List of Captains, Lieutenants and Lords Deputies of English Calais

The town of Calais, now part of France, was in English hands from 1347 to 1558, and this page lists the commanders of Calais, holding office from the English Crown, called at different times Captain of Calais, King's Lieutenant of Calais (Castle), or Lord Deputy of Calais.

Contents

Terminology and background

Commands were over the castle of Calais, the town, the march and its outlying castles; command was often divided, and deputies frequently appointed for commanders who might be absent. The terminology was flexible, changed over time, and may not be accurately given in some sources. The military, political and even financial situation, and the presence or absence of officers, did affect how the system operated. The terms used changed over nearly two centuries. The system of royal officials set up after Edward III took Calais consisted of captain, marshal, seneschal and constable.[1] But changes were soon seen.

Calais refers properly here to the Pale of Calais, or March of Calais, part of the Kingdom of England, namely the English bridgehead area between the County of Artois and County of Flanders; it varied in area according to the military position.[2] The boundary took in wetlands and was not alway clear, but the area amounted to about 20 square miles.[3]

The approaches to Calais, which is a port on the coast, were defended by two inland castles, that of Guînes, somewhat to the south-east, and Hammes (Hampnes, Hammez) in the present commune of Hames-Boucres, somewhat to the southwest. Calais had also castellans (of Calais Castle);[4][5] "Captain of Calais Castle" is a different post from "Captain of Calais", the title of the top commander and military governor of the Pale for most of the period.

Deputies

When "deputy" is used, it may or may not mean a second-in-command: there is no consistency across the period. From Latin records there come "vice" (in the place of) or "locum tenens" (holding the place of). "Lieutenant" is a direct French translation of "locum tenens"; it means generally the second-in-command to the "captain" or head commander. There is a mention of a "deputy lieutenant", however. Caveats are required because a "lord deputy" has to be understood as deputy to the king; and the term "deputy governor" should usually be read "lord deputy and governor", not "deputy to the governor".

The Lord Deputy of Calais, a Tudor title only, was the English king's representative and head of the Council of Calais.[6] The title of Lord Deputy was used in Calais only from 1507.[4] The Council existed in some form under Edward IV, and lasted until the French conquest of Calais in 1558. There could be more than one Deputy holding the title at a given time.

In practical terms the Lord Deputy was also the military governor of Calais, but the two posts were not formally the same: in 1552 Lord William Howard became "lord deputy and governor of Calais".[7] "Governor of Calais" may also refer to the French post after 1558.

Captains and Lieutenants of Calais

Date(s) Holder Position, subordinates
1353 Reynold Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough Captain.[8] Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent was Captain of Calais Castle in 1352.[9]
1361 Henry Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Masham Warden of Calais and Guînes.[10]
1375-1378 Hugh Calveley Captain.[11] Bernard Brocas was Captain of Calais Castle 1377-1379.[12]
1379 William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury Captain.[13]
February 1380 Bryan Stapleton Captain of Calais Castle very briefly, becoming Captain of Guînes, under the Black Prince as governor.[14]
1380 John Devereux, Baron Devereux Captain.[15]
1383-1389 William Beauchamp, 1st Baron Bergavenny Captain.[16]
1389 Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland Captain.[17]
1391-1398 Thomas Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk Captain.[18]
1398-1399 John Holland, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exeter Captain.[19] William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire was Captain of Calais Castle in 1398.[20]
1401-1410 John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset Captain.[21]
1410-1413 Prince Henry Captain.[22]
William Zouche, 4th Baron Zouche Lieutenant.[23]
1414 Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick Captain.[24]
1427 Richard Woodville Lieutenant.[25]
1427 John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford Captain.[26]
1435 Richard Woodville Lieutenant.[25]
1435 Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester Captain.[27]
1437 Thomas Rempston Lieutenant.[28] John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley was lieutenant of Calais Castle from 1437 to 1442.[29]
1439-1442 Thomas Kyriell Lieutenant.[30]
1441-1451 Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham Captain.[31] Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley was Captain of Calais Castle 1450-1452, and was sent to Calais in 1451.[32] Sir John Stoughton was Lieutenant 1450-1.[33]
1451 Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset Captain.[34] Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles, connected to Somerset by marriage, was his deputy-captain (or lieutenant) after 1451;[35] it is presumed he remained in post until Warwick arrived in April 1456.[36]
1454-1455 Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York Captain.[37]
1455-1458 Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Captain.[38]
1459 Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset Captain.[39]
1461-1471 Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Captain.[38] His deputy was John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock.[40] Sir Walter Wrottesley took over while Warwick put Henry VI back on the throne.[41] At the end of the period John Howard also acted as deputy lieutenant.[42]
1471 Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers Lieutenant, appointed as successor to Warwick. But Hastings was brought in over his head.[43]
1471-1483 William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings Captain, mostly absent. John Howard acted as deputy, John Dynham at the end of the period; Ralph Hastings, his brother, was his man on the ground.[44]
1483 John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham Lieutenant.[45]
John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy Temporary governor of Calais, then Guînes.[46] He had been lieutenant of Hammes since 1470, but under Richard III was an ill man, and left Hammes to his brother James Blount who had held the position jointly with him from 1476; and had Thomas Montgomery as deputy. They all proved disloyal to Richard.[47]
1485 John of Gloucester Captain.[48] James Tyrrell was appointed lieutenant of Guînes as Richard appointed loyalists.[49]
1486 Giles Daubeney Lieutenant-governor.[50]
1492 Richard Nanfan Deputy lieutenant.[51]
1493 Edward Poynings Deputy lieutenant[52]; but "deputy or governor" in the old DNB. Governor.[53]

