# Battle of Saint-Mathieu

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1512 naval battle during the War of the League of Cambrai

This article is about the 1512 battle. For the 15 May 1293 battle, also between English and French sailors, see [Gascon War](/source/Gascon_War).

"Battle of St Matthew" redirects here. For the 1217 battle during the Livonian Crusade, see [Battle of St Matthew's Day](/source/Battle_of_St_Matthew's_Day). For the 20th-century Northern Irish battle, see [Battle of St Matthew's](/source/Battle_of_St_Matthew's).

Battle of Saint-Mathieu Part of the War of the League of Cambrai 16th-century illustration made to accompany a Germain de Brie poem, showing Marie-la-Cordelière and Regent on fire Date 10 August 1512 Location Off Pointe Saint-Mathieu, Iroise Sea 48°20′N 4°46′W / 48.33°N 4.77°W / 48.33; -4.77 Result English victory Belligerents England France Brittany Commanders and leaders Edward Howard René de Clermont Strength 25 warships 22 warships Casualties and losses 400 killed 1 warship destroyed 1,230 killed 1 warship destroyed

v t e War of the League of Cambrai Cadore Casaloldo Agnadello Padua Vicenza Polesella Mirandola Treviso Brescia Ravenna Navarre Saint-Mathieu Novara Guinegate/The Spurs Dijon Flodden Field La Motta Crema Marignano Asola

v t e Italian Wars First Italian War 1st Rapallo Mordano Fivizzano Naples 2nd Rapallo Seminara Fornovo Novara Atella Ostia Second Italian War Forlì Novara Capua Third Italian War Ruvo Barletta 2nd Seminara Cerignola Garigliano League of Cambrai Cadore Agnadello Padua Vicenza Polesella Mirandola Brescia Ravenna Navarre Saint-Mathieu Novara Guinegate/The Spurs Dijon Flodden Field La Motta Hornshole Marignano Urbino Sixth Italian War Pampeluna Logroño Noáin Mézières Tournai Val Vestino Parma Vaprio d'Adda Bicocca Genoa San Marcial Fuenterrabía Sesia Marseille Pavia League of Cognac Camollia Sienese Maremma Governolo Rome Pavia Malfi Catanzaro Naples Aversa Capo d'Orso Landriano Florence Monopoli Gavinana 1536–1538 Battle of Antipaxos Siege of Corfu 1542–1546 Perpignan Haddon Rig Solway Moss Muros Nice Düren Landrecies Glasgow Ceresole Edinburgh Serravalle Saint-Dizier Lagny-sur-Marne Montreuil 1st Boulogne 2nd Boulogne Ancrum Moor Solent Isle of Wight Bonchurch Beachy Head St Andrews Castle Pinkie Haddington Inchkeith Broughty Castle 1551–1559 Tripoli Mirandola Metz Ponza Corsica Marciano Renty St. Quentin Calais Thionville Balearic Islands Gravelines Full list of battles

The **Battle of Saint-Mathieu** took place on 10 August 1512 during the [War of the League of Cambrai](/source/War_of_the_League_of_Cambrai), near [Brest, France](/source/Brest%2C_France), between an English fleet of 25 ships commanded by Sir [Edward Howard](/source/Edward_Howard_(admiral)) and a Franco-Breton fleet of 22 ships commanded by [René de Clermont](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ren%C3%A9_de_Clermont&action=edit&redlink=1).[1] It is possibly the first battle between ships using cannon through ports, although this played a minor role in the fighting.[2] This was one of only two full-fledged naval battles fought by [King Henry VIII](/source/Henry_VIII_of_England)'s [Tudor navy](/source/Tudor_navy), along with the later [Battle of the Solent](/source/Battle_of_the_Solent).[3] During the battle, each navy's largest and most powerful ship — *[Regent](/source/HMS_Regent)* and the *Marie-la-Cordelière* (or simply *Cordelière*) – were destroyed in a large explosion aboard the latter.

## Background

Although the [War of the League of Cambrai](/source/War_of_the_League_of_Cambrai), sometimes known as the War of the Holy League (among several alternative names), was largely an Italian war, nearly every significant power in Western Europe participated at one point or another, including France, England, and Brittany. The latter was de facto independent of France, although the Dukes of Brittany were vassals to the French King.

