In 1662, King Charles II of England sold the city of Dunkirk to France for £40,000. This decision was made as part of a larger peace settlement between the two countries, and the sale was seen as a way to strengthen diplomatic ties between them. Dunkirk had been a strategic port for the English during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, but the cost of maintaining it was becoming increasingly difficult for the government. The sale of Dunkirk was met with mixed reactions in England, with some criticizing the king for giving up such an important asset while others saw it as a smart move towards peace and diplomacy.