Lords Deputies of Calais

Date(s) Holder Position
1509 Sir Gilbert Talbot Lord Deputy. He continued in a joint appointment with Richard Wingfield.[54]
1513-1519 Richard Wingfield Initially marshal in 1511, Lord Deputy from 1513. Robert Wingfield shared his duties from that time.[55] At some point John Peche was a joint Deputy with the Wingfields.[54] From 1513 to 1520 Nicholas Carew with his father Richard held the post of lieutenant of Calais Castle; Richard is described as a previous Captain of Calais.[56] In 1519 Edward Guildford was appointed marshal of Calais.[57]
1520-1526 John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners Lord Deputy.[58] John Wallop was made high marshal in 1524.[59]From 1520 until his death in 1523 the Lieutenant of Calais Castle was Maurice Berkeley, de jure 4th Baron Berkeley (1467–1523)[60]
1526-1531 Robert Wingfield Lieutenant 1523-1526, Lord Deputy 1526-1531.[61] Sir William FitzWilliam was Captain of Calais Castle from 1526 to 1530, having been Captain of Guînes 1523-1526.[62] In 1530 John Wallop was appointed lieutenant of Calais Castle.[63]
1533-1540 Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle Lord Deputy. His stepson John Dudley was appointed deputy governor in 1538.[64]
1540-1543 Lord Maltravers Lord Deputy.[65] Edward Bray was lieutenant of Calais Castle in 1541.[66]
1544-1550 George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham Lord Deputy.[67]
1550-1552 William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham Lord Deputy.[54]
1552-1553 Lord William Howard Lord Deputy.
1553-1558 Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baron Wentworth Lord Deputy, in charge when the French captured the town. Sir Ralph Chamberlaine was lieutenant of Calais Castle 1554-1558.[68]
1555 William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1501–1570) In place as governor.[69]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33015
  2. ^ http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/onlinefroissart/apparatus.jsp?type=intros&intro=f.intros.AC-PoliticalClimate
  3. ^ Sandeman, George Amelius Crawshay. Calais under English Rule. pp. 114. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=tgrJjQlYYc0C&pg=PA114&lpg=PA114&dq=%22pale+of+calais%22&source=bl&ots=bvV9YivgG3&sig=iCmomAsHQx-TW9bCVln1XIxKDEY&hl=en&ei=PMMvTI7FCdCHkAWul_2CBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=15&ved=0CFAQ6AEwDg#v=onepage&q=%22pale%20of%20calais%22&f=false. 
  4. ^ a b http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/theme/93335?&back=13921 (ODNB subscription site).
  5. ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/calaischronicle00camduoft#page/n51/mode/2up
  6. ^ "Correspondence of Sylvanus Urban". The Gentleman's Journal (Printed by F. Jefferies) 41: 49. Jan-Jun 1854. http://books.google.com/?id=v_8IAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA49. Retrieved 2008-08-23. "Counsel's Fees" 
  7. ^  "Howard, William (1510?-1573)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
  8. ^ Fleming, Peter, "Cobham family", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/65269 
  9. ^ Stansfield, M. M. N., "Holland, Thomas", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/3543 
  10. ^ Keen, M. H., "Scrope, Henry", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/24958 
  11. ^ Fowler, Kenneth, "Calveley, Sir Hugh", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/4407 
  12. ^ Summerson, Henry, "Brocas, Sir Bernard", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/3465 
  13. ^ Leland, John L., "Montagu, William", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/19002 
  14. ^ Rawcliffe, Carole, "Stapleton, Sir Brian", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/26299 
  15. ^ Rawcliffe, Carole, "Devereux, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/7564 
  16. ^ Carpenter, Christine, "Beauchamp, William", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/50236 
  17. ^ Bean, J. M. W., "Percy, Henry", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/21932 
  18. ^ Given-Wilson, C., "Mowbray, Thomas", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/19459 
  19. ^ Stansfield, M. M. N., "Holland, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/13529 
  20. ^  "Scrope, William le". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
  21. ^ Harriss, G. L., "Beaufort, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/1861 
