Page 61 - All About History - Issue 53-17

BATTLE OF THE
The mighty goedendag
Flemish infantrymen brandish a regional
weapon called the goedendag, which was
ideal for unseating French knights and
inflicting grievous wounds on both man
and horse. The spike at the end of the long
wooden shaft was specially designed for the
purpose of penetrating armour.
GOLDEN SPURS
COURTRAI, COUNTY OF FLANDERS 11 JULY 1302
Written by Mike Haskew
he territorial ambitions of King Philip IV As the French marched across Flanders towards
of France and the Flemish desire to throw Courtrai, news of their atrocities enraged the
off the oppressive French yoke spawned Flemish. Unable to seize Courtrai Castle, the Flemish
the Battle of the Golden Spurs, also known prepared for battle and dug trenches, holes and
T as the Battle of Courtrai, in Flanders on 11 impediments to charging horses on favourable
July 1302. The heavy hand of French rule brought ground. Anchoring their line along the River Lys,
periods of unrest to Flanders, and rebellion followed they took advantage of small streams and marshes
when Flemish militia laid siege to Courtrai Castle, an that would slow an attacking force. The French
unwilling host to a French garrison. would be funnelled into a narrow approach.
Word of the uprising reached Philip, who sent The battle opened with an exchange of arrows
an army of 2,500 of the finest noble knights of the from crossbowmen. French infantrymen advanced,
realm along with 5,500 infantrymen under Count made good progress, and stretched the Flemish line.
Robert II of Artois to quell the insurrection. The However, Robert of Artois recalled his infantry to
Flemish army comprised volunteers from across allow the haughty knights the honour of finishing
the region. Rather than noblemen, the troops were off the upstart Flemish.
craftsmen, members of the various guilds that were The French rapidly ran into trouble: the difficult
prevalent among the middle and lower social classes terrain prevented a coordinated effort, and the
in Europe at the time. Although they were not horsemen broke up into small groups that were
professional soldiers, they trained together, taking assailed by the Flemish wielding the goedendag
pride in their martial capabilities. with deadly efficiency. One group of Frenchmen
Cost was a significant factor in the composition broke through, but was surrounded and slaughtered.
of the opposing armies — outfitting a knight was The French infantry fled. Robert of Artois begged for
expensive. A worthy steed was also costly and his life but was not spared. While only 100 Flemish
thus the role of the knight was usually reserved for were killed, the French nobility lost 1,000.
the nobility. The Flemish were outfitted at a much Following their triumph, the Flemish gathered
lower cost, typically armed with the goedendag, a hundreds of spurs from fallen French knights, giving
regional weapon similar to a pike, and typically wore it its name. The battle ushered in an ‘age of infantry’
only helmets and light armour. Flemish strength that ended the preeminence of the mounted knight;
approached 9,000 infantrymen and estimates of even small regions could raise powerful armies at
knights range from 10-200, with the force being led reasonable expense, and future battles of the Middle
by William of Jülich and Guy of Namur. Ages were fought much differently.
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