Battle of Sandwich (1460)

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Not to be confused with the Battle of Sandwich (1217).

The Battle of Sandwich was a naval skirmish off the town of Sandwich in January 1460 during the Wars of the Roses. In it, Warwick, Captain of Calais, now on the Yorkist side, defeated and dispersed a Lancastrian fleet. Little evidence and few details in the area's local history are extant.

[edit] Prelude

Edward (then earl of March) and the earl of Salisbury had fled to the English stronghold of Calais after their defeat at the Battle of Ludford Bridge.

[edit] Aftermath

With command of the English channel secured by this battle, and the town of Sandwich secured by his followers in June 1460, Warwick landed there with on June 26, 1460 with Edward and the Earl of Salisbury. Having cleared the English Channel of French pirates (who had been able to raid the town thanks to the chaos caused in England by the civil war) and made the Kent coast safe, Warwick was received as a hero to the men of Kent.

The small Yorkist army of about 2000 men, having arrived from Calais ahead of the Earls of March and Warwick, increased in number, joined by many followers as they proceeded by way of Canterbury (and thus probably Wickhambreaux).

They were largely well supported as the Yorkist commanders had remained popular in Kent. They proceeded to march for London through Canterbury, where the officers in charge of protecting the town against them joined forces with the rebels. This support ensured a prompt journey to the capital. They arrived in London on July 2, where they were welcomed by Richard Lee, Lord Mayor of London, and Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury. The Yorkist army advanced upon Northampton to meet Henry and his Lancastrian army, and the two forces met at the Battle of Northampton on July 10.