  22. ^ His DNB article.
  23. ^ Acheson, Eric, "Zouche family", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/61247 
  24. ^ Carpenter, Christine, "Beauchamp, Richard", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/1838 
  25. ^ a b Hicks, Michael, "Woodville, Richard", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/50230 
  26. ^ Stratford, Jenny, "John, duke of Bedford", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/14844 
  27. ^ Harriss, G. L., "Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/14155 
  28. ^ Payling, S. J., "Rempston, Sir Thomas", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/23363 
  29. ^ Collins, Hugh, "Sutton, John (VI)", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/8155 
  30. ^ Curry, Anne, "Kyriell, Sir Thomas", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/50135 
  31. ^ Rawcliffe, Carole, "Stafford, Humphrey", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/26207 
  32. ^ Reeves, A. C., "Boteler, Ralph", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/50152 
  33. ^ Harriss, G. L., "Stourton family", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/52797 
  34. ^ Richmond, Colin, "Beaufort, Edmund", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/1855 
  35. ^ Griffiths p. 603.
  36. ^ Hicks, Michael, "Welles, Leo", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/28998? 
  37. ^  "Richard (1411-1460)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
  38. ^ a b Pollard, A. J., "Neville, Richard", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/19955 
  39. ^ Jones, Michael K., "Beaufort, Henry", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/1860 
  40. ^  "Wenlock, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 
  41. ^ Gross, Anthony, "Wrottesley, Sir Walter", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/30090 
  42. ^ Crawford, Anne, "Howard, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/13921 
  43. ^ Hicks, Michael, "Woodville, Anthony", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/29937 
  44. ^ Horrox, Rosemary, "Hastings, William", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/12588 
  45. ^ Hicks, Michael, "Dynham, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/50234 
  46. ^ Charles Ross, Richard III (1981), p. 162.
  47. ^ Horrox, Rosemary, "Blount, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/2690 
  48. ^ Charles Ross, Richard III (1981), p. 138.
  49. ^ Horrox, Rosemary, "Tyrell, Sir James", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/27952 
  50. ^ S. B. Chrimes, Henry VII (1984), p. 56.
  51. ^ Arthurson, Ian, "Nanfan, Sir Richard", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/19737 
  52. ^ Ellis, Steven G., "Poynings, Sir Edward", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/22683 
  53. ^ S. B. Chrimes, Henry VII (1984), p. 263.
  54. ^ a b c (Latin) http://www.archive.org/stream/calaischronicle00camduoft#page/n51/mode/2up
  55. ^ Robertson, Mary L., "Wingfield, Richard", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/29739 
  56. ^ Lehmberg, Stanford, "Carew, Sir Nicholas", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/4633 
  57. ^ Lehmberg, Stanford, "Guildford, Sir Edward", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/70790 
  58. ^ Carley, James P., "Bourchier, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/2990 
  59. ^ Bryson, Alan, "Wallop, Sir John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/28581 
  60. ^ tudorplace.com
  61. ^ Robertson, Mary L., "Wingfield, Sir Robert", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/29741 
  62. ^ Robison, William B., "Fitzwilliam, William", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/9663 
  63. ^ http://193.39.212.226/report.aspx?compid=91399
  64. ^ http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/NEW_NUM/NORTHUMBERLAND_JOHN_DUDLEY_VISC.html
  65. ^ Stephen, Leslie, Sir, (1900). Dictionary of National Biography. pp. vol. 58: p. 401. http://www.archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati58stepuoft. 
  66. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=76252
  67. ^ Knighton, C. S., "Brooke, George", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/70783 
  68. ^ http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/apparatus/person_glossaryC.html
  69. ^ Sil, Narasingha P., "Herbert, William", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/13055