Page 41 - BBC History - September 2017

Why Sandwich
puts Trafalgar
nations in the Channel – England entering a
and that included English dramatic new phase – in the shade
ones. In doing so, he embarked upon the most
earned himself a notorious intense and spectacular The naval battle in which
reputation in the ports and military chapter of his
towns on England’s south career. In May 1216, Prince Eustace lost his life was the
coast – so much so that, if he Louis, heir to the Capetian most important in English
wanted to land in England (to throne in France, invaded history, writes Sean McGlynn
conduct business, or to visit England, quickly seizing half
his wife and daughter), he The seal of French king the country and receiving the
first had to gain a safe-con- Philip Augustus, who was homage of up to two-thirds
all too happy to employ
duct pass to do so. of England’s barons.
Eustace’s guile against
But soon Eustace would be King John of England Eustace played a major role
looking for new employment in the French invasion,
once again, because sometime ferrying troops and supplies
between 1212 and 1214, he and John fell out. across the Channel. In the spring of 1217, he
There are a number of potential reasons why was to prove his worth to the French
their relationship hit the rocks. Money was campaign once more, dramatically breaking
possibly a factor. The chronicler known as the through an English blockade of the coastal
Anonymous of Béthune relates that, when town of Rye and rescuing Louis, who was
Eustace failed to repay a debt of 20 marks to trapped there.
John, he and his wife were imprisoned. Never heard of the battle of Sandwich?
According to the Romance, the king had Caught at sea If so, you’re not alone. Set alongside
Eustace’s daughter, at the time John’s hostage, A few months later, Louis needed Eustace’s Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar and the
defeat of the Spanish Armada, the
“burned, disfigured” and “killed”. help once again. Having suffered a defeat at
clash off the Kent coast in 1217 barely
John’s perennial mistrust of those whom he the battle of Lincoln in May 1217, the French
makes a ripple on the British historical
deemed to have grown too powerful may also prince found himself holed up in London,
consciousness.
have contributed to the dispute. Perhaps the desperately needing the monk to provide the Despite this, Sandwich was an
king was fearful of Eustace’s semi-indepen- supplies and reinforcements he required to example of a navy at the top of its game.
dent position in the Channel Islands, and continue waging his campaign. Eustace set The contemporary chronicler Roger of
distrustful of his intentions. This would sail for England in August but, on the 24th, Wendover was right to say that “the
explain the king’s decision to order a naval his fleet was intercepted and annihilated by English were skilled in naval warfare”
assault on Sark, in which many of Eustace’s the English at Sandwich – a defeat that and that they “had a superior navy to the
men were taken prisoner. would ultimately force Louis to return to French”. In the engagement, about 40
English ships took on 80 French ones.
But the principal bone of contention France with his tail between his legs (for
But – with lighter attack ships pitted
between king and monk was probably more on the battle, see our box, right).
against a French fleet that comprised
Eustace’s old enemy Count Renaud of According to the chronicler Roger of
heavy transport vessels, laden with
Boulogne. In 1212, the count decided to Wendover, when Eustace faced his end on supplies of horses, men, treasure and
switch sides in the Anglo-French war and the deck of his flagship, the last words he even a trebuchet – they were able to
throw his support behind John. It appears heard were: “Never again in this world, overcome this numerical disadvantage.
that John welcomed him with open arms. wicked traitor, shall you deceive anyone The English positioned themselves
Renaud’s lands were a huge boon to the king with your false promises.” upwind of the French and launched pots
– assets well worth putting Eustace’s nose out It was a fittingly bloody end to a violent of quicklime on to their decks. The
of joint for. life. Although the Romance focuses on powder blew into the eyes of the enemy,
“which blinded them totally”, writes the
Whatever the reason for John and Eustace’s his escapades as an outlaw, it was in his
Anonymous of Béthune. This enabled
contretemps, by early 1215 the ever-opportu- role as a pirate and an admiral that
the English to board the French ships
nistic Eustace had switched sides in the war Eustace made his most telling impact
and inflict a terrible slaughter.
and presented himself to the French court. on 13th-century Europe. It was certainly This naval victory was enormously
Just as John had once been quick to realise the not in his role as a monk. important; more so, I would argue, than
potential in employing Eustace’s talents Trafalgar and the Armada. The latter two
against the French, so the French king, Philip Dr Sean McGlynn is lecturer in history at were fought to prevent an invasion,
Augustus, was keen to make use of Eustace’s Plymouth University. His next book is Medieval while the triumph at Sandwich prevent-
BRIDGEMAN/MAP: BATTLEFIELD DESIGN tion. The Romance reports the first meeting BOOKS months and which was secure within the
ed reinforcements reaching a French
Generals (Pen and Sword) and he is planning
knowledge of the Channel and his inside
army that had been in England for 15
information on English military organisa-
a book on Eustace
walls of London. Had those reinforce-
between the two men: “You are not big, but
DISCOVER MORE
ments got through, French prince Louis
small, yet you are so brave and bold,” Philip
would have been able to continue the
reportedly told his slippery new ally. “You
war in England in pursuit of his aim to
E Two Medieval Outlaws, edited and
know a great deal about guile and cunning
become king. The defeat at Sandwich
translated by Glynn S Burgess (Boydell, 1997)
and do not need a cat’s grease to help you.”
forced him to sue for peace and to
E Blood Cries Afar: The Magna Carta War
Eustace was appointed Philip’s admiral for
the Channel, and now – with the war against
Sean McGlynn (History Press, 2015)
BBC History Magazine and the Invasion of England, 1215–1217 by abandon his ambitions. 41