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Writer's pictureGeorge Castrioti

October 9th, 1544- The Second Siege of Boulogne

Conflict: Italian Wars

Combatants: French vs. English

Location: France

Outcome: English victory


After multiple failed attempts to retake Boulogne from the English, the French Dauphin Henry, later Henry II, saw fresh opportunity to re-invest the city when much of the English army was trapped at Calais. With only 4,000 English soldiers left in Boulogne, a French victory initially appeared certain. But, when overzealous French troops turned to looting before the battle was complete, the English rallied and drove the enemy back.


The Siege of Boulogne by King Henry VIII in 1544 by James Basire

Points of Interest:

  • The seizure of Boulogne had been planned as the first step in a full invasion of France with temporary ally Charles V of Spain. Henry VIII, however, unilaterally abandoned English participation in the invasion five days after Boulogne surrendered.

  • Although a treaty was signed in 1546, the English would not return Boulogne to France until 1554.


Henry VIII of England by Hans Holbein the Younger
Henry II of France by an unknown artist




















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Sources:

Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).


Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.


Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

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