Title
The Bourgeois of Calais.
Caption
The Bourgeois of Calais. In 1347, the King of England captured the town of Calais, but the inhabitants resisted bravely the attacks of the English army. After a year of seige, the town surrendered. During the surrender, Edward III of England, tired after a year of seige, demands for six bourgeois to be freed; if this is done, he will allow for the captured inhabitants of Calais to have their lives spared. His wife managed to persuade him to spare the lives of the poor, who came to the King in shirt, trousers and key to the city in hand. By this magnanimous gesture, Edward III of England spared the lives of the six bourgeois, but Calais became english territory (3rd August 1347) and he would go on to remain there until the 16th Century when Henry II of France would recapture the town on behalf of Mary Tudor, on the 6th January 1558. 19th Century engraving.
Date
19th century
Credit line
Photo12/Hachedé
Reference
HAC08108_2007_P1400011
Model release
No
License type
Rights managed
Available size
30,6Mb (4,8Mb) / 9,4in x 12,6in / 2826 x 3784 (300dpi)