Medieval Times

For the next 200 years, until 1247, our coast, including Rye, became one of the most important routeways to the ‘French’ parts of the kingdom - Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony. Winchelsea and Rye were the northern arm of the wine trade from Gascony. The Channel was an Anglo- Norman stretch of water.

The CINQUE PORTS rose to great power at this time. They were the key to any sea travel by the monarch - both to trade or to go to war, and ships from Rye and Winchelsea went to fight against Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain and the Low Countries. They also went ‘on Crusade’ against the Infidel - in Spain and in the Holy Land. One third of the monarch’s ships came from the Cinque Ports. They were the professional nucleus of his navy.

THIRTEENTH CENTURY
The 13th century was known as ‘The Violent Century’. It became impossible to keep these superb seamen of the Cinque Ports in check - violence, quarrels, piracy and wrecking on the high seas, have all been laid at their door! They occupied their ‘off’ duty time by preying on much traffic in the Channel and dealing in a lucrative ‘ransome’ business.
The loss of Normandy in 1204 made the problem worse, because the former allies were now enemies! The friendly ‘lake’ with the same Monarch all round its shores now had opponents on each side! The Channel became a moat of defence, which the ‘Ports’ defended. Many privileges were given to the Cinque Ports Towns, including Rye, at this time, in return for their support.

1213 Rye ships were in the fleet which destroyed Dieppe and French ships in the Seine.

1213 Later in the same year they helped to defeat the French at the Battle of Damme. 200 French ships were captured.

1216 The Cinque Ports Fleet (including Rye ships) relieved the siege of Dover Castle and defeated the French. The Fleets met in the Channel at the Battle of Sandwich. This removed the threat of a French invasion for several years.

1217-35 Cinque Ports piracy in which Rye’s ships took a very full part.

1235 Portsmen seized and plundered French ships when not at war - and threw the crews overboard!

1242 Henry III failed to defeat France. He ordered Portsmen to attack the French coast very successfully until the French ports, unusually, united to retaliate.

1243 Anglo-French truce.

In 1247 Rye, which had been owned by the French/Norman Abbey of Fécamp, was taken back into English ownership by Henry III, for, as the French and English were at war, it was inconvenient, to say the least, to have part of England owned by the enemy. (Fécamp Abbey was given lands further away from the coast in compensation.)

In 1249 the King, Henry III, as part of the defence against these raids, gave permission for the building of a castle in Rye.

This is the building which is part of RYE CASTLE MUSEUM!

1258-65 The ‘Barons War’ involved many land and sea attacks and The Portsmen supported Simon de Montfort (Henry III’s brother in law) who had rebelled. 28 of them served as representatives from the Towns, in his Parliament – the very first one.

1260 During Henry III’s reign: first known general Charter of the Cinque Ports was issued.

1264 The Portsmen’s ships were worn out in the conflict and Simon de Montfort showed his approval of the Ports actions by levying a tax of 1/10th on the Church to pay for new ships for them to continue patrolling the Channel for him

1278 First known detailed joint Charter issued by the King to the seven Head Ports.

1282 Portsmen joined the King on his Welsh expedition and captured Anglesey.

1290 Portsmen joined the King on his Scottish expedition. Both these expeditions were difficult, as they were also keeping the Channel patrols, as well as fishing, and going on trading voyages and defending the Ports.

1293 Portsmen defied the King in order to try and settle the problems in the Channel. The Irish, Dutch, and Gascon ships joined the Portsmen against the Normans, Genoese and Flemish in the Battle of Mahe, when the Portsmen won decisively.

1294 The next 150 years saw war with France and the King appointed a Captain of the Ports, so that he could ensure control of them.

1295 The first Admiral of the Cinque Ports, Gervaise Alard of Winchelsea, was probably appointed as ”Captain and Admiral of the Cinque Ports Fleet”.

1297 The King led a campaign against the French at Swyn and, within his Fleet, the Portsrnen attacked the Yarmouth men, destroying 20 of their ships and killing many of their crews. They were kept apart after this!

1299 Portsmen attacked Scotland with King Edward I and this war went on to the next century.