Bruges Matins (history)
Encyclopedia
The Bruges Matins or Brugse Metten was the nocturnal massacre
of the French garrison in Bruges
by the members of the local Flemish militia
on 18 May 1302. It has been named "matins" in analogy to the Sicilian Vespers
. The revolt led to the Battle of the Golden Spurs
, which saw the Flemish militia defeat French troops on 11 July 1302.
began to deal directly with the customers, the traders lost their advantage. The traders and their political agents, the aldermen, called upon their liege
, Philip the Fair
, to maintain their dominant monopolistic position. To do so, he garrisoned French troops in the town, a highly unpopular action that caused widespread fear and anger among the Flemish in Bruges.
During the night of 18 May 1302, armed insurrectionists with Pieter de Coninck and Jan Breydel
at their head entered the houses where the French were garrisoned. According to tradition, to distinguish the French from the natives, they asked suspects to repeat the shibboleth
: "schild en vriend" which means "shield and friend" a sentence difficult to pronounce for a French speaker. Another version suggests the alternative "des gilden vriend", "friend of the guilds". Only the governor, Jacques de Châtillon
, who absconded after he failed in rallying the garrison, and a handful of the French managed to escape with their lives. Approximately 2,000 people are estimated to have died.
After the Bruges Matins, Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck were celebrated as the leaders of the insurrection. Their statue, which was an initiative of Julius Sabbe
, has decorated the market in Bruges since 1887.
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
of the French garrison in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
by the members of the local Flemish militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
on 18 May 1302. It has been named "matins" in analogy to the Sicilian Vespers
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to the successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out on the Easter of 1282 against the rule of the French/Angevin king Charles I, who had ruled the Kingdom of Sicily since 1266. Within six weeks three thousand French men and women were slain by...
. The revolt led to the Battle of the Golden Spurs
Battle 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...
, which saw the Flemish militia defeat French troops on 11 July 1302.
History
Bruges had had the exclusive rights for the importation of sheep's wool from England. This trade was in the hands of the bourgeois but when Edward IEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
began to deal directly with the customers, the traders lost their advantage. The traders and their political agents, the aldermen, called upon their liege
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
, Philip the Fair
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...
, to maintain their dominant monopolistic position. To do so, he garrisoned French troops in the town, a highly unpopular action that caused widespread fear and anger among the Flemish in Bruges.
During the night of 18 May 1302, armed insurrectionists with Pieter de Coninck and Jan Breydel
Jan Breydel
Jan Breydel is credited with leading the Bruges Matins , a violent uprising against Philip the Fair....
at their head entered the houses where the French were garrisoned. According to tradition, to distinguish the French from the natives, they asked suspects to repeat the shibboleth
Shibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
: "schild en vriend" which means "shield and friend" a sentence difficult to pronounce for a French speaker. Another version suggests the alternative "des gilden vriend", "friend of the guilds". Only the governor, Jacques de Châtillon
Jacques de Châtillon
Jacques de Châtillon was Seigneur de Leuze, de Condé, de Carency, de Huquoy et d'Aubigny, the son of Guy III, Count of Saint-Pol and Matilda of Brabant....
, who absconded after he failed in rallying the garrison, and a handful of the French managed to escape with their lives. Approximately 2,000 people are estimated to have died.
After the Bruges Matins, Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck were celebrated as the leaders of the insurrection. Their statue, which was an initiative of Julius Sabbe
Julius Sabbe
Julius Ludovicus Maria Sabbe was a Flemish publisher and an active member of the Flemish movement...
, has decorated the market in Bruges since 1887.