City of Westminster in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Burghers of Calais
These figures known as
The Burghers of Calais
commemorate six citizens of that town
who offered themselves
as hostages to Edward III
after he had vainly besieged their town
for nearly a year in 1317.
The story goes that their lives were spared
on the intercession of Edward's queen
Philippa of Hainault.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 1317.
Location. 51° 29.846′ N, 0° 7.494′ W. Marker is in City of Westminster, England, in Greater London. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Millbank and Great College Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Millbank, City of Westminster, England SW1P 3LX, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Emmeline Pankhurst (within shouting distance of this marker); Sir Thomas Peirson Frank (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Jewel Tower (about 150 meters away); The Buxton Memorial (about 150 meters away); Sir John Gielgud (about 180 meters away); Lord Reith (about 180 meters away); W.T. Stead (about 210 meters away); T.E. Lawrence (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in City of Westminster.
More about this marker. The marker and sculpture are located in the northern section of Victoria Tower Gardens South, and are easily visible once within the park.
Regarding The Burghers of Calais. There are twelve original castings of this sculpture. The initial, cast in 1895, stands in Calais. This version was cast in 1908 and unveiled on July 19, 1915.
Also see . . .
1. The Burghers of Calais (Wikipedia). "In 1346, England's Edward III, after a victory in the Battle of Crécy, laid siege to Calais, while Philip VI of France ordered the city to hold out at all costs. Philip failed to lift the siege, and starvation eventually forced the city to parley for surrender....Medieval writer Jean Froissart (and only he) tells the story of what happened next: Edward offered to spare the people of the city if six of its top leaders would surrender themselves to him, presumably to be executed. Edward demanded that they walk out wearing nooses around their necks, and carrying the keys to the city and castle. One of the wealthiest of the town leaders, Eustache de Saint Pierre, volunteered first, and five other burghers joined with him. Saint Pierre led this envoy of volunteers to the city gates. It was this moment, and this poignant mix of defeat, heroic self-sacrifice, and willingness to face imminent death that Rodin captured in his sculpture, scaled somewhat larger than life....Although the burghers expected to be executed, their lives were spared by the intervention of England's queen, Philippa of Hainault, who persuaded her husband to exercise mercy by claiming that their deaths would be a bad omen for her unborn child. (Her son, Thomas of Windsor, only lived for one year.)" (Submitted on December 13, 2017.)
2. Rodin Works: The Burghers of Calais (Rodin-web). (Submitted on December 13, 2017.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 13, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.