Franco-Flemish War (1297-1305)
Encyclopedia
The Franco-Flemish War was an armed conflict between the Kingdom of France
and the County of Flanders
from 1297 until 1305.
became King in 1285, and was determined to strengthen the French monarchy at any cost. The County of Flanders
had been formally part of the French Kingdom since the Treaty of Verdun
in 843
, but had always de facto been largely, if not fully, independent from the French crown.
Flanders had some of the richest cities of that time, like Bruges
, Gent
, Ieper, Lille
and Douai
. These cities tried to keep their independence from the Count of Flanders
and from the rural aristocracy
. But the cities were themself divided between the rich patricians and the urban proletariat
, united in guilds.
In 1288, Philip IV of France used complaints over taxes to tighten his control over Flanders. Tension built between Guy, Count of Flanders and the King. In 1294, Guy turned for help to King Edward I of England
, arranging a marriage between his daughter Philippa and Edward, Prince of Wales
. However, Philip imprisoned Guy and two of his sons, forced him to call off the marriage, and imprisoned Philippa in Paris until her death in 1306. Guy was summoned before the king again in 1296, and the principal cities of Flanders were taken under royal protection, until Guy paid an idemnity and surrendered his territories, to hold them at the grace of the King.
After these indignities, in 1297 Guy attempted to revenge himself on Philip by an alliance with Edward I of England, now at war with France. Philip responded by declaring Flanders annexed to the royal domain and sending a French army under Robert II of Artois
to conquer Flanders.
. King Edward's expedition to help Flanders was aborted and he made peace with Philip in 1298 and left Guy to his fate. The French invaded again in 1299 and captured both Guy and his son Robert in January 1300. By May 1300 the whole of Flanders was under French control.
The conquest of Flanders had been relatively easy, because the Flemish cities had remained neutral up to then. The Patricians had a long history of conflict with the Count of Flanders over the level of control the Count had over the (financial) affairs of the cities. The Patricians had turned to the French King for support, who had thankfully intervened in their favour, thus increasing his influence in Flanders. The Flemish supporters of the French King were called Leliaards (supporters of the French Lily), and included also a part of the rural aristocracy.
The urban Proletariat hoped for more justice and a better distribution of wealth under the new ruler.
But Philip IV appointed Jacques de Châtillon
as governor of the County, a very bad choice. Together with the Leliaards, this undiplomatic soldier imposed a very repressive government, raising new taxes, which infuriated the Flemish.
Soon the urban Guilds forged an alliance with the Flemish nobles supporting the Count. They were called Liebaarts or Klauwaards (after the Claws of the Flemish Lion).
On 19 May 1302, a rebellion broke out in Bruges where the Flemish populace killed every Frenchmen they could find, including the French garrison. This event was called the Bruges Matins
. De Châtillon escaped with his life.
Now the rebellion became general. William of Jülich
, the grandson of Count Guy arrived in Bruges, and became the leader of the Flemish uprising. He was supported by his uncles John I, Marquis of Namur
and Guy of Namur
. Soon, most of Flanders was under their control. Only Cassel and Kortrijk
remained in French hands and the city of Gent remained neutral.
When the Flemish besieged Kortrijk on July 9 and 10, a powerful French army led by Count Robert II of Artois
arrived to crush the rebellion. The two forces clashed on July 11 in an open field near the city in a battle that became known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs
. The French cavalry charge was stopped by the tactically sound position of the Flemish militia and the muddy terrain and many French knights were slaughtered.
This battle returned full independence to Flanders for the next two years.
Two attempts by the French King to take revenge for this embarrassing defeat were averted by a Flemish army under William of Jülich, the second time in the bloody Battle of Arques (1303)
.
also ruled over the County of Hainaut
and the County of Zeeland
. This last area had been contested between the Count of Flanders and the Count of Holland since the early 11th century and had become part of Holland by 1076. The Flemish invaded Hainaut in 1302 and conquered Lessines
. Guy of Namur
, son of the Count of Flanders, formed a fleet at Sluis
and sailed on 23 April 1303 to claim Zeeland for the Flemish. After some initial successes, Guy was defeated on 10 and 11 August 1304 in the Battle of Zierikzee
by a combined Franco-Hollandic fleet under Rainier Grimaldi, who had been sent by Philip IV of France to aid the Count of Holland. Guy of Namur was captured and Zeeland remained firmly in the hands of the Count of Holland.
