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Battle of Gravelines
Part of theItalian War of 1551–1559
The Battle of Gravelines
Date 13 July 1558 Location Gravelines,France Result Anglo-Spanish victory[1]
Belligerents
Kingdom of France	Kingdom of Spain Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Paul de Thermes	Lamoral, Count of Egmont
Strength
12,000 infantry 2,000 cavalry	15,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry
Casualties and losses
12,500 dead, wounded, or captured[citation needed]	300 dead or wounded[citation needed]

TheBattle of Gravelines was fought on 13 July 1558 atGravelines, nearCalais, France. It occurred during the twelve-year war betweenFrance andSpain (1547–1559).

The battle resulted in a victory by the Spanish forces, led byLamoral, Count of Egmont, over the French, led by MarshalPaul de Thermes. The Spanish were supported by theEnglish Navy, who opened fire on the French as they reached the sand dunes at Gravelines.^[2]

Following the dominance of the Spanish forces, led byDuke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, at theBattle of St. Quentin,Henry II of France prepared his revenge. He recruited a new army inPicardy, which he put in the hands ofLouis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers. He asked theOttoman Sultan for naval support and encouraged the Scots to invade England from the north.Francis, Duke of Guise, seized the port of Calais from the English and moved to capture the city ofThionville in Philip II's duchy of Luxembourg on 22 June 1558. Marshall de Thermes invaded with another army consisting of 12,000infantry and 2,000cavalry, armed with a considerable amount ofartillery. After crossing the riverAa at its mouth, de Thermes commandeered his army to conquer bothDunkirk andNieuwpoort, consequently threatening Brussels. It is reported that a Spanish army was to later intercept the duke's army at the Aa River.

The Duke of Savoy and Philip met an army of 15,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry, giving the command to the Count of Egmont. Surprised by the speed of the Spanish maneuver, Thermes had to do battle because he had the river behind him, the sea on his left, and his right completely blocked by the baggage column of his own army. He deployed his army on the left bank of the river, creating a double line with the cavalry and artillery in one row and the infantry in a second row behind them.

Sighting the French positions, Egmont placed his troops in a crescent, with the light cavalry on the flanks and the Spanish troops, together with the German and Flemish units, in the center.

The French used their artillery, and a chaotic battle was fought between the cavalry of both sides. The Spanisharquebusiers, who were better armed and trained, peppered the French cavalry. They then shot at the infantry sheltered behind the baggage train, creating great confusion among the French ranks. Egmont, at the head of his horsemen, decided to attack the French center with his cavalry. Biscay and English ships under AdmiralEdward Clinton bombarded the French rear, causing numerous casualties. The outcome of the battle could not have been worse for the French: only 1,500 men had managed to flee; the rest lay dead or were taken prisoner. The lord of Thermes was taken prisoner. The French were forced to retreat to the border.

This defeat, coupled with the loss at theBattle of St. Quentin (1557), forced Henry II of France to make peace with Philip II in theTreaty of Cateau-Cambrésis of 1559. It was because of this treaty that Philip II marriedElisabeth of Valois, daughter of Henry, whileEmmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy marriedMargaret of France, Duchess of Berry, sister of Henry and daughter of KingFrancis I of France.

50°59′14″N2°07′42″E / 50.98722°N 2.12833°E /50.98722; 2.12833

• 1558 in France
• Battles of the Italian Wars
• Battles involving France
• Battles involving Spain
• Battles involving England
• Conflicts in 1558
• Italian War of 1551–1559

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