Siege of Waterford (1495) facts for kids
The Siege of Waterford was an eleven-day battle in 1495. It happened after a young man named Perkin Warbeck tried to claim the throne of King Henry VII. Warbeck had failed in an attack on Deal, a town in England.
After this failure, Warbeck went to Ireland. He was joined by a powerful Irish leader, Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond from Cork. Together, they launched an attack on the city of Waterford on July 23, 1495.
The Attack on Waterford
Warbeck's army had "foreign mercenaries," which means soldiers hired from other countries. They surrounded the city of Waterford. However, Waterford's walls were very strong and well-guarded. Also, the land to the east of the city was flooded. This was because the St. John's River had been blocked, making it hard for attackers to get close.
City Defenses
The people defending Waterford fought back bravely. They stopped Warbeck's attacks. Then, they even launched their own surprise attacks on the enemy camp. During these counterattacks, they captured some of Warbeck's soldiers. These prisoners were brought into the city.
The defenders also had powerful cannons. These cannons were placed on the city walls, especially at Reginald's Tower. They fired at Warbeck's ships. The cannons were so effective that they managed to sink two of the eleven ships that were attacking.
The End of the Siege
The battle lasted for eleven days. In the end, Warbeck's forces lost. Warbeck himself managed to escape after the failed siege. His supporter, Maurice FitzGerald, was later "forgiven" by King Henry VII for his part in the attack.
After this important victory, King Henry VII gave Waterford a special motto. The motto was Urbs Intaca Manet Waterfordia. This means 'the city of Waterford remains untaken'. This siege is also famous for another reason. It was the first time cannons were ever used in a battle in Irish history.
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