English expedition to France (1562-1563)

The English expedition to France 1562-1563 was an episode in the First French war of religion (1562-1563), it resulted in English defeat and England relinquishing their claims to Calais and the surrounding area.

English expedition to France (1562-1563)
Part of the French Wars of Religion
Date 1562-1563 Location Le Havre and Dieppe Result English failure Treaty of Troyes (1564) England accepts French rule of the Pale of Calais in exchange for 120,000 Crowns[1] Breakdown of trust between Elizabeth I and Huguenots
Belligerents
Kingdom of France	Kingdom of England Huguenots of Le Havre and Dieppe (Before Edict of Amboise)
Commanders and leaders
Charles IX of France Catherine de' Medici Anne de Montmorency	Elizabeth I

Background

On the 8th May 1562, Protestant reformers took the city of Le Havre, looted churches, and expelled Catholics.[2] Fearing a counter-attack by the royal armies, they turned to the English who sent their troops. Elizabeth I saw an opportunity to reclaim the Pale of Calais, that had recently been lost in the Anglo-French War (1557-1559) from the chaos in France. On the 22nd September 1562, the Treaty of Richmond was signed by Elizabeth and Huguenot leader Louis, Prince of Condé, it agreed that England would send 3,000 men to occupy the cities of Le Havre and Dieppe. On arrival the English built a series of fortifications.

English Failure

In 1563, peace was restored between the Huguenots and French Catholics with the Edict of Amboise and when requested to leave the cities, Elizabeth refused, stating that English forces would hold out until France restored Calais to English rule.[3] In response the French regent, Catherine de' Medici, sent a force of French Catholic and Huguenots under Anne de Montmorency. They attacked the city of Le Harve and expelled the English on the 29 July 1563, the fort the English had constructed was razed.[2]

Results

The English failure led to the Treaty of Troyes (1564) where Elizabeth accepted French rule over Calais in exchange for 120,000 Crowns. Elizabeth felt betrayed by the Huguenots and would never trust them again,[4][5] this was evident in 1572, where Elizabeth refused to send assistance, despite Huguenot pleas which resulted in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.

References

1. Frieda, Leone (2003). Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France(first Harper Perennial edition 2006). Harper Perennial. p. 171.
2. Modern Period (1492–1610), Municipal Archives of Le Havre, consulted on 22 July 2012 (in French)
3. Neale, J E. Queen Elizabeth I (1952 ed.). London: Penguin Books Ltd.
4. Doran, Susan (2000). Elizabeth I and Foreign Policy 1558-1603.
5. Knecht, R. J. Catherine de' Medici. London and New York: Longman, 1998.