The town of
Calais , now part of France, was in English hands from 1347 to 1558, and this page lists the commanders of Calais, holding office from the English Crown, called at different times Captain of Calais, King's Lieutenant of Calais (Castle), or Lord Deputy of Calais.
Terminology and background
Commands were over the castle of Calais, the town, the march and its outlying castles; command was often divided, and deputies frequently appointed for commanders who might be absent. The terminology was flexible, changed over time, and may not be accurately given in some sources. The military, political and even financial situation, and the presence or absence of officers, did affect how the system operated. The terms used changed over nearly two centuries. The system of royal officials set up after Edward III took Calais consisted of captain, marshal, seneschal and constable.
[1] But changes were soon seen.
Calais refers properly here to the
Pale of Calais , or March of Calais, part of the
Kingdom of England , namely the English bridgehead area between the
County of Artois and
County of Flanders ; it varied in area according to the military position.
[2] The boundary took in wetlands and was not always clear, but the area amounted to about 20 square miles.
[3]
Map showing the March of Calais in 1477.
The approaches to Calais, which is a port on the coast, were defended by two inland castles, that of
Guînes , somewhat to the south-east, and Hammes (Hampnes, Hammez) in the present commune of
Hames-Boucres , somewhat to the southwest. Calais had also
castellans (of
Calais Castle );
[4]
[5] "Captain of Calais Castle" is a different post from "Captain of Calais", the title of the top commander and military governor of the Pale for most of the period.
Deputies
When "deputy" is used, it may or may not mean a second-in-command: there is no consistency across the period. From Latin records there come "vice" (in the place of) or "locum tenens" (holding the place of). "Lieutenant" is a direct French translation of "locum tenens"; it means generally the second-in-command to the "captain" or head commander. There is a mention of a "deputy lieutenant", however. Caveats are required because a "lord deputy" has to be understood as deputy to the king; and the term "deputy governor" should usually be read "lord deputy and governor", not "deputy to the governor".
The Lord Deputy of Calais , a Tudor title only, was the English king's representative and head of the Council of Calais.
[6] The title of Lord Deputy was used in Calais only from 1507.
[4] The Council existed in some form under Edward IV, and lasted until the French conquest of Calais in 1558. There could be more than one Deputy holding the title at a given time.
In practical terms the Lord Deputy was also the military governor of Calais, but the two posts were not formally the same: in 1552 Lord William Howard became "lord deputy and governor of Calais".
[7] "Governor of Calais" may also refer to the French post after 1558.
Captains and lieutenants of Calais
Dates
Holder
Position, subordinates
1348–1350
John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp de Warwick
Captain
1352
Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent
Captain
[9]
1353
Reynold Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough
Captain.
[10]
1361
Henry Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Masham
Warden of Calais and Guînes.
[11]
1373
Sir
John Burley
Captain.
[12]
1375–1378
Hugh Calveley
Captain.
[13]
Bernard Brocas was Captain of Calais Castle 1377–1379.
[14]
1379
William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury
Captain.
[15]
February 1380
Bryan Stapleton
Captain of Calais Castle very briefly, becoming Captain of Guînes, under the
Black Prince as governor.
[16]
1380
John Devereux, Baron Devereux
Captain.
[17]
1383
William Beauchamp, 1st Baron Bergavenny
Captain.
[18]
1384-1388
Edmund de la Pole (Captain of Calais)
Captain.
1389
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland
Captain.
[19]
1391–1398
Thomas Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk
Captain.
[20]
1398–1399
John Holland, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exeter
Captain.
[21]
William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire was Captain of Calais Castle in 1398.
[22]
1401–1410
John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset
Captain.
[23]
1410–1413
Prince Henry
Captain.
[24]
William Zouche, 4th Baron Zouche
Lieutenant.
[25]
1414
Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
Captain.
[26]
1427
Richard Woodville
Lieutenant.
[27]
1427
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford
Captain.
[28]
1435
Richard Woodville
Lieutenant.
[27]
1435
Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester
Captain.
[29]
1437
Thomas Rempston
Lieutenant.
[30]
John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley was lieutenant of Calais Castle from 1437 to 1442.
[31]
1439–1442
Thomas Kyriell
Lieutenant.
[32]
1441–1451
Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham
Captain.
