Siege of Cambrai (1339) facts for kids

The Siege of Cambrai was a big fight that happened in September and October 1339. An English army, led by King Edward III of England, tried to take the city of Cambrai. This event was an early part of the Hundred Years War, a long conflict between England and France.

At that time, Cambrai was not part of France. It was a "Free Imperial City" within the Holy Roman Empire. This meant it was like an independent city-state, but it was also connected to a larger empire.

Why Cambrai Was Important

In 1339, Cambrai became a key place in a power struggle. On one side were supporters of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and William II, Count of Hainaut. On the other side was King Philip VI of France.

King Philip VI had many allies, including powerful counts from Bohemia, Navarre, Savoy, and Viennois. Even some leaders from Castile and León supported him. Cambrai had allowed 300 French soldiers to guard the city.

Edward III's Plan

King Edward III of England had been in Flanders since July 1338. He believed he should be the King of France, not Philip VI. Edward wanted to show his power and help his allies from Bavaria. So, he decided to attack Cambrai.

Edward asked the bishop of Cambrai, Guillaume d'Auxonne, to let his army into the city. The bishop was a leader in the Holy Roman Empire. However, King Philip VI had told the bishop to hold the city. Philip promised to arrive soon with a French army. Because of this, Bishop Guillaume decided to support France and get ready to defend Cambrai.

The City's Defense

The defense of Cambrai was led by Étienne de la Baume. He was the grand master of the crossbowmen of France. The French soldiers inside Cambrai had a secret weapon: 10 cannons! Five of these cannons were made of iron, and five were made of other metals. This was one of the first times cannons were used in a siege.

The Attack Begins

Edward III's army started attacking Cambrai on September 26. The English tried many times to break into the city. But Cambrai fought back hard. The city managed to resist every attack for five long weeks.

The Siege Ends

On October 6, King Edward learned that King Philip VI was getting close with a very large French army. Edward knew he couldn't win if Philip's army arrived. So, on October 8, he decided to stop the siege and leave Cambrai.

Edward's army retreated across the region of Picardy. As they left, they destroyed the plains of Cambresis. A strong group of English soldiers was left behind in the castle of Thun-l'Eveque. Edward then moved his army towards Saint-Quentin.

On October 23, the English and French armies finally faced each other. They stood on a plain between La Capelle and Buironfosse. Even though they were ready for battle, neither side attacked. They eventually separated without fighting.