Peasant revolt in Flanders 1323-1328
Encyclopedia
The Peasant revolt in Flanders 1323-1328 was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe
. Beginning as a series of scattered rural riots in late 1323, peasant insurrection escalated into a full-scale rebellion that dominated public affairs in Flanders
for nearly five years until 1328. The uprising in Flanders was caused by both excessive taxations levied by the Count of Flanders
Louis I
, and by his pro-French policies. The insurrection had urban leaders and rural factions which took over most of Flanders by 1325.
The revolt was led by Nicolaas Zannekin
, a rich farmer from Lampernisse
. Zannekin and his men captured the towns of Nieuwpoort
, Veurne
, Ieper and Kortrijk
. In Kortrijk, Zannekin was able to capture the count himself. In 1325 attempts to capture Gent
and Oudenaarde
failed and the King of France, Charles IV
intervened whereupon Louis was released from captivity in February 1326 and the Peace of Arques was sealed. The peace didn't last long and soon hostilities erupted again which made the count flee to France. Louis was able to convince his new liege Philip VI of France
to come to his aid and Zannekin and his adherents were decisively defeated by the French royal army in the Battle of Cassel
.
Popular revolt in late medieval Europe
Popular revolts in late medieval Europe were uprisings and rebellions by peasants in the countryside, or the bourgeois in towns, against nobles, abbots and kings during the upheavals of the 14th through early 16th centuries, part of a larger "Crisis of the Late Middle Ages"...
. Beginning as a series of scattered rural riots in late 1323, peasant insurrection escalated into a full-scale rebellion that dominated public affairs in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
for nearly five years until 1328. The uprising in Flanders was caused by both excessive taxations levied by 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....
Louis I
Louis I of Flanders
Louis I was Count of Flanders, Nevers and Rethel.-History:He was the son of Louis I, Count of Nevers, and Joan, Countess of Rethel, and grandson of Robert III of Flanders. He succeeded his father as count of Nevers and his grandfather as count of Flanders in 1322...
, and by his pro-French policies. The insurrection had urban leaders and rural factions which took over most of Flanders by 1325.
The revolt was led by Nicolaas Zannekin
Nicolaas Zannekin
Nicolaas Zannekin , was a Flemish peasant leader, best known for his role in the Peasant revolt in Flanders 1323-1328....
, a rich farmer from Lampernisse
Lampernisse
Lampernisse is a town in Diksmuide, a part of Belgium.See also: West Flanders-External links:*...
. Zannekin and his men captured the towns of Nieuwpoort
Nieuwpoort, Belgium
Nieuwpoort is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Nieuwpoort proper and the towns of Ramskapelle and Sint-Joris. On January 1, 2008 Nieuwpoort had a total population of 11,062....
, Veurne
Veurne
Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
, Ieper and Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
. In Kortrijk, Zannekin was able to capture the count himself. In 1325 attempts to capture 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...
and Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde
Oudenaarde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenaarde proper and the towns of Bevere, Edelare, Eine, Ename, Heurne, Leupegem, Mater, Melden, Mullem, Nederename, Welden, Volkegem and a part of Ooike.From the 15th to the 18th...
failed and the King of France, Charles IV
Charles IV of France
Charles IV, known as the Fair , was the King of France and of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1322 to his death: he was the last French king of the senior Capetian lineage....
intervened whereupon Louis was released from captivity in February 1326 and the Peace of Arques was sealed. The peace didn't last long and soon hostilities erupted again which made the count flee to France. Louis was able to convince his new liege Philip VI of France
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
to come to his aid and Zannekin and his adherents were decisively defeated by the French royal army in the Battle of Cassel
Battle of Cassel (1328)
The Battle of Cassel was fought on 23 August 1328 by Philip VI, the King of France, and first ruler of House of Valois , against the peasant revolt in Flanders, led by Nicolaas Zannekin. The battle took place near the city of Cassel, 30 km south of Dunkirk in present-day France...
.