[33]
Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley was Captain of Calais Castle 1450–1452, and was sent to Calais in 1451.
[34]
Sir John Stoughton was Lieutenant 1450–1.
[35]
1451
Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset
Captain.
[36]
Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles , connected to Somerset by marriage, was his deputy-captain (or lieutenant) after 1451;
[37] it is presumed he remained in post until Warwick arrived in April 1456.
[38]
1454–1455
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
Captain.
[39]
1455–1458
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Captain.
[40]
1459
Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset
Captain.
[41]
1461–1471
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Captain.
[40] His deputy was
John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock .
[42] Sir
Walter Wrottesley took over while Warwick put Henry VI back on the throne.
[43] At the end of the period
John Howard also acted as deputy lieutenant.
[44]
1471
Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers
Lieutenant, appointed as successor to Warwick. But Hastings was brought in over his head.
[45]
1471–1483
William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
Captain, mostly absent. John Howard acted as deputy, John Dynham at the end of the period;
Ralph Hastings , his brother, was his man on the ground.
[46]
1483
John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham
Lieutenant.
[47]
John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy
Temporary governor of Calais, then Guînes.
[48] He had been lieutenant of Hammes since 1470, but under Richard III was an ill man, and left Hammes to his brother
James Blount who had held the position jointly with him from 1476; and had Thomas Montgomery as deputy. They all proved disloyal to Richard.
[49]
1485
John of Gloucester
Captain.
[50]
James Tyrrell was appointed lieutenant of Guînes as Richard appointed loyalists.
[51]
1486
Giles Daubeney
Lieutenant-governor.
[52]
1492
Richard Nanfan
Deputy lieutenant.
[53]
1493
Edward Poynings
Deputy lieutenant;
[54] but "deputy or governor" in the old DNB. Governor.
[55]
Lords deputies of Calais
Dates
Holder
Position
1509
Sir Gilbert Talbot
Lord Deputy. He continued in a joint appointment with Richard Wingfield.
[56]
1513–1519
Richard Wingfield
Initially marshal in 1511, Lord Deputy from 1513.
Robert Wingfield shared his duties from that time.
[57] At some point John Peche was a joint Deputy with the Wingfields.
[56] From 1513 to 1520
Nicholas Carew with his father Richard held the post of lieutenant of Calais Castle; Richard is described as a previous Captain of Calais.
[58] In 1519
Edward Guildford was appointed marshal of Calais.
[59]
1520–1526
John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners
Lord Deputy.
[60]
John Wallop was made high marshal in 1524.
[61] From 1520 until his death in 1523 the Lieutenant of Calais Castle was
Maurice Berkeley, de jure 4th Baron Berkeley (1467–1523)
[62] [
unreliable source ]
1526–1531
Robert Wingfield
Lieutenant 1523–1526, Lord Deputy 1526–1531.
[63]
Sir William FitzWilliam was Captain of Calais Castle from 1526 to 1530, having been Captain of Guînes 1523–1526.
[64] In 1530 John Wallop was appointed lieutenant of Calais Castle.
[65]
1533–1540
Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle
Lord Deputy. His stepson
John Dudley was appointed deputy governor in 1538.[
citation needed ]
1540–1543
Lord Maltravers
Lord Deputy.
[66] Edward Bray was lieutenant of Calais Castle in 1541.
[67]
1544–1550
George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham
Lord Deputy.
[68]
1550–1552
William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham
Lord Deputy.
[56]
1552–1553
Lord William Howard
Lord Deputy.
1553–1558
Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth
Lord Deputy, in charge when the French captured the town. Sir Ralph Chamberlaine was lieutenant of Calais Castle 1554–1558.
[69]
1555
William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1501–1570)
In place as governor.
[70]
See also
References
R. A. Griffiths, The Reign of Henry VI (1998)
Harari, Yuval Noah (2007). "For a Sack-full of Gold Écus: Calais 1350". In Harari, Yuval Noah (ed.). Special Operations in the Age of Chivalry 1100–1550 . Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press. pp. 109–124.
ISBN
978-1843832928 .
Notes
^
"Calais under Edward III: (Dorothy Greaves) | British History Online" .
^
"The Online Froissart" . Archived from
the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2010 .
^ Sandeman, George Amelius Crawshay (October 2009).
