Battle of