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.

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 always clear, but the area amounted to about 20 square miles.[3]

Map showing the March of Calais in 1477.

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
1348–1350 John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp de Warwick Captain[8]
1352 Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent Captain[9]
1353 Reynold Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham of Sterborough Captain.[10]
1361 Henry Scrope, 1st Baron Scrope of Masham Warden of Calais and Guînes.[11]
1373 Sir John Burley Captain.[12]
1375–1378 Hugh Calveley Captain.[13] Bernard Brocas was Captain of Calais Castle 1377–1379.[14]
1379 William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury Captain.[15]
February 1380 Bryan Stapleton Captain of Calais Castle very briefly, becoming Captain of Guînes, under the Black Prince as governor.[16]
1380 John Devereux, Baron Devereux Captain.[17]
1383 William Beauchamp, 1st Baron Bergavenny Captain.[18]
1384-1388 Edmund de la Pole (Captain of Calais) Captain.
1389 Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland Captain.[19]
1391–1398 Thomas Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk Captain.[20]
1398–1399 John Holland, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exeter Captain.[21] William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire was Captain of Calais Castle in 1398.[22]
1401–1410 John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset Captain.[23]
1410–1413 Prince Henry Captain.[24]
William Zouche, 4th Baron Zouche Lieutenant.[25]
1414 Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick Captain.[26]
1427 Richard Woodville Lieutenant.[27]
1427 John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford Captain.[28]
1435 Richard Woodville Lieutenant.[27]
1435 Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester Captain.[29]
1437 Thomas Rempston Lieutenant.[30] John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley was lieutenant of Calais Castle from 1437 to 1442.[31]
1439–1442 Thomas Kyriell Lieutenant.[32]
1441–1451 Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham Captain.[33] Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley was Captain of Calais Castle 1450–1452, and was sent to Calais in 1451.[34] Sir John Stoughton was Lieutenant 1450–1.[35]
1451 Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset Captain.[36] Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles, connected to Somerset by marriage, was his deputy-captain (or lieutenant) after 1451;[37] it is presumed he remained in post until Warwick arrived in April 1456.[38]
1454–1455 Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York Captain.[39]
1455–1458 Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Captain.[40]
1459 Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset Captain.[41]
1461–1471 Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick Captain.[40] His deputy was John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock.[42] Sir Walter Wrottesley took over while Warwick put Henry VI back on the throne.[43] At the end of the period John Howard also acted as deputy lieutenant.[44]
1471 Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers Lieutenant, appointed as successor to Warwick. But Hastings was brought in over his head.[45]
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.[46]
1483 John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham Lieutenant.[47]
John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy Temporary governor of Calais, then Guînes.[48] 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.[49]
1485 John of Gloucester Captain.[50] James Tyrrell was appointed lieutenant of Guînes as Richard appointed loyalists.[51]
1486 Giles Daubeney Lieutenant-governor.[52]
1492 Richard Nanfan Deputy lieutenant.[53]
1493 Edward Poynings Deputy lieutenant;[54] but "deputy or governor" in the old DNB. Governor.[55]

Lords deputies of Calais
Date(s) Holder Position
1509 Sir Gilbert Talbot Lord Deputy. He continued in a joint appointment with Richard Wingfield.[56]
1513–1519 Richard Wingfield Initially marshal in 1511, Lord Deputy from 1513. Robert Wingfield shared his duties from that time.[57] At some point John Peche was a joint Deputy with the Wingfields.[56] 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.[58] In 1519 Edward Guildford was appointed marshal of Calais.[59]
1520–1526 John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners Lord Deputy.[60] John Wallop was made high marshal in 1524.[61] From 1520 until his death in 1523 the Lieutenant of Calais Castle was Maurice Berkeley, de jure 4th Baron Berkeley (1467–1523)[62]
1526–1531 Robert Wingfield Lieutenant 1523–1526, Lord Deputy 1526–1531.[63] Sir William FitzWilliam was Captain of Calais Castle from 1526 to 1530, having been Captain of Guînes 1523–1526.[64] In 1530 John Wallop was appointed lieutenant of Calais Castle.[65]
1533–1540 Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle Lord Deputy. His stepson John Dudley was appointed deputy governor in 1538.
1540–1543 Lord Maltravers Lord Deputy.[66] Edward Bray was lieutenant of Calais Castle in 1541.[67]
1544–1550 George Brooke, 9th Baron Cobham Lord Deputy.[68]
1550–1552 William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham Lord Deputy.[56]
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.[69]
1555 William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1501–1570) In place as governor.[70]

See also

References
  • R. A. Griffiths, The Reign of Henry VI (1998)
  • Harari, Yuval Noah (2007). "For a Sack-full of Gold Écus: Calais 1350". In Harari, Yuval Noah (ed.). Special Operations in the Age of Chivalry 1100–1550. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press. pp. 109–124. ISBN 978-1843832928.

