Battle of Saint-Mathieu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Saint-Mathieu
Part of the War of the League of Cambrai
Le Combat de la Cordelière contre une flotte anglaise, en 1512, au large de Saint-Mathieu, an 1838 painting of the battle by Pierre-Julien Gilbert showing later 16th century ships
Date 10 August 1512 Location Off Pointe Saint-Mathieu, Iroise Sea 48°20′N 4°46′W / 48.33°N 4.77°W / 48.33; -4.77 Result English victory
Belligerents
France Brittany	England
Commanders and leaders
René de Clermont	Edward Howard
Strength
22 warships 3 engaged	25 warships 3 engaged
Casualties and losses
1,230 killed 1 warship destroyed (exploded) 1 warship damaged	400 killed 1 warship destroyed (destroyed in the explosion) 2 warships damaged

The Battle of Saint-Mathieu was a big naval battle that happened on August 10, 1512. It was part of a larger conflict called the War of the League of Cambrai. This battle took place near Brest, France, in the Iroise Sea. An English fleet of 25 ships, led by Sir Edward Howard, fought against a French and Breton fleet of 22 ships, led by René de Clermont. This battle might have been one of the first times ships used cannons fired through special openings. It was also one of only two major naval battles fought by King Henry VIII's navy. During the fight, the biggest ships from both sides, the English Regent and the Breton Marie-la-Cordelière, were both destroyed in a huge explosion.

Why the Battle Happened

The War of the League of Cambrai was mostly fought in Italy. But many powerful countries in Western Europe, like France, England, and Brittany, joined in at different times. Brittany was a separate country from France back then, but they were close allies.

In April 1512, war started between England and France. England's King Henry VIII sent a fleet (a group of warships) to control the sea. Sir Edward Howard was in charge of this fleet. He stopped ships from different countries, saying they were carrying French goods.

In June, Howard helped an English army go to Brittany. King Henry VIII hoped to win back a region called Guyenne. Howard then attacked towns on the Breton coast. During June and July, Howard controlled the English Channel. He reportedly captured over 60 ships. By August, a French and Breton fleet had gathered at Brest. Howard decided to attack them.

The Battle Begins

This old picture shows the Breton Marie-la-Cordelière and the English Regent flagships on fire. The Cordelière flies the Kroaz Du flag, and the Regent flies St. George's Cross.

The English fleet knew what the French and Breton ships were doing. They surprised them while the ships were anchored. The French and Breton ships were not ready. They quickly cut their anchor ropes and raised their sails to escape.

About 300 guests, including some women, were visiting the Breton flagship Marie la Cordelière. They were caught by surprise. The ship's captain, Hervé de Portzmoguer, could not get them off the ship. These "accidental" fighters bravely joined the crew in the battle.

The two main French and Breton ships, Marie la Cordelière and Petite Louise, faced the English. They did this to help the rest of their fleet escape to the port of Brest.

The Main Fight

Under English fire, the Marie la Cordelière sailed towards the Regent. The Cordelière was a very large ship, weighing 1,000 tons. The Regent was the biggest English ship, weighing 600 tons. The English ships Sovereign and Mary James quickly went to help the Regent. They surrounded the Cordelière. Meanwhile, the powerful cannons of the Mary Rose badly damaged the Petite Louise, forcing it to leave the fight.

The Cordelière was left alone among the English fleet. Only the small Nef-de-Dieppe stayed to bother the English ships. The Cordelière's cannons hit both the Sovereign and Mary James. These ships lost their masts and could not be steered. They drifted away in the Iroise Sea.

A Huge Explosion

Hervé de Portzmoguer, the Breton captain of the Cordelière, ordered his crew to attack the Regent. They threw grappling hooks to pull the two ships together. Sailors from the Marie-la-Cordelière rushed onto the Regent's deck. More English sailors kept coming onto the Regent from other ships. The small Nef-de-Dieppe skillfully fired at these new attackers.

The deck of the Regent was covered in blood. Suddenly, the Cordelière exploded! The fire spread to the Regent, and both ships sank. Almost everyone on both ships died. Only 20 wounded Breton sailors out of 1,250 survived from the Cordelière. Only 60 out of 460 English sailors survived from the Regent.

Sir Edward Howard was very sad about the death of Thomas Knyvet, who commanded the Regent. Howard promised to get revenge for Knyvet's death. Over the next two days, the English fleet captured or destroyed 32 French ships. They also took valuable French anchors. Then they returned to England. Because of his actions in the battle, King Henry VIII made Sir Edward Howard the Lord High Admiral.

Brittany's Role in History

At this time, Brittany and France were still separate countries. They were only connected because the Duchess of Brittany, Anne of Brittany, was married to the King of France, Louis XII of France. This battle was the first important military action where the two countries fought together. It happened 24 years after the Battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier (1488), which was the last battle between them. Because of this, the Battle of Saint-Mathieu became a symbol of unity between Brittany and France.

The destruction of the Breton ship Marie la Cordelière quickly became famous. French poets wrote poems about it. One poet, Germain de Brie, wrote a very heroic story about Captain Hervé de Portzmoguer's death. This even led to a literary argument between him and Thomas More.

Later, people started to say that Portzmoguer blew up his ship on purpose. They said he did it to avoid being captured. He supposedly said, "We will celebrate the feast of Saint Lawrence, who died by fire!" (Saint Lawrence's feast day is August 10, the day of the battle). But there is no real proof that the explosion was planned. Early stories about the battle do not say this. This heroic version was later told by the Breton poet Théodore Botrel. A similar story is in the song Marie la Cordelière by Alan Simon.

In 2018, the French government began searching for the wrecks of the sunken warships Cordelière and Regent.

Ships involved

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Saint Mathieu para niños