The Battle of Cadzand (1337)
Introduction
The Battle of Cadzand was an early skirmish of the Hundred Years’ War fought in 1337, Nvember 9. It consisted of a raid on the Flemish island of Cadzand, designed to provoke a reaction and battle from the local garrison and so improve morale in England and amongst King Edward III’s continental allies by providing his army with an easy victory. On 9 November Sir Walter Manny, with the advance troops for Edward III’s continental invasion, made an attempt to take the city of Sluys, but was driven off.
Background to the Conflict
The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) was a long and complex conflict rooted in territorial disputes and dynastic claims. By 1337, tensions between England and France had reached a breaking point. King Edward III of England had a strong claim to the French throne through his mother, Isabella, who was the daughter of Philip IV of France. However, the French rejected his claim under the Salic Law, which barred inheritance through the female line, and instead crowned Philip VI as king in 1328.
Edward III, refusing to accept Philip VI’s rule, declared war on France in 1337. This was further exacerbated by disputes over Gascony, a region in southwestern France under English control, and over Flanders, an area economically dependent on England’s wool trade but politically under French influence.
Flanders, particularly the Flemish cities of Bruges, Ghent, and Ypres, had strong economic ties with England. However, Philip VI sought to maintain control over the region and suppress English influence. The Battle of Cadzand was part of England’s strategy to disrupt French and Flemish naval operations and secure a foothold in the Low Countries.
The Course of the Battle
The English Expedition
In the autumn of 1337, King Edward III ordered Sir Walter Manny, a skilled and experienced knight, to lead a raid on the Flemish coast. His objective was to attack and weaken the French-aligned Flemish forces while also securing English control over trade routes in the English Channel and North Sea.
Manny set sail from England with a fleet of approximately 50 ships, carrying around 3,000 troops, including heavily armored knights, archers, and men-at-arms. His target was the small but strategically located island of Cadzand, situated at the mouth of the Scheldt River, near modern-day Belgium. Cadzand was a key entry point to the wealthy Flemish cities and a vulnerable target for an amphibious assault.
The Flemish Defense
The Flemish garrison at Cadzand was led by Guy de Beauchamp, a loyal vassal of Philip VI and a capable military leader. He commanded an estimated 5,000 troops, consisting mostly of Flemish militia, crossbowmen, and local levies. Though numerically superior, these troops lacked the battle-hardened experience and discipline of the English forces.
Upon learning of the English landing, Beauchamp swiftly organized his defenses. His plan was to utilize the marshy terrain of Cadzand to slow down the English advance while his archers and crossbowmen inflicted damage from a distance. He also positioned his cavalry in reserve, ready to counterattack once the English committed to battle.
The Battle Begins
The English landed at Cadzand in the early morning of November 9, 1337. Despite facing strong winds and rough tides, Manny’s forces quickly secured the beachhead and advanced inland. The initial phase of the battle saw fierce skirmishes as Flemish crossbowmen attempted to halt the English advance. However, the longbowmen in Manny’s force, superior in range and speed, overwhelmed their opponents, forcing the Flemish troops to fall back.
Manny then led a full-scale assault on the main Flemish position, with heavily armored knights breaking through the defensive lines. The English forces used their well-coordinated cavalry and infantry to press their advantage. The battle turned into a bloody melee, with the English knights cutting down the less well-equipped Flemish soldiers.
Seeing his troops faltering, Beauchamp ordered his cavalry to counterattack, hoping to turn the tide. However, this move proved disastrous. The English longbowmen, positioned on higher ground, unleashed a devastating volley of arrows that decimated the Flemish horsemen before they could reach the English lines. The remaining Flemish troops, witnessing the slaughter, panicked and began to flee.
The Aftermath
The English emerged victorious, with Sir Walter Manny securing complete control of Cadzand. The Flemish suffered catastrophic losses, with thousands killed, including Guy de Beauchamp himself, who perished during the battle. Many Flemish soldiers who tried to surrender were slaughtered, a reflection of the brutal nature of medieval warfare.
The battle had several important consequences:
- Strategic Victory for England: The success at Cadzand demonstrated England’s naval and military strength early in the Hundred Years’ War. It established Walter Manny as a formidable commander and proved the effectiveness of the English longbow against crossbowmen.
- Economic Disruptions in Flanders: The battle severely impacted Flanders, as Cadzand was a critical trade outpost. Many Flemish merchants who relied on England for wool suffered from the destruction, leading to internal unrest against the French-aligned Flemish leadership.
- Escalation of Hostilities: The massacre of Flemish troops angered Philip VI, who vowed revenge against England. The battle further hardened hostilities between the two kingdoms, ensuring that the war would escalate into a prolonged struggle.
- Inspiration for English Raids: The ease with which Manny’s forces won at Cadzand encouraged Edward III to launch further raids along the French coast, leading to the larger campaigns that would define the early years of the Hundred Years’ War.
Conclusion
The Battle of Cadzand may not have been the largest battle of the Hundred Years’ War, but it was highly symbolic. It demonstrated England’s growing naval and military capabilities, disrupted French plans in Flanders, and set the stage for further English incursions into France. Sir Walter Manny’s success emboldened Edward III, reinforcing his resolve to press his claim to the French throne. The battle, though overshadowed by later conflicts such as Crécy and Poitiers, remains a crucial opening chapter in one of the most enduring wars in European history.
External Resources :