The English raid on Damme in 1213 destroyed the French fleet, ending the immediate threat of a French invasion of England.
Key Facts
- Date
- 30–31 May 1213
- French ships captured
- 300 ships
- French ships burned/looted
- ~100 beached ships looted and fired
- English commander
- William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury
- French fleet commander
- Savari de Mauléon
- French king present
- Philip II of France, besieging Ghent nearby
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the 1213–1214 Anglo-French War, King Philip II of France assembled a large fleet near Damme in Flanders in preparation for an invasion of England. The French crews had gone ashore to pillage the surrounding countryside, leaving their vessels largely unattended at anchor.
An English fleet under William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury accidentally encountered the unguarded French fleet. The English captured approximately 300 ships and looted and burned around 100 more beached vessels. Philip II, besieging Ghent nearby, marched to Damme, relieved its garrison, drove off the English landing parties, and ordered the remaining French ships burned to prevent their capture.
The English raid yielded immense booty and effectively destroyed the French fleet, ending the immediate threat of a French invasion of England. The engagement is often regarded as the first great naval victory in English history, shifting momentum in the Anglo-French conflict.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury.
Side B
1 belligerent
Savari de Mauléon, Philip II of France.