Battle of Blackpool Sands
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The Battle of Blackpool Sands
was the result of an attempted French raid on Dartmouth in April or May 1404. Local forces defeated the raiders, taking a number of prisoners and killing the French commander, William du Chastel.
of Dartmouth and Thomas Norton of Bristol seized seven merchant vessels in the Channel and in November 1403, a revenge raid was launched on Brittany by Sir William Wilford capturing 40 ships and caused considerable damage ashore. Despite the lateness of the season, the French under Count Waleran of St. Pol
launched an attack on the Isle of Wight in December but were beaten off by local forces. The following spring, there were French raids on Portland and Weymouth.
, a wide beach approximately 3 miles South-West of Dartmouth near the village of Stoke Fleming, he dropped anchor and waited for six days to allow his fleet to reassemble.
advised Hawley on the defensive preparations but not that he was present at the battle. Juliet Barker states that Sir John Cornwaille
was responsible for defeating the French, though she doesn't seem to have detailed knowledge of the battle as she places it at Blackpool in Lancashire.
The French disembarked and formed up to attack. Contrary to their usual practice, they did not deploy an advance screen of crossbowmen and the men-at-arms led the attack. As they advanced, they were shot at by English archers behind the ditch and pelted with stones by local women in the army. The main assault was made against the causeway but the French could not force the English back. An attempt was made to wade the ditch and, although some drowned, others succeeded in crossing. They were, however, unable to gain a foothold and were forced back. Eventually, the French gave up and attempted to retreat to their ships. Du Chastel, refusing to withdraw, was killed. Numbers of French were killed as they fled and a hundred prisoners were taken, including three lords and 22 knights. Among the captured were two of du Chastel's brothers.
asked the Mayor of Dartmouth to send five of the prisoners to Nottingham for interrogation. He had discovered a plot against him by Margaret Countess of Oxford, which involved a French force being landed and wished to know whether there was any connection with the Dartmouth raid. A Welsh esquire had also been captured, so possible connections to Owain Glendower's revolt needed to be investigated.
The battle had no lasting impact. There is an unconfirmed suggestion that Tanneguy du Chastel
led a further, more successful, raid on Dartmouth later in the year to avenge his brother. Elsewhere on the Channel coast, French raids would continue in 1404 and into 1405.
Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth
Blackpool Sands is a beach in Dartmouth, Devon, England named after the nearby village of Blackpool. It has been increasingly encroached on each year since 1933 - indeed, in 1989 the sea broke the defences, severely damaging seaside properties and threatening the A379 road.-External...
was the result of an attempted French raid on Dartmouth in April or May 1404. Local forces defeated the raiders, taking a number of prisoners and killing the French commander, William du Chastel.
Background
The early years of the 15th. century were a period of extensive naval activity in the English channel. In August 1403, William du Chastel led a raid on Plymouth which caused substantial damage. In October 1403, a fleet organised by John HawleyJohn Hawley
John Hawley was Mayor of Dartmouth and MP for Dartmouth.He was the son of John Hawley of Dartmouth. His family reportedly came from the hamlet of Allaleigh and this may account for the origins of his name....
of Dartmouth and Thomas Norton of Bristol seized seven merchant vessels in the Channel and in November 1403, a revenge raid was launched on Brittany by Sir William Wilford capturing 40 ships and caused considerable damage ashore. Despite the lateness of the season, the French under Count Waleran of St. Pol
Waleran III of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny
Waleran III of Luxembourg , Count of Ligny and Saint Pol, was a French nobleman and soldier.He was the son of Guy of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny and Mahaut of Châtillon, Countess of Saint Pol. He succeeded his father in 1371, after his death at the Battle of Baesweiler...
launched an attack on the Isle of Wight in December but were beaten off by local forces. The following spring, there were French raids on Portland and Weymouth.