One week after this naval battle, on 18 August Philip IV himself fought the Flemish main army at the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
. This hard fought battle was inconclusive, but the death of William of Jülich
and the serious material losses of the Flemish, made them sue for peace.
After further minor battles, eventually the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge
was signed on 23 June 1305 which recognized Flemish independence, but 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.
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
and the County of Flanders
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
from 1297 until 1305.
Cause
Philip IV of FrancePhilip 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...
became King in 1285, and was determined to strengthen the French monarchy at any cost. The County of Flanders
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
had been formally part of the French Kingdom since the Treaty of Verdun
Treaty of Verdun
The Treaty of Verdun was a treaty between the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, the son and successor of Charlemagne, which divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms...
in 843
843
Year 843 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire between the 3 sons of Louis the Pious .* Kenneth I , King of the Scots, also becomes King of the Picts, thus becoming the first...
, but had always de facto been largely, if not fully, independent from the French crown.
Flanders had some of the richest cities of that time, like 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....
, Gent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Ieper, 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...
and 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...
. These cities tried to keep their independence from the Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
and from the rural aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
. But the cities were themself divided between the rich patricians and the urban proletariat
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
, united in guilds.
In 1288, Philip IV of France used complaints over taxes to tighten his control over Flanders. Tension built between Guy, Count of Flanders and the King. In 1294, Guy turned for help to King Edward I of England
Edward 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...
, arranging a marriage between his daughter Philippa and Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. However, Philip imprisoned Guy and two of his sons, forced him to call off the marriage, and imprisoned Philippa in Paris until her death in 1306. Guy was summoned before the king again in 1296, and the principal cities of Flanders were taken under royal protection, until Guy paid an idemnity and surrendered his territories, to hold them at the grace of the King.
After these indignities, in 1297 Guy attempted to revenge himself on Philip by an alliance with Edward I of England, now at war with France. Philip responded by declaring Flanders annexed to the royal domain and sending a French army under Robert II of Artois
Robert II of Artois
Robert II was the Count of Artois, the posthumous son and heir of Robert I and Matilda of Brabant.An experienced soldier, he took part in the Aragonese Crusade and attempted an invasion of Sicily in 1287. He defeated the Flemings in 1297 at the Battle of Furnes...
to conquer Flanders.
1297-1303
Count Guy of Flanders, at that time in conflict with the Patricians of the cities, was easily defeated at the Battle of FurnesBattle of Furnes
The Battle of Furnes was fought on 20 August 1297 between French and Flemish forces.The French were led by Robert II of Artois and the Flemish by Guy of Dampierre. The French forces were victorious...
. King Edward's expedition to help Flanders was aborted and he made peace with Philip in 1298 and left Guy to his fate. The French invaded again in 1299 and captured both Guy and his son Robert in January 1300. By May 1300 the whole of Flanders was under French control.
The conquest of Flanders had been relatively easy, because the Flemish cities had remained neutral up to then. The Patricians had a long history of conflict with the Count of Flanders over the level of control the Count had over the (financial) affairs of the cities. The Patricians had turned to the French King for support, who had thankfully intervened in their favour, thus increasing his influence in Flanders. The Flemish supporters of the French King were called Leliaards (supporters of the French Lily), and included also a part of the rural aristocracy.
The urban Proletariat hoped for more justice and a better distribution of wealth under the new ruler.
But Philip IV appointed 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....
as governor of the County, a very bad choice. Together with the Leliaards, this undiplomatic soldier imposed a very repressive government, raising new taxes, which infuriated the Flemish.
