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.
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.
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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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