The Statue of the Six Burghers - Calais, France
The statue of the Six Burghers (unveiled 3 June 1895).
Following his victory at Crecy in 1346, Edward 111 of England laid seige to Calais and set up a bridgehead in
front of the town. By August 1347, famine had weakened the inhabitants and they surrendered. Rodin's statue
depicts the six 'bourgeois' who gave themselves up to save their fellow citizens. Queen Philippa de Hainaut, Edward's French wife, promised them a reprieve but they were evicted from the town, which remained British
until 1558 when it was recaptured by Francois de Guise.
Calais-Cote d'Opale Tourist Office
12, Boulevard Clemenceau, Calais
T: 00 33 (0)3 21 96 62 40
E: ot@ot-calais.fr
W: www.calais-cotedopale.com
Following his victory at Crecy in 1346, Edward 111 of England laid seige to Calais and set up a bridgehead in
front of the town. By August 1347, famine had weakened the inhabitants and they surrendered. Rodin's statue
depicts the six 'bourgeois' who gave themselves up to save their fellow citizens. Queen Philippa de Hainaut, Edward's French wife, promised them a reprieve but they were evicted from the town, which remained British
until 1558 when it was recaptured by Francois de Guise.
Calais-Cote d'Opale Tourist Office
12, Boulevard Clemenceau, Calais
T: 00 33 (0)3 21 96 62 40
E: ot@ot-calais.fr
W: www.calais-cotedopale.com
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