Calais under English Rule . BiblioBazaar. p. 114.
ISBN
9781115448154 .
^
a
b
http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/theme/93335?&back=13921 (ODNB subscription site).
^
"The Chronicle of Calais in the Reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII to the year 1540" .
^
"Correspondence of Sylvanus Urban" . The Gentleman's Journal . 41 . Printed by F. Jefferies: 49. January–June 1854. Retrieved 23 August 2008 . Counsel's Fees
^
"Howard, William (1510?-1573)" .
Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Stansfield, M. M. N. "Holland, Thomas".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/3543 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Fleming, Peter. "Cobham family".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/65269 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Keen, M. H. "Scrope, Henry".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/24958 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^
National Archives, United Kingdom. Reference: membrane 7, TNA C76/56
^ Fowler, Kenneth. "Calveley, Sir Hugh".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/4407 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Summerson, Henry. "Brocas, Sir Bernard".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/3465 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Leland, John L. "Montagu, William".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/19002 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Rawcliffe, Carole. "Stapleton, Sir Brian".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/26299 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Rawcliffe, Carole. "Devereux, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/7564 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Carpenter, Christine. "Beauchamp, William".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/50236 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Bean, J. M. W. "Percy, Henry".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ Given-Wilson, C. "Mowbray, Thomas".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ Stansfield, M. M. N. "Holland, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/13529 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^
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Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Harriss, G. L. "Beaufort, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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^ His DNB article.
^ Acheson, Eric. "Zouche family".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ Carpenter, Christine. "Beauchamp, Richard".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/1838 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^
a
b Hicks, Michael. "Woodville, Richard".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ Stratford, Jenny. "John, duke of Bedford".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/14844 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Harriss, G. L. "Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/14155 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Payling, S. J. "Rempston, Sir Thomas".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/23363 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Collins, Hugh. "Sutton, John (VI)".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/8155 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Curry, Anne. "Kyriell, Sir Thomas".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/50135 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Rawcliffe, Carole. "Stafford, Humphrey".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/26207 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Reeves, A. C. "Boteler, Ralph".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/50152 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Harriss, G. L. "Stourton family".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/52797 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Richmond, Colin. "Beaufort, Edmund".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/1855 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Griffiths p. 603.
^ Hicks, Michael. "Welles, Leo".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/28998 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^
"Richard (1411-1460)" .
Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^
a
b Pollard, A. J. "Neville, Richard".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/19955 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Jones, Michael K. "Beaufort, Henry".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/1860 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^
"Wenlock, John" .
Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
^ Gross, Anthony. "Wrottesley, Sir Walter".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ Crawford, Anne. "Howard, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/13921 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Hicks, Michael. "Woodville, Anthony".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/29937 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Horrox, Rosemary. "Hastings, William".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/12588 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Hicks, Michael. "Dynham, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/50234 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Charles Ross, Richard III (1981), p. 162.
^ Horrox, Rosemary. "Blount, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/2690 . (Subscription or
UK public library membership required.)
^ Charles Ross, Richard III (1981), p. 138.
^ Horrox, Rosemary. "Tyrell, Sir James".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ S. B. Chrimes, Henry VII (1984), p. 56.
^ Arthurson, Ian. "Nanfan, Sir Richard".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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^ Ellis, Steven G. "Poynings, Sir Edward".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
10.1093/ref:odnb/22683 . (Subscription or
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^ S. B. Chrimes, Henry VII (1984), p. 263.
^
a
b
c (in Latin)
https://archive.org/stream/calaischronicle00camduoft#page/n51/mode/2up
^ Robertson, Mary L. "Wingfield, Richard".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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^ Lehmberg, Stanford. "Carew, Sir Nicholas".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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^ Lehmberg, Stanford. "Guildford, Sir Edward".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)
^ Carley, James P. "Bourchier, John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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^ Bryson, Alan. "Wallop, Sir John".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
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^
tudorplace.com
^ Robertson, Mary L. "Wingfield, Sir Robert".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
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^ Robison, William B. "Fitzwilliam, William".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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^
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^
Stephen, Leslie , ed. (1889).
"Fitzalan, Henry" .
Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 19. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 88.
^
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^
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^ Sil, Narasingha P. "Herbert, William".
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press.
doi :
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UK public library membership required.)