Notes
  1. "Calais under Edward III: (Dorothy Greaves) | British History Online".
  2. "The Online Froissart". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. Sandeman, George Amelius Crawshay (October 2009). Calais under English Rule. BiblioBazaar. p. 114. ISBN 9781115448154.
  4. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/theme/93335?&back=13921 (ODNB subscription site).
  5. "The Chronicle of Calais in the Reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII to the year 1540".
  6. "Correspondence of Sylvanus Urban". The Gentleman's Journal. Printed by F. Jefferies. 41: 49. January–June 1854. Retrieved 23 August 2008. Counsel's Fees
  7. "Howard, William (1510?-1573)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  8. Harari 2007, p. 113.
  9. Stansfield, M. M. N. "Holland, Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3543. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  10. Fleming, Peter. "Cobham family". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65269. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  11. Keen, M. H. "Scrope, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24958. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  12. National Archives, United Kingdom. Reference: membrane 7, TNA C76/56
  13. Fowler, Kenneth. "Calveley, Sir Hugh". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4407. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  14. Summerson, Henry. "Brocas, Sir Bernard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3465. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  15. Leland, John L. "Montagu, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19002. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  16. Rawcliffe, Carole. "Stapleton, Sir Brian". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26299. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  17. Rawcliffe, Carole. "Devereux, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7564. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  18. Carpenter, Christine. "Beauchamp, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50236. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  19. Bean, J. M. W. "Percy, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/21932. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  20. Given-Wilson, C. "Mowbray, Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19459. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  21. Stansfield, M. M. N. "Holland, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13529. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  22. "Scrope, William le" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  23. Harriss, G. L. "Beaufort, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/1861. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  24. His DNB article.
  25. Acheson, Eric. "Zouche family". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/61247. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  26. Carpenter, Christine. "Beauchamp, Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/1838. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  27. Hicks, Michael. "Woodville, Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50230. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  28. Stratford, Jenny. "John, duke of Bedford". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14844. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  29. Harriss, G. L. "Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14155. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  30. Payling, S. J. "Rempston, Sir Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/23363. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  31. Collins, Hugh. "Sutton, John (VI)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8155. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  32. Curry, Anne. "Kyriell, Sir Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50135. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  33. Rawcliffe, Carole. "Stafford, Humphrey". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26207. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  34. Reeves, A. C. "Boteler, Ralph". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50152. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  35. Harriss, G. L. "Stourton family". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/52797. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  36. Richmond, Colin. "Beaufort, Edmund". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/1855. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  37. Griffiths p. 603.
  38. Hicks, Michael. "Welles, Leo". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28998. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  39. "Richard (1411-1460)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  40. Pollard, A. J. "Neville, Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19955. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  41. Jones, Michael K. "Beaufort, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/1860. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  42. "Wenlock, John" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  43. Gross, Anthony. "Wrottesley, Sir Walter". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/30090. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  44. Crawford, Anne. "Howard, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13921. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  45. Hicks, Michael. "Woodville, Anthony". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29937. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  46. Horrox, Rosemary. "Hastings, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12588. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  47. Hicks, Michael. "Dynham, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/50234. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  48. Charles Ross, Richard III (1981), p. 162.
  49. Horrox, Rosemary. "Blount, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2690. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  50. Charles Ross, Richard III (1981), p. 138.
  51. Horrox, Rosemary. "Tyrell, Sir James". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27952. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  52. S. B. Chrimes, Henry VII (1984), p. 56.
  53. Arthurson, Ian. "Nanfan, Sir Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19737. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  54. Ellis, Steven G. "Poynings, Sir Edward". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/22683. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  55. S. B. Chrimes, Henry VII (1984), p. 263.
  56. (in Latin) https://archive.org/stream/calaischronicle00camduoft#page/n51/mode/2up
  57. Robertson, Mary L. "Wingfield, Richard". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29739. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  58. Lehmberg, Stanford. "Carew, Sir Nicholas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4633. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  59. Lehmberg, Stanford. "Guildford, Sir Edward". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70790. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  60. Carley, James P. "Bourchier, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2990. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  61. Bryson, Alan. "Wallop, Sir John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28581. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  62. tudorplace.com
  63. Robertson, Mary L. "Wingfield, Sir Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29741. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  64. Robison, William B. "Fitzwilliam, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9663. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  65. http://193.39.212.226/report.aspx?compid=91399
  66. Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1889). "Fitzalan, Henry" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 19. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 88.
  67. "Henry VIII: July 1541, 26-31 | British History Online".
  68. Knighton, C. S. "Brooke, George". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/70783. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  69. "John Foxe's Book of Martyrs". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  70. Sil, Narasingha P. "Herbert, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13055. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
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