Battle of Lincoln (1217)

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The Second Battle of Lincoln occurred at Lincoln Castle on 20 May 1217, during the First Barons' War, between the forces of the future Louis VIII of France and those of King Henry III of England. Louis' forces were attacked by a relief force under the command of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. The Comte de la Perche, commanding the French troops, was killed and this heavy defeat led to Louis being expelled from his base in the southeast of England. This event is known as “Lincoln Fair” after the looting that took place afterwards. The citizens were loyal to Louis so Henry’s forces sacked the city.

1 Background
2 Battlefield
3 Battle
4 Aftermath and effects
5 See also
6 Notes
7 References

[edit] Background

In 1216 the First Barons' War of the English succession took a new turn when Prince Louis of France entered London and was proclaimed King of England. He was supported by various English barons who resisted the rule of King John. When John died in the middle of the war, his 8 year-old son Henry III had a claim to the English throne.

Henry was not held in suspicion by the native English nobility as his father John had been.^[1] Though John had been unpopular, his lack of support was not inherited by Henry, because of his great youth. Defacto, it made Henry neutral in his father's designs on absolute monarchy, because Henry was seen as too young to comprehend or manipulate the intrigues of noble houses.^[2]

Once John died, many barons were willing to change sides and fight for Henry against Prince Louis' claim. The regent of Henry, a famous knight and excellent tournament fighter named William Marshal, had the power of the king's command. Marshal ordered all nobles with a Castle in England to a muster in Newark. Approximately 400 Knights, 250 crossbowmen, and a larger auxiliary force of both mounted and foot soldiers were assembled.^[3] From there they would march to break a long siege by an army of Prince Louis at the city of Lincoln.

[edit] Battlefield

Medieval Lincoln was an ancient walled city with a Norman Castle near its center,^[4] straddling a crossroads of two important Roman-built highways: Ermine Street and Fosse Way. These trans-England routes were longtime staples of national trade and government. It was thus a strategic location. There, 150 years earlier, William the Conqueror ordered the construction Lincoln Castle, built on a hilltop over an old Roman fort.^[5]

At the time of the battle in May 1217, the city of Lincoln had been taken by Louis' forces. However, the castle remained intact. Its garrison—loyal to King Henry—continued to defend the important fortification from forces loyal to Prince Louis, lead by the Count of Perche.

[edit] Battle

From the town of Stowe a few miles to the southwest of Lincoln, Marshal's forces made their approach. Though the advance was known to the Perche, his knights debated about intelligence on the strength of the enemy.^[6] Those who believed Marshal's force was relatively small in number favored an offensive plan: a meeting in an open battlefield at the base of the hill, before Marshal could reach the city gates. Those who believed Marshal had a dangerously large force favored a more defensive plan: delay Marshal at the gates of the city wall, and at the same time press the siege, capture the castle, and occupy this much stronger position. The defensive plan was taken, though not without some continuing dissension.^[7]

Marshal proceeded to the section of the city walls nearest the castle, at the north gate. The entire force of Marshal's crossbowmen led by the mercenery Falkes de Breauté assaulted and won the gate. Perche's forces did not respond, but continued the castle siege. ^[8]

The north gate was secured by Marshal's main force, while Breauté's crossbowmen took up high positions on the rooftops of houses.^[9] Volleys of bolts from this high ground caused rapid death, damage and confusion among Perche's forces. Then, in the final blow, Marshal committed his knights and footsoldiers in a charge against Perche's siege. Perche was offered a surrender, but instead fought to the death as the siege collapsed into a scattered route.^[10] Those of Louis' army who were not captured fled Lincoln out the south city gate, to London. The whole of the battle had taken about six hours.^[11]

[edit] Aftermath and effects

The city of Lincoln--on the pretense of being in league with Louis--was pillaged by the victorious army, in an event called the Lincoln Fair.^[12] To the south, inhabitants of towns between Lincoln and London ambushed and killed some French soldiers in the flight south to London.^[13]

The Battle of Lincoln (1217) ended the First Barons' War.^[14] Many of Henry's enemies--barons who had supported Louis, and who helped supply, organize and command his military forces--were captured at Lincoln.^[15] The aftermath of that battlefield saw the disposal of the French prince's claim to the English throne, and in turn, the coronation of King Henry III.^[16] Prince Louis and his military had to abandon England, and returned across the English Channel to France.^[17]