The Siege of Boulogne took place from 19 July to 18 September 1544, during Henry VIII's invasion of France. July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Events April 11 - Battle of Ceresole - French forces under the Comte dEnghien defeat Imperial forces under the Marques Del Vasto near Turin. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city and commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... The English Channel ( French:La Manche) is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates the island of Great Britain from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (c. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Events April 11 - Battle of Ceresole - French forces under the Comte dEnghien defeat Imperial forces under the Marques Del Vasto near Turin. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ...

Henry VIII launched many attacks on France, hoping to reclaim some of the territory controlled by England in centuries past. England had once controlled large sections of France, primarily in the southwest. When Henry VIII came to power, the only land it laid claim to on the Continent was Calais. He was largely motivated, in his assaults on France, by the aid given by France to the Scottish rebels. This tension was heightened by Henry's rejection of papal authority, thus alienating the Catholic Scots, as well as France and Spain from friendly relations with England. After awaiting an invasion by the Catholic states (which never came), Henry began to launch attacks on France, seeking to regain territory. In 1544 he acquired the aid of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who also held the post of King of Spain, and whose Catholic allegiances were, for a time, overruled by the political advantages of an alliance against France. Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... This article is about the French city. ... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V (Spanish: Carlos V) (24 February 1500–21 September 1558) was effectively (the first) King of Spain from 1516 to 1556 (in principle, he was from 1516 king of Aragon and from 1516 guardian of his insane mother, queen of... The Spanish monarchy, referred to as the Crown of Spain (Corona de España) in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, is the office of the King or Queen of Spain. ...

The Siege

In 1544, a large English force departed from Calais, split into two parts, and aiming to secure the surrounding territory. One group advanced south, to Montreuil, under the duke of Norfolk, while the other, under the duke of Suffolk, moved to the coast town of Boulogne and began to lay siege to it. Several weeks later, Henry arrived to take command of the siege himself. The lower section of the town, fortified lightly, fell quickly to heavy bombardment, which continued through August. By September, the upper town was breached and taken, but the central castle still held out. French resistance fighters' firepower prevented any approach on foot, so English men dug under the castle, and the French forces eventually surrendered, on September 13. Montreuil-sur-Mer (officially Montreuil) is a sub-prefecture of northern France, in the département of Pas-de-Calais. ... Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-25 August 1555), was a prominent Tudor politician. ... Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (c. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city and commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département of which it is a sous-préfecture. ...

However, King Charles then switched sides, allying with King Francis I of France, and aiding in an attempt to retake Boulonge. Luckily for the English, the Franco-Italian attackers were disorganized, and quickly turned to chaotic plunder rather than guided siege tactics. They were easily expelled, suffering losses upwards of 800 men. Francis I (French: François Ier) (September 12, 1494 – July 31, 1547), called the Father and Restorer of Letters (French: le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres), was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547. ...

Over the following years, neither England nor France found the strength to engage in full-on war with one another. French attempts to retake Boulogne failed, while English attempts to gain more territory around Calais and Boulogne also failed. Henry awaited a large French invasion fleet which never came, and most of the military action of the remainder of his reign consisted of fighting off Scottish raids.

References

• Davis, Paul K. (2001). "Besieged: 100 Great Sieges from Jericho to Sarajevo." Oxford: Oxford University Press.