Pale of Calais

Pale of Calais
1347–1558
Royal coat of arms
Motto: Veritas Temporis filia
"Truth, the daughter of Time"
The Pale of Calais (yellow) in 1477.
StatusOverseas possession of England
CapitalCalais
Common languagesEnglish, Dutch, French, Picard
Religion
Official:
Catholic (until 1534); (from 1553)
Church of England (1534–1553)
Others:
Judaism
Lord 
• 1347–1377
Edward III (first)
• 1553–1558
Mary I (last)
Governor 
• 1353
Reynold Cobham (first)
• 1553–1558
Thomas Wentworth (last)
Historical eraLate Middle Ages
• Siege of Calais
3 August 1347
• Treaty of Brétigny
8 May 1360
• Siege of Calais
8 January 1558
• Peace of Vervins
2 May 1598
CurrencySterling
Preceded by
Succeeded by
County of Boulogne
Kingdom of France
Today part ofFrance

The Pale of Calais[a] was a territory in north France. It was ruled by the monarchs of England from 1347 to 1558.[1] England took the area after the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais. This led to the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360, in the reign of Edward III of England. It became an important area for England. The area had Flanders, which was important for textile trading.

The Pale also gave England a strategic outpost. From their they were able to have military action on the continent. Since it was on the English Channel, it was able to be reinforced over the Straits of Dover. The territory was bilingual. Both English and Flemish were spoken.[2][3][4]

During the reign of Mary I of England, the Pale was retaken by the French in a siege in 1558. After that, the English textile trade moved to the Habsburg Netherlands.

Notes

  1. Middle English, Cales /ˈkæləs/; West Flemish: Kales; French: Calaisis

References

  1. Rose, Susan (2008). Calais: An English Town in France, 1347–1558. pp. 107, 156.
  2. Dumitrescu, Theodor (2007). The early Tudor court and international musical relations. England: Ashgate Publishing Limited. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-7546-5542-8.
  3. Rose, Susan (2008). Calais: An English Town in France, 1347–1558. pp. passim.
  4. Sandeman, George Amelius Crawshay (October 2009). Calais under English Rule. BiblioBazaar. pp. 48, 61, 81. ISBN 9781115448154.

50°56′53″N 1°51′23″E / 50.94806°N 1.85639°E / 50.94806; 1.85639