Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,994
Six citizens of Calais...
In June 1346, during the Hundred Years' War, the English King Edward III ...
... invades France with an army and reaches Calais in early September.
Since the city hopes for French relief, it refuses to capitulate, which would have saved it from being burned and plundered according to wartime custom.
The English besiege Calais, which lasts eleven months. Nevertheless, the city perseveres!
A relief attack by the French King Philippe VI ...
... fails in August 1347...
...so that the situation of Calais becomes hopeless.
In order to save their fellow citizens a bloody fate and the city itself from destruction, six of the most respected citizens of Calais decide - to take themselves hostage to the English camp and beg the English king for mercy.
Their names have been handed down: Eustache de Saint Pierre, Jean d'Aire, the brothers Jacques and Pierre de Wissant, Jean de Fiennes and Andrieus d'Andres.
On August 4, 1347, the six, barefoot, dressed only in a shirt and with a rope around their necks, appear before the English king...:
Edward III orders their immediate execution - in retaliation for his soldiers who died during the siege.
The luck of the citizens of Calais is the English Queen Philippa d'Avesnes, Countess of Holland-Hainaut...
... who happens to be visiting her husband's camp.
Her pleadings to protect the six citizens and the city as a whole are successful...:
This does not harm the hostages or the rest of the population of Calais - although they are forced to leave the city, taking with them only what they can carry.
Instead, Edward III settles English craftsmen and veterans in the city.
The famous sculptor August Rodin created a monument to the six citizens of Calais...
... which was ceremoniously unveiled on June 3, 1895 and has stood on the Place de l'Hotel de Ville
at Calais ever since...
https://figure-mad.com/smf2/index.php?action=reporttm;topic=1759.15;msg=158479
In June 1346, during the Hundred Years' War, the English King Edward III ...
... invades France with an army and reaches Calais in early September.
Since the city hopes for French relief, it refuses to capitulate, which would have saved it from being burned and plundered according to wartime custom.
The English besiege Calais, which lasts eleven months. Nevertheless, the city perseveres!
A relief attack by the French King Philippe VI ...
... fails in August 1347...
...so that the situation of Calais becomes hopeless.
In order to save their fellow citizens a bloody fate and the city itself from destruction, six of the most respected citizens of Calais decide - to take themselves hostage to the English camp and beg the English king for mercy.
Their names have been handed down: Eustache de Saint Pierre, Jean d'Aire, the brothers Jacques and Pierre de Wissant, Jean de Fiennes and Andrieus d'Andres.
On August 4, 1347, the six, barefoot, dressed only in a shirt and with a rope around their necks, appear before the English king...:
Edward III orders their immediate execution - in retaliation for his soldiers who died during the siege.
The luck of the citizens of Calais is the English Queen Philippa d'Avesnes, Countess of Holland-Hainaut...
... who happens to be visiting her husband's camp.
Her pleadings to protect the six citizens and the city as a whole are successful...:
This does not harm the hostages or the rest of the population of Calais - although they are forced to leave the city, taking with them only what they can carry.
Instead, Edward III settles English craftsmen and veterans in the city.
The famous sculptor August Rodin created a monument to the six citizens of Calais...
... which was ceremoniously unveiled on June 3, 1895 and has stood on the Place de l'Hotel de Ville
at Calais ever since...
https://figure-mad.com/smf2/index.php?action=reporttm;topic=1759.15;msg=158479
