BattlefieldsWarwick seizes Sandwich — capture of royal fleet 1460
Medieval

Warwick seizes Sandwich — capture of royal fleet 1460

1460
Kent, England
Also known as: Warwick takes Sandwich 1460 · Yorkist seizure of Sandwich fleet
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Royal fleet (Lancastrians)
Forces
c. 200–400 fleet personnel (naval skirmish)
VS
Victor
Earl of Warwick (Yorkists)
Forces
c. 500–1,000 Yorkist raiders
Outcome
Royal fleet captured in harbour at Sandwich; Warwick gains control of Channel
The Battle

History & Significance

In January 1460 the Earl of Warwick launched a surprise night raid on Sandwich, capturing the royal fleet that had been assembled to blockade Calais. The fleet commander Richard Woodville (later Earl Rivers, father of Elizabeth Woodville) was captured and mocked publicly by Warwick. Control of Sandwich and the Downs roadstead was strategically vital — it was through Sandwich that Warwick landed his forces for the campaign that led to the Battle of Northampton in July 1460 and eventually to Yorkist victory.

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