Battle of St. Mathieu

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Battle of St Mathieu
partof= the War of the League of Cambrai


caption=
date= 10 August 1512
place= Near Brest, France
territory=
result= English victory
combatant1= England
combatant2= France
commander1= Edward Howard
commander2= René de Clermont
strength1= 25 ships
strength2= 22 ships
casualties1=
casualties2=
notes=

The naval Battle of St Mathieu took place on 10 August 1512 during the War of the League of Cambrai, near Brest, France, between an English fleet of 25 ships commanded by Edward Howard and a French and Breton fleet of 22 ships commanded by René de Clermont. It is possibly the first battle between ships using cannon through ports [Mary Rose Trust [http://www.maryrose.org/history/history5.htm] ] . The English surprised the French at anchor. The French cut their anchor cables, and were driven back into Brest with the French flagship, "Grand Louise", badly damaged by Howard in "Mary Rose" ["Shock and Awe: Mary Rose and the fear of the French galleys", D.Childs, "History Today", p.41 (April 2007)] . "Marie de la Cordelière" was disabled, probably by "Peter Pomegranate", but while being boarded from "Regent", caught fire and both ships were sunk when "Marie de la Cordelière's" magazine exploded, killing 1500. ["Shock and Awe: Mary Rose and the fear of the French galleys", D. Childs, "History Today", p.41 (April 2007)] . "Nef de Dieppe" was also isolated from the main French fleet, and "Admiralde" sunk [Mary Rose Trust [http://www.maryrose.org/history/history5.htm] ] . Over the next two days, with the French fleet in Brest, the English fleet destroyed thirty two French vessels and recovered the valuable French anchors before returning to England. As a result of the engagement, Edward Howard was made Lord High Admiral by King Henry VIII.

Ships involved:

England (Edward Howard)

(List is probable, not certain)
"Regent" (Thomas Knyvet) - Burnt
"Sovereign" (Charles Brandon)
"Jenett"
"Barbara"
"Mary Barking"
"Mary Rose"
"Peter Pomegranate"
"John Hopton"
"Mary John"
"Anne of Greenwich"
"Mary George"
"Dragon"
"Lion"
"George of Falmouth"
"Peter of Fowey"
"Nicholas of Hampton"
"Martinet"
"Christopher Davy"
"Sabyn"
"Nicholas Reede"
"Margaret of Topsham" (James Knyvet)
"Mary James" (Anthony Ughtred)
"Magdalene" (J. Brigandyne)
"Henry of Hampton"
"Catherine Pomegranate" (Henry Gyldeford)

France (René de Clermont)

("Marie de la Cordelière" probably refers to "Nef de Morlaix", although it could have been "Nef de Brest")
"Nef de Rouen"
"Nef d'Orléans"
"Nef de Dieppe"
"Nef de Bordeaux"
"Petite Louise"
"Nef de Morlaix" ("Marie de la Cordelière") (Hervé de Porzmoguer aka Primauguet) - Burnt
"Nef de Brest"
"Nef de Rochelle"
"Nef de Bordeaux"
"Saint Sauveur"
12 others

References

External links

* [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object.cfm?ID=MEC2167 Medal commemorating "Marie de la Cordelière" and the light cruiser "Primauguet"]