The Six Burghers of Calais.



             During the hundred years war, there occurred a small incident which men have looked back and wondered at for over four centuries.

             In 1347 King Edward the Third of England, having just beaten the French king Philippe the Forth, at the battle of Crecy, marched on the much coveted fortress and city of Calais..

             Due to its immense strength a direct assault was deemed impossible, therefore a protracted siege of the city began. This siege lasted for a full year ,by which time the garrison and townspeople were in such a state of hunger and distress that the governor sued for terms of surrender.

             Edward, mindful of the cost the siege had incurred refused anything other than unconditional surrender (this usually involved mass slaughter) but after further entreaties the king stated that he would pardon the garrison and townsmen if six of the most wealthy burghers should come forth with bare feet, and hands and with rope halters round their necks bringing the keys to the city.

           This was thought to be a sentence of death, nevertheless six such men came forward and presented themselves to the revengeful king. despite entreaties from even his own nobles ,the king was determined to behead the six but when his queen Philippa tearfully added her own pleas ,the king handed the six over to her.

           Philippa not only released them but also fed and clothed them, whilst the English took possession of the city without bloodshed.

 Statue of the six burgers outside the

  town hall of Calais.










   This bronze statue is by  Rodin.


 

 

 

                             





Queen Philippa pleads for the lives of the six Burghers.

        A lesson to mankind on courage and self sacrifice.

 

 

"The sharpest strokes of barbarity can still elicit light from the dark stone - light that but for these blows might have slept unseen".

Charlotte Yonge

The burghers of Calais , situated in the Victoria Tower gardens England.