BattlefieldsFrench Raid on Rye 1377
Medieval

French Raid on Rye 1377

1377
East Sussex, England
Also known as: Rye 1377 · Burning of Rye 1377
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
East Sussex, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Rye townspeople
Forces
English: minimal town militia
VS
Victor
French raiders
Forces
French: Jean de Vienne galley fleet c.50 galleys
Outcome
Rye burned and plundered by French galley fleet; castle Ypres Tower stood but town devastated
The Battle

History & Significance

The great series of French coastal raids in 1377 devastated the Cinque Ports. Rye was burned, its wine stores looted, and the church bell carried off. The raids revealed the vulnerability of the English coast and the inadequacy of the local defences. The Ypres Tower at Rye stands today as the only surviving castle from this assault.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around East Sussex

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near East Sussex