Sluys, Battle of

Battle of 24 June 1340 during the Hundred Years' War, in which Edward III of England, invading France through the Low Countries, engaged the Franco-Genoese fleet at anchor off the coast of Flanders. Edward sank or captured almost all the vessels.

Edward commanded over 120 vessels crewed by about 1,000 men-at-arms and several thousand archers. They were arranged in groups so that they were mutually supporting, just as on land. The French had over 200 ships, most them chained together in three lines, but lacked fighting men (they had only 150 men-at-arms and 500 crossbowmen, the rest being sailors). The English fleet was able to manoeuvre and attack at will, using an arrow storm followed by boarding. They took 190 ships, and some 16,000 Frenchmen died.