approached from the town square is home to an extensive and carefully displayed art collection....
, Dunkirk, Poperinge
Poperinge
Poperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
, and Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort is the name of:* Nieuwpoort, Belgium** Battle of Nieuwpoort * Nieuwpoort...
. On 25 May the crusaders put to flight a Franco-Flemish army, under the command of Louis of Male, in a pitched battle fought near Dunkirk.
Despenser was then persuaded by his Ghent allies and some of his officers to besiege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, who had remained loyal to the count and to France.
The siege
The inhabitants of Ypres were well prepared for a siege by the time the English and their allies arrived and attacked the city on 8 June 1383. Dwellings in the outlying suburbs had been abandoned; the timber from them was used to strengthen the earth rampartsDefensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
and the stone gates of the city. A mission had been dispatched to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to replace artillery powder stocks. The city was well organised under the command of the Castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Ypres, John d'Oultre, and had been divided into different defensive sectors. Although the ramparts were low, they were well protected with a double wet ditch, a high thorny hedge reinforced with stakes and a wooden stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
and fire-step.
The English attacked the Temple Gate on the first day but were beaten off. Over the next three days the city gates were attacked simultaneously, without success. Before the end of the first week of the siege, reinforcements arrived to completely encircle the city walls and the outer ditch was breached using soil. On the eighth day (15 June) Despenser attacked the defences with artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
, firing on the Messines Gate and damaging it, but not enough to cause the city defences to be breached. Over the following days of the siege, sustained artillery attacks had little overall effect and the assaults of Despenser's troops were all beaten off.
An attempt to drain the ditches seriously threatened the citizens of Ypres, but the attempt was unsuccessful and the besieged managed to communicate with the Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
through Louis of Male, who was able to raise a large French army to come to the aid of the city.
On 8 August, after nine weeks of effort, Despenser abruptly decided to abandon the siege, as did his Ghent allies on September 10.
In Ypres, the victory was attributed to the intervention of the Holy Mary.
Aftermath
After the débâcle at YpresYpres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, the bishop and Sir Hugh Calveley
Hugh Calveley
Sir Hugh Calveley was an English soldier and commander, who took part in the Hundred Years' War, gaining fame during the War of the Breton Succession and the Castilian Civil War...
wished to advance into France, but Sir William Elmham, Trivet and some of the other commanders refused to go.
The bishop, was obliged by the approaching French army to fall back upon Gravelines
Gravelines
Gravelines is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies at the mouth of the river Aa 15 miles southwest of Dunkirk. There is a market in the town square on Saturdays. The "Arsenal" approached from the town square is home to an extensive and carefully displayed art collection....
. The demoralised and disease-ridden English forces were bribed to evacuate Gravelines and Despenser ordered it to be sacked. By the end of October the remaining crusaders had returned across the English Channel.
Ghent continued its revolt, until it concluded the Peace of Tournai
Peace of Tournai
The peace of Tournai was an agreement between the Burgundian Duke Philip II and the rebellious city of Ghent signed on December 18, 1385....
in 1385 with Philip the Bold
Philip the Bold
Philip the Bold , also Philip II, Duke of Burgundy , was the fourth and youngest son of King John II of France and his wife, Bonne of Luxembourg. By his marriage to Margaret III, Countess of Flanders, he also became Count Philip II of Flanders, Count Philip IV of Artois and Count-Palatine Philip IV...
, the successor of Louis of Male.
Ypres never really recovered from this siege. The entire hinterland of the city had been destroyed and the trade with England was seriously compromised. The decline of the city continued further and the population of the city dropped from 20,000 in 1383 to only 7.600 by the end of the 15th century.