11th July 1302: Flemish tradesmen defeat a French Cavalry army.
Flanders was in revolt against its overlord, Phillip the Fair of France. He sent his uncle, Robert D’Artois with 2000 cavalry and some Infantry to put down the rebellion.
The Flemings managed to field an “army” of 10000, mostly made up of artisans from the Weavers Guild. They were armed with makeshift staves and pikes.
But they chose their ground well: marshland, with streams all around.
The French could not charge. Instead they were pulled from their horses, despite calls of ransom. The French Infantry was not even engaged, as the Cavalry had outdistanced them. 1200 Cavalry were killed, including France’s greatest warrior, Robert D’Artois, whose pleas for ransom went unheard as he was pierced by pikes.
To celebrate their victory the 700 sets of Golden Spurs garnered from the field were hung in the vault of Our Lady’s Church in nearby Courtrai.
The battle was forever known in Flanders as the Battle of the Golden Spurs.