When war with France broke out in April 1512, England's [Edward Howard](/source/Edward_Howard_(admiral)) was appointed admiral of a fleet sent by King Henry VIII to control the sea between [Brest](/source/Brest%2C_France) and the [Thames](/source/River_Thames) estuary. Howard seized vessels of various nationalities on the pretext that they were carrying French cargoes. At the beginning of June, he escorted to [Brittany](/source/Brittany) an army which Henry sent to France under the command of [Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset](/source/Thomas_Grey%2C_2nd_Marquess_of_Dorset), with the hope of recovering [Guyenne](/source/Guyenne). Howard then raided [Le Conquet](/source/Le_Conquet) and [Crozon](/source/Crozon) on the Breton coast. During June and July, Howard effectively controlled the [English Channel](/source/English_Channel) and is said to have captured more than 60 vessels. By August, a French-Breton fleet had assembled at Brest; Howard moved to attack them.[4]

## Battle

1838 painting of the battle by [Pierre-Julien Gilbert](/source/Pierre-Julien_Gilbert) which inaccurately shows late-16th century ship designs

Well informed about the Franco-Breton manoeuvres, the English surprised them at anchor.[5] Unprepared and confronted by a superior fleet, all the French and Breton ships cut their anchor cables and spread their sails.[5] By accident, about 300 guests, including some women, were visiting the Breton flagship *Marie-la-Cordelière* when it was attacked. In the hurry, [Hervé de Portzmoguer](/source/Herv%C3%A9_de_Portzmoguer), the captain of the ship, could not disembark them and the crew was thus reinforced by those "involuntary" combatants who, however, fought bravely.[5]

*Marie-la-Cordelière* and *Petite Louise* confronted the English to cover the retreat of the rest of the French fleet to the port of [Brest](/source/Brest%2C_France).[5] Under English fire, the 1,000-ton *Marie-la-Cordelière*,[5] one of the largest warships of her era,[6] sailed towards the 600-ton *Regent*,[5] which was the largest and most powerful ship in the [Tudor navy](/source/Tudor_navy).[7] *Sovereign* and *Mary James* rushed to rescue *Regent* and surrounded *Marie-la-Cordelière*, while the superior fire of *[Mary Rose](/source/Mary_Rose)* badly damaged the *Petite Louise* which was forced to retreat.[5] *Marie-la-Cordelière* remained alone among the English fleet, with the exception of the small *Nef-de-Dieppe* which harassed the English ships.[5] *Marie-la-Cordelière*'s cannons dismasted both *Sovereign* and *Mary James* which became ungovernable and drifted in the [Iroise Sea](/source/Iroise_Sea).[5]

De Portzmoguer proceeded to order his crew to capture *Regent*.[5] [Grappling hooks](/source/Grappling_hook) were thrown and the two ships were tied together.[5] The seamen of *Marie-la-Cordelière* rushed on *Regent*'s deck which was constantly being reinforced by English ships transferring their crews onto *Regent*.[5] *Nef-de-Dieppe* manoeuvered to bombard these new assailants.[5] The deck of *Regent* was covered by blood when *Marie-la-Cordelière* suddenly exploded. The flames spread to the *Regent* and both ships blew up and sank.[5] The crews of both ships were almost entirely annihilated. Only 20 wounded sailors out of 1,250 were saved from the *Cordelière*, and of the 460-strong crew of *Regent* only 60 were rescued.[5] Howard was devastated by the death of [Thomas Knyvett](/source/Thomas_Knyvett), the captain of *Regent*, and vowed "that he will never see the King in the face till he hath revenged the death of the noble and valiant knight, Sir Thomas Knyvet."[8]

## Aftermath

Over the next two days, with the French fleet in Brest, the English fleet captured or destroyed thirty-two French vessels and recovered the valuable French anchors[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] before returning to England.[9] As a result of the engagement Sir Edward Howard was made [Lord High Admiral](/source/British_Admiralty) by Henry VIII.[10] Brittany and France were still de facto separate states at the time, although the [Duchess Anne](/source/Anne_of_Brittany) was a vassal of King [Louis XII of France](/source/Louis_XII_of_France), whom she had also recently married. The combination of the French and Breton fleets was thus the first significant military action in which the two countries fought together, twenty four years after the [Battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier (1488)](/source/Battle_of_Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier_(1488)), the last battle between them. It thus became symbolic within Brittany of the unity between Brittany and France.

The destruction of the Breton ship *Marie la Cordelière* quickly became famous. French poets Humbert de Montmoret and [Germain de Brie](/source/Germain_de_Brie) both wrote poems about it.[11] The latter work presented such an exaggeratedly heroic version of the death of Hervé de Portzmoguer, that it occasioned a satirical response from [Thomas More](/source/Thomas_More), leading to a literary battle between More and de Brie.[12] The death of de Portzmoguer, on the day of [Saint Lawrence](/source/Saint_Lawrence) (10 August), was later portrayed as a deliberate act of self-sacrificing heroism. He is supposed to have said «Nous allons fêter saint Laurent qui périt par le feu!». ("we will celebrate the [feast of Saint Lawrence](/source/Feast_of_Saint_Lawrence), who died by fire") before blowing up the ship to avoid its capture. In fact, there is no evidence that the explosion was intentional and early literary accounts make no such claims.[13][14][15] This version was commemorated by the Breton poet [Théodore Botrel](/source/Th%C3%A9odore_Botrel). A similar version is portrayed by [Alan Simon](/source/Alan_Simon_(musician)) in the song *Marie la Cordelière* from *Anne de Bretagne* (2008). In 2018, the French government announced it was searching for the wrecks of *Marie-la-Cordelière* and *Regent*.[16]

