Eleanor of Provence: Fleet 'wrecked' at Sluis

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weatherhobbit

Eleanor of Provence: Fleet 'wrecked' at Sluis

Legg inn av weatherhobbit » 13 mar 2005 11:44:49

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question but someone may be
able to point me in the right direction.

My particular interest in historical events is how they have been
influenced by the weather.
Recently, I came across a reference (repeated in many texts, both in
standard historical reference books and on-line sites) to events
surrounding the attempt by Eleanor of Provence (Q-C to Henry III) to aid
her husband's cause by bringing troops across from Flanders (Sluis) to
England. This appears to be sometime between the battle of Lewes in May
1264 and the battle of Evesham in August 1265.

However, I can find no reference to the time of year this took place.
The 13th century (and particularly the second half of same) was
notorious for 'storms' in the North Sea / English Channel ... according
to Prof. H. Lamb, it (the 13th C) was probably the stormiest century in
the second millennium.

I am interested to find out what were the circumstances of this
'wrecking of the fleet' at Sluis: was it during autumn/winter (which
would not be unusual in any century), or was it during the summer (much
more significant)? Was the damage due to high winds alone (severe gales
dismasting sailing vessels after they had sailed), or due to a
combination of high winds and wind-driven waves (destroying the fleet in
port)?

As I say, the only texts I have access to simply state that the fleet
was 'wrecked' without any further detail. If anyone can point me to
possible sources that might resolve this, it would be a help.

Martin.


--
Martin Rowley
meteorology @ bracknell
W: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/metindex.htm

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