War of Flanders

On July 4, 1298, the French royal army commanded by Robert II of Artois won a decisive victory against rebellious Flemish militias near Arques, in the county of Flanders. The battle pitted around 2,000 French soldiers (heavy cavalry and royal militia) against more than 3,000 Flemish militia led by William of Juliers. The French, better organized and equipped, used their superiority in cavalry to surround and disperse the Flemish troops. The battle was brief but deadly for the Flemings, who suffered several hundred deaths compared to light losses on the French side. This victory allowed Philip IV the Fair to temporarily reassert his authority over Flanders, but Flemish resistance strengthened and culminated four years later with the French defeat at Courtrai.

On July 11, 1302, the French chivalry suffered a humiliating and historic defeat against the Flemish militias at Courtrai, in a battle which marked a turning point in the art of medieval warfare. The French army, made up of around 8,000 men including 2,500 heavily armed knights, commanded by Robert II of Artois, faced around 9,000 Flemish militiamen led by William of Juliers and the communal chiefs Pieter de Coninck and Jan Breydel. The battle took place on marshy terrain crossed by the Lys and ditches, where the Flemings had prepared defensive positions. The French cavalry charges failed in the face of the defensive stakes and the waterlogged terrain. The knights, dismounted and bogged down, are massacred by the Flemish infantry. Robert II of Artois was killed, and the Flemings recovered nearly 700 golden spurs from the corpses of the knights, giving the battle its name 'Battle of the Golden Spurs'. This defeat marks the first major victory of urban infantry over feudal chivalry in Western Europe.

On August 18, 1304, Philip IV the Fair won a difficult and costly victory against the Flemish militias on the plateau of Mons-en-Pévèle, in northern France. The battle pitted approximately 14,000 French soldiers (including 6,000 knights) against 15,000 Flemish militiamen commanded by Gui de Dampierre (Count of Flanders) and William of Juliers. The fight, which lasted all day, was marked by considerable confusion and twists and turns. The French cavalry charges initially failed against the Flemish defensive formations. At a critical moment, Philip IV was nearly captured when the Flemings broke through the French lines. But a well-coordinated counterattack at nightfall, led by the royal guard and the remaining knights, finally broke the Flemish resistance. The losses were heavy on both sides (around 1,500 French and 3,000 Flemish), but the victory allowed Philip IV to reestablish his authority over Flanders.

On August 10, 1304, the French fleet, reinforced by Genoese ships commanded by Rainier Grimaldi, won a decisive naval victory off the coast of Zierikzee (Zealand) against a numerically superior Flemish-Dutch fleet. The battle pitted around 30 to 40 French and Genoese ships against nearly 80 Flemish and Dutch ships commanded by Guy de Namur, son of the Count of Flanders. Despite numerical inferiority, the French and their Genoese allies exploited their tactical superiority and the experience of their crews. The skillful maneuvers of the Genoese ships, hardened by battles in the Mediterranean, divided and disorganized the opposing fleet. The battle, which took place at high tide in the shallow waters of the Scheldt estuary, saw violent collisions. Several Flemish ships were sunk or captured, and Guy de Namur was taken prisoner. This naval victory allowed Philip IV to reestablish French control over Zeeland and cut off maritime supplies to Flanders.