## Order of battle

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England (Edward Howard) (List is probable not certain) Regent (Thomas Knyvet) – Burnt Sovereign (Charles Brandon) – Dismasted Jenett Barbara Mary Barking Mary Rose (Thomas Wyndham) 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) –Dismasted Magdalene (J. Brigandyne) Henry of Hampton Catherine Pomegranate (Henry Gyldeford) France & Brittany (René de Clermont) Nef de Rouen Nef d'Orléans Nef de Dieppe Nef de Bordeaux Petite Louise – Damaged Nef de Morlaix (Marie la Cordelière) (Hervé de Porzmoguer aka Primauguet) – Burnt Nef de Brest Nef de Rochelle Nef de Bordeaux Saint Sauveur 12 others

## Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Clabby, Simon (2014-04-17). ["The first battle of the Mary Rose"](https://maryrose.org/blog/the-first-battle-of-the-mary-rose/). *The Mary Rose*. Retrieved 2024-11-30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Great Sea Fights 5: A Tudor Battle in the Reign of Henry VIII, 10 August, 1512"](https://snr.org.uk/the-mariners-mirror-podcast/great-sea-fights-5-a-tudor-battle-in-the-reign-of-henry-viii-10-august-1512/). *The Society for Nautical Research*. Retrieved March 24, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Konstam2008_3-0)** Konstam, Angus (2008). [*Tudor Warships (1): Henry VIII's Navy*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YKqsjKHwQ-8C&pg=PA41). Osprey Publishing. p. 41. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1846032516](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1846032516). Retrieved 9 August 2012.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Loades, David (2008). *Howard, Sir Edward (1476/7–1513), naval commander*; *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-12) [***n***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-13) [***o***](#cite_ref-Toudouze_5-14) [Georges G. Toudouze, *Hervé de Portz-Moguer et "Marie la Cordelière", d'après les témoins oculaires de 1512*, in Fantômes des Combat](http://www.hermine.org/simclient/integration/hermine/stream.asp?instance=incipio&BASEEID=INCIPIO_HERMINE&EIDMPA=COBB_A_1955_006_014_1)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Holmes2006_6-0)** Holmes, George C. V. (2006). [*Ancient and Modern Ships V1: Wooden Sailing Ships*](https://books.google.com/books?id=eJBnFQJDXDIC&pg=PA93). Kessinger Publishing. p. 93. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1428647510](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1428647510). Retrieved 9 August 2012.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Knight1838_7-0)** Knight, Charles (1838). [*The Penny magazine of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wKffAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA136). Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. p. 136. Retrieved 9 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Starkey2004_8-0)** Starkey, David (2004). [*Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII*](https://books.google.com/books?id=zVn-x5kuBVgC&pg=PA132). HarperCollins. p. 132. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0060005504](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0060005504). Retrieved 9 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Spont1897_9-0)** Spont, Alfred (1897). [*Letters and papers relating to the war with France, 1512–1513*](https://archive.org/details/lettersandpaper00spongoog). Navy Records Society. pp. xxv–xxviii.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Grant2011_10-0)** Grant, R. G. (2011). [*Battle at Sea: 3,000 Years of Naval Warfare*](https://books.google.com/books?id=AE8dQ8gvow8C&pg=PA84). Penguin. p. 84. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0756657017](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0756657017). Retrieved 9 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tournoy1980_11-0)** Tournoy, Gilbert (1980). [*Humanistica Lovaniensia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=iCXp0xAxKbQC&pg=PA176). Leuven University Press. p. 176. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9061861072](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9061861072). Retrieved 9 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Marius1999_12-0)** Marius, Richard (1999). [*Thomas More: A Biography*](https://books.google.com/books?id=DdAYSzj20t0C&pg=PA58). Harvard University Press. p. 58. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0674885257](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0674885257). Retrieved 9 August 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Max Guérout, *Le dernier combat de la Cordelière*, Serpent de Mer, 2002.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Hervé de Portzmoguer at www.netmarine.net/](http://www.netmarine.net/bat/fregates/primaug/celebre.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100818011042/http://www.netmarine.net/bat/fregates/primaug/celebre.htm) August 18, 2010, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Max Guérout, *Le Mythe de la Cordelière*](http://www.archeonavale.org/pdf/cordeliere/mdc.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232619/http://www.archeonavale.org/pdf/cordeliere/mdc.pdf) March 3, 2016, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Schofield, Hugh. ["Intrepid French hunt for sunken warships Cordelière and Regent"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44806083). BBC. Retrieved 31 July 2018.

## References

- Childs, David (April 2007). "Shock and Oar: Mary Rose and the Fear of the French Galleys". *History Today*. **57** (4).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Battle of Saint-Mathieu](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Battle_of_Saint-Mathieu).

- [Medal commemorating *Marie de la Cordelière* and the light cruiser *Primauguet*](https://web.archive.org/web/20070312011641/http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object.cfm?ID=MEC2167)

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