Siege of Meaux

Siege of Meaux

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Meaux
partof=the Hundred Years' War


caption=
date=March 21, 1421
place=Meaux, France
result=English victory
combatant1=Kingdom of France
combatant2=Kingdom of England
commander1=Unknown
commander2=Unknown
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1=heavy
casualties2=light
The Siege of Meaux was fought in 1422 between the English and the French during the Hundred Years' War. The English were led by King Henry V. Henry became ill while fighting this long battle, which took place during the winter months. He died on August 31 as a result.

Henry had returned from England in June of 1421 with 4,000 troops, and he set off immediately to relieve the Duke of Exeter at Paris. The capital was threatened by French forces, based at Dreux, Meaux, and Joigny. The King besieged and captured Dreux quite easily, and then he went south, capturing Vendôme and Beaugency before marching on Orleans. He did not have sufficient supplies to besiege such a large and well defended city, so after three days he went north to capture Villeneuve-le-Roy.

This accomplished, Henry marched on Meaux. The town's defense was lead by the Bastard of Vaurus, by all accounts cruel and evil, but a brave commander all the same. The siege commenced in October, and mining and bombardment soon brought down the walls. The English army began to fall sick rather early into the siege, and it is estimated that one sixteenth of the besiegers died from dysentary and smallpox.

As the siege continued, Henry himself grew sick, although he refused to leave until the siege was finished. Good news reached him from England that on 6 December, Queen Catherine had born him a son and heir at Windsor. Being the son of an usurper, this must have pleased Henry greatly, for it strengthened the Lancastrian control of the throne.

On 9 March 1422, the town of Meaux surrendered, although the garrison held out. Under continued bombardment, the garrison gave in as well on 10 March, following a siege of 8 months. The Bastard of Vaurus was decapitated, as was a trumpeter named Orace, who had once mocked Henry.

By this time, Henry was quite ill. Shortly after the siege, while en route to Cosne-sur-Loire, he found himself unable to ride, and had to be carried to Vincennes, where he arrived on 10 August. Henry V died at Vincennes 31 August, 1422. He was thirty-five. [Seward, Desmond. "The Hundred Years War"Pgs. 186-187, (New York, NY: Penguin Books). 1978]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Siege de Meaux — Siège de Meaux Bataille de Meaux Informations générales Date 1358 Lieu Meaux Issue Défaite des révoltés Belligérants Les Jacques …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siège de meaux — Bataille de Meaux Informations générales Date 1358 Lieu Meaux Issue Défaite des révoltés Belligérants Les Jacques …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siège de Meaux —     Cette page d’homonymie contient une liste de différentes batailles ou sièges partageant le même nom. Parmi les nombreux sièges et batailles, que Meaux eut à subir on compte : Le siège de Meaux en 1358 lors de la Grande …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siège de Meaux (1421) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Siège de Meaux. Siège de Meaux (1421) Informations générales Date 6 octobre 1421 10 mai 1422 Lieu à proximité de Baugé Issue …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siège de Meaux (1358) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Siège de Meaux. Bataille de Meaux Informations générales Date 1358 Lieu Meaux Issue Défaite des révoltés …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Meaux — For other uses, see Meaux (disambiguation). Meaux …   Wikipedia

  • Meaux — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Meaux (homonymie). 48° 57′ 37″ N 2° 53′ 18″ E …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siege d'Orleans — Siège d Orléans Pour les articles homonymes, voir Bataille d Orléans. Siège d Orléans …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siege de Calais — Siège de Calais (1346) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Siège de Calais. Siège de Calais Informations générales Date 4 septembre 1346 au 3 août 1347 Lieu Calais …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Siège de calais — (1346) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Siège de Calais. Siège de Calais Informations générales Date 4 septembre 1346 au 3 août 1347 Lieu Calais …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”