BattlefieldsFrench Raid on Sandwich 1457
Medieval

French Raid on Sandwich 1457

1457
Kent, England
Also known as: Sandwich 1457 French attack · Pierre de Breze raids Sandwich
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Sandwich townspeople
Forces
Sandwich: c.300–800. Coastal raid by Breze.
VS
Victor
French raiders (Pierre de Breze)
Forces
French raiders: c.500–1,500
Outcome
Sandwich sacked; mayor killed defending the town; raid caused outrage in England
The Battle

History & Significance

In August 1457, Pierre de Breze, seneschal of Normandy, led a French raid that sacked Sandwich. The mayor of Sandwich, John Drury, was killed in hand-to-hand fighting defending his town. The raid caused a public outcry in England and contributed to the political crisis of Henry VI's reign, as it demonstrated the government's complete failure to protect the coast. The Yorkists used the sacking of Sandwich as propaganda against the Lancastrian government.

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