The French fleet
In April or May 1404, William du Chastel assembled a fleet of 300 ships at St. Malo in Brittany. He embarked 2000 knights and men-at-arms, plus light infantry and crossbowmen. He had two vice-admirals, the Lords of Chateaubriand and de Jaille. Discipline, however, was poor and, on the first day after sailing, part of the fleet attacked some allied Spanish wineships. Although order was restored, parts of the fleet broke away, leaving du Chastel to sail on towards his target of Dartmouth with reduced forces. On arriving off Blackpool SandsBlackpool Sands, Dartmouth
Blackpool Sands is a beach in Dartmouth, Devon, England named after the nearby village of Blackpool. It has been increasingly encroached on each year since 1933 - indeed, in 1989 the sea broke the defences, severely damaging seaside properties and threatening the A379 road.-External...
, a wide beach approximately 3 miles South-West of Dartmouth near the village of Stoke Fleming, he dropped anchor and waited for six days to allow his fleet to reassemble.
The English Defence
The period of waiting forced on the French fleet allowed John Hawley, local merchant, privateer and former Mayor of Dartmouth, to organise the defence of the town. Local men were joined by troops from inland as a well as a number of local women, mustering a force alleged by French sources to number 6000 in total, though Norman Longmate considers this to be "grossly exaggerated". They prepared a fortified position at Blackpool Sands consisting of a water-filled ditch crossed by a narrow causeway and awaited the French assault. John Hawley does not seem to have taken part in the battle and who commanded the English is unknown. Norman Longmate says that the Earl of WarwickRichard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Count of Aumale, KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Early Life:...
advised Hawley on the defensive preparations but not that he was present at the battle. Juliet Barker states that Sir John Cornwaille
John Cornwall, 1st Baron Fanhope
Sir John Cornewaille, 1st Baron Fanhope and Milbroke, KG, also known as Sir John Cornwall, and Sir John Cornouayl. An English nobleman, soldier and one of the most respected chivalric figures of his era.-Early life:...
was responsible for defeating the French, though she doesn't seem to have detailed knowledge of the battle as she places it at Blackpool in Lancashire.
The battle
After six days, the French fleet had not fully reassembled. Du Chastel and de Jaille conferred (Chateaubriand appears to have been absent) and decided to land and attack the English with the men they had to hand, which apparently consisted only of 200 men-at-arms. Du Chastel felt that the English position should be flanked but de Jaille insisted on a frontal assault, accusing his fellow admiral of being afraid. Insulted, du Chastel ordered an immediate attack.The French disembarked and formed up to attack. Contrary to their usual practice, they did not deploy an advance screen of crossbowmen and the men-at-arms led the attack. As they advanced, they were shot at by English archers behind the ditch and pelted with stones by local women in the army. The main assault was made against the causeway but the French could not force the English back. An attempt was made to wade the ditch and, although some drowned, others succeeded in crossing. They were, however, unable to gain a foothold and were forced back. Eventually, the French gave up and attempted to retreat to their ships. Du Chastel, refusing to withdraw, was killed. Numbers of French were killed as they fled and a hundred prisoners were taken, including three lords and 22 knights. Among the captured were two of du Chastel's brothers.
The Aftermath
News of the victory was sent to London and a service of thanksgiving was held in Westminster Abbey, attended by the king. On 25th. May, Henry IVHenry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
asked the Mayor of Dartmouth to send five of the prisoners to Nottingham for interrogation. He had discovered a plot against him by Margaret Countess of Oxford, which involved a French force being landed and wished to know whether there was any connection with the Dartmouth raid. A Welsh esquire had also been captured, so possible connections to Owain Glendower's revolt needed to be investigated.
The battle had no lasting impact. There is an unconfirmed suggestion that Tanneguy du Chastel
Tanneguy du Chastel
Tanneguy du Chastel was a French military leader of the Hundred Years' War.- Life :In 1415, he was provost of Paris, charged with keeping order in the city. During the civil war between the Armagnacs and Burgundians, he was one of the leaders of the Armagnac faction under Bernard VII, Count of...
led a further, more successful, raid on Dartmouth later in the year to avenge his brother. Elsewhere on the Channel coast, French raids would continue in 1404 and into 1405.