Soon the urban Guilds forged an alliance with the Flemish nobles supporting the Count. They were called Liebaarts or Klauwaards (after the Claws of the Flemish Lion).
On 19 May 1302, a rebellion broke out in Bruges where the Flemish populace killed every Frenchmen they could find, including the French garrison. This event was called the Bruges Matins
Bruges Matins (history)
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...
. De Châtillon escaped with his life.
Now the rebellion became general. 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....
, the grandson of Count Guy arrived in Bruges, and became the leader of the Flemish uprising. He was supported by his uncles 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...
and Guy of Namur
Guy of Namur
Guy of Dampierre, Count of Zeeland, also called Guy of Namur , a younger son of Guy, Count of Flanders and Isabelle of Luxembourg, was Lord of Ronse....
. Soon, most of Flanders was under their control. Only Cassel and Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
remained in French hands and the city of Gent remained neutral.
When the Flemish besieged Kortrijk on July 9 and 10, a powerful French army led by Count Robert II of Artois
Robert II of Artois
Robert II was the Count of Artois, the posthumous son and heir of Robert I and Matilda of Brabant.An experienced soldier, he took part in the Aragonese Crusade and attempted an invasion of Sicily in 1287. He defeated the Flemings in 1297 at the Battle of Furnes...
arrived to crush the rebellion. The two forces clashed on July 11 in an open field near the city in a battle that became known as 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...
. The French cavalry charge was stopped by the tactically sound position of the Flemish militia and the muddy terrain and many French knights were slaughtered.
This battle returned full independence to Flanders for the next two years.
Two attempts by the French King to take revenge for this embarrassing defeat were averted by a Flemish army under William of Jülich, the second time in the bloody Battle of Arques (1303)
Battle of Arques (1303)
This article is about the 1303 battle. For the Battle of 1589 see Battle of Arques .The Battle of Arques was fought on April 4, 1303...
.
1304-1305
In the meantime Flanders was again at war with the Count of Holland. John II, Count of HollandJohn II, Count of Holland
John II of Avesnes was the oldest son of John I of Avesnes and Adelaide of Holland.-History:John II was Count of Hainaut from 1280 to his death, succeeding his grandmother, Margaret II...
also ruled over the County of Hainaut
County of Hainaut
The County of Hainaut was a historical region in the Low Countries with its capital at Mons . In English sources it is often given the archaic spelling Hainault....
and the County of Zeeland
County of Zeeland
The County of Zeeland was a county of the Holy Roman Empire in what is now the Netherlands. It covered an area in the Scheldt and Meuse delta roughly corresponding to the current Dutch province of Zeeland, though it did not include the region of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen which was part of...
. This last area had been contested between the Count of Flanders and the Count of Holland since the early 11th century and had become part of Holland by 1076. The Flemish invaded Hainaut in 1302 and conquered Lessines
Lessines
Lessines is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Lessines had a total population of 17,848. The total area is 72.29 km² which gives a population density of 247 inhabitants per km²...
. Guy of Namur
Guy of Namur
Guy of Dampierre, Count of Zeeland, also called Guy of Namur , a younger son of Guy, Count of Flanders and Isabelle of Luxembourg, was Lord of Ronse....
, son of the Count of Flanders, formed a fleet at Sluis
Sluis
Sluis is the name of both a municipality and a town located in the west of Zeelandic Flanders, in the south-western part of the Netherlands....
and sailed on 23 April 1303 to claim Zeeland for the Flemish. After some initial successes, Guy was defeated on 10 and 11 August 1304 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...
by a combined Franco-Hollandic fleet under Rainier Grimaldi, who had been sent by Philip IV of France to aid the Count of Holland. Guy of Namur was captured and Zeeland remained firmly in the hands of the Count of Holland.
One week after this naval battle, on 18 August Philip IV himself fought the Flemish main army at the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
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.- Prelude :...
. This hard fought battle was inconclusive, but the death of 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....
and the serious material losses of the Flemish, made them sue for peace.
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, but 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.