Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle was fought on 18 August 1304 between the French and the Flemish. The French were led by King Philip IV
the Fair in person.
in 1302, after which the Flemish had retaken Douai
and Lille
. On August 10 1304 the Flemish suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of Zierikzee
, in which Guy, Count of Flanders was taken prisoner and John III, Lord of Renesse
killed.
Philip of Chieti
, son of Count Guy, Count of Flanders, had gathered a strong Flemish army to stop the French invasion and taken up positions on the Pévèle hill
.
The attack reached king Philip IV of France
, who was wounded and his horse was killed.
He barly escaped alive, because some knights around him covered his flight, paying for this act with their lives.
The Flemish reached the royal tent, but then William of Jülich
was killed.
As only the Flemish right wing had attacked, and the left wing under John I, Marquis of Namur
was already leaving the battlefield, the Flemish right wing also withdrew.
The French chose not to pursue the Flemish.
and Orchies
and burned down Seclin
.
After further minor battles, eventually the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge
was signed on 23 June 1305 which recognized Flemish independence, at the cost of the cities of Lille
, Douai
and Béthune
, which were transferred to France, and the paying of exorbitant fines to King Philip IV
.
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
the Fair in person.
Prelude
The French King wanted revenge for the defeat in Battle of the Golden SpursBattle of the Golden Spurs
The Battle of the Golden Spurs, known also as the Battle of Courtrai was fought on July 11, 1302, near Kortrijk in Flanders...
in 1302, after which the Flemish had retaken Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
and Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. On August 10 1304 the Flemish suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of Zierikzee
Battle of Zierikzee
The battle of Zierikzee was a naval battle between a Flemish fleet and an allied Franco-Hollandic fleet which took place on 10 and 11 August 1304. The battle, fought near the town of Zierikzee, ended in a Franco-Holland victory...
, in which Guy, Count of Flanders was taken prisoner and John III, Lord of Renesse
John III, Lord of Renesse
Jan van Renesse was a member of the Zeeland nobility. Together with Wolfert van Borselen he co-led a party favoring Flanders and against Holland, with considerable influence in Zeeland...
killed.
Philip of Chieti
Philip of Chieti
Philip of Chieti was the 8th and youngest child of Guy, Count of Flanders and his first wife Matilda of Bethune.Philip was destined for a career in the church and studied for that purpose in Paris, where he met Charles of Anjou...
, son of Count Guy, Count of Flanders, had gathered a strong Flemish army to stop the French invasion and taken up positions on the Pévèle hill
Mons-en-Pévèle
-See also:*Communes of the Nord department* Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle * Official website: http://www.mairie-monsenpevele.fr-References:*...
.
The Battle
After a day of fighting the outcome was undecisive and negotiations were opened between 17:00 and 18:30. When a French force under Guy de Saint-Pol tried to surround the Flemish, he was pushed back. Now the furious Flemish decided to launch a frontal attack, and surprised the French, who thought the battle was over for the day.The attack reached king Philip IV of France
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
, who was wounded and his horse was killed.
He barly escaped alive, because some knights around him covered his flight, paying for this act with their lives.
The Flemish reached the royal tent, but then William of Jülich
William of Jülich
William of Jülich was one of the Flemish noblemen that opposed the annexation policies of the French king Philip IV - together with Pieter de Coninck....
was killed.
As only the Flemish right wing had attacked, and the left wing under John I, Marquis of Namur
John I, Marquis of Namur
John I of Namur was the ruler of Namur from 1305 to 1330. He was a member of the house of Dampierre, the son of Guy of Dampierre, Count of Flanders and Marquis of Namur, and his second wife Isabelle of Luxembourg...
was already leaving the battlefield, the Flemish right wing also withdrew.
The French chose not to pursue the Flemish.
Aftermath
Both sides claimed victory: (the rebels may have inflicted heavier casualties) but the French remained in possession of the battlefield and forced a Flemish retreat. The French also conquered DouaiDouai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
and Orchies
Orchies
-References:* -External links:*...
and burned down Seclin
Seclin
Seclin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole.Ghana national football team footballer Andre Ayew was born in Seclin.-Twin towns — Sister cities:...
.
After further minor battles, eventually the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge
Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge
The Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge was a peace treaty signed on June 23, 1305 between King Philip IV of France and Robert III of Flanders. The treaty was signed at Athis-sur-Orge after the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle and concluded the Franco-Flemish War ....
was signed on 23 June 1305 which recognized Flemish independence, at the cost of the cities of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
and Béthune
Béthune
Béthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
, which were transferred to France, and the paying of exorbitant fines to King Philip IV
Philip IV of France
Philip the Fair was, as Philip IV, King of France from 1285 until his death. He was the husband of Joan I of Navarre, by virtue of which he was, as Philip I, King of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1284 to 1305.-Youth:A member of the House of Capet, Philip was born at the Palace of...
.