Mardyke, 1657

Category: Battle

Before moving against Dunkirk, Turenne planned to capture the nearby fort of Mardyke, which commanded one of the best harbours in the region. The Anglo-French army approached Mardyke on 19 September 1657. A line of entrenchments was constructed between Mardyke and Dunkirk to hinder any attempt by the Spaniards to send a relief force, then the allied artillery began bombarding the fort. The outlying defences were overrun on 21 September and the main fort surrendered the following day. As agreed in the treaty, Mardyke was immediately handed over to England.

Cromwell wanted Turenne to march against Dunkirk straight away and offered to send a further 5,000 regular troops as reinforcements for the attack, but Turenne preferred to proceed against Gravelines, which was less strongly garrisoned than Dunkirk. Early in October, however, the attack on Gravelines was abandoned when the defenders broke the dykes to flood the surrounding country. On 22 October, Don Juan-José led a force of 4,000 men from Dunkirk in an attempt to recapture Mardyke before the English could finish repairing and extending the fortifications. Charles II, the Duke of York and the Marquis of Ormond accompanied the Spanish force. The English garrison was assisted by gunfire from ships in the harbour, and the attack was easily repulsed.