Page 63 - All About History - Issue 53-17

Battle of the Golden Spurs

Flemish Army
French force Crossbow
03forward 04 exchange
As the French approach the field Both sides order their crossbowmen TROOPS 9,000
from the south, they deploy forward to loose flurries of arrows,
in nine lines, according to a the artillery of the early 14th century. KNIGHTS 200
contemporary account. Upon Skirmishing takes place as small groups
seeing the single Flemish line, they of infantrymen attack the archers while
consolidate into three echelons. they are vulnerable and in the open.
Loading a crossbow was a cumbersome
and time-consuming process that
compressed the opening phase of the
battle to a relatively brief period, and
compelled the crossbowmen to retire
as infantry lines closed.
05

07 WILLIAM OF JÜLICH
01 10 LEADER
Perhaps motivated by revenge,
William of Jülich received a grand
welcome as he arrived to assist
Flemish arms.
08 Strengths: Popular with his troops
and solid tactician.
Weaknesses: Little experience in
actual combat situations.
04 06

03

French foot
05soldiers attack
As his force reaches striking distance,
Count Robert of Artois orders the
French infantry formations to advance
across the broken terrain and engage
the Flemish defensive line. The French
effort makes good progress in a melee FLEMISH
of hand-to-hand combat and appears
on the verge of breaking through the INFANTRYMEN
Flemish perimeter.
KEY UNIT
Although they were not professional
soldiers, the Flemish infantry were
Victory well trained and well led at Courtrai.
06slips away Strengths: Disciplined and
On the verge of a breakthrough, committed to their cause.
Robert of Artois inexplicably orders Weaknesses: Despite training,
his infantry to retire in order to allow they lacked the experience of
his contingent of knights to assault the professional soldiers.
Flemish, finishing them off.

Surrounded and 07 Disorganised debacle GOEDENDAG
08slaughtered As the French knights charge towards the Flemish KEY WEAPON
Individual French knights find themselves surrounded by as defensive positions, the terrain quickly becomes a factor. A regional weapon, the goedendag
many as ten Flemish infantrymen who quickly close. Once Marshy ground, small streams and trenches impede the
they are unseated from their mounts, the knights founder progress of the horsemen, and the advance deteriorates consisted of a three- to five-foot
helplessly on the sodden ground. The Flemish offer no into numerous small group actions. Heroically, the knights pole topped with an iron spike.
quarter, stabbing the Frenchmen with their goedendags at proceed, but they are assailed by groups of vengeful Flemish Strengths: Effective as a club or
vulnerable points where armour plates are joined. infantrymen wielding their goedendags like clubs and then thrusting weapon.
striking with the spikes affixed to the ends of the long poles. Weaknesses: Close-quarter
weapon sometimes difficult to
© Alamy, Getty.
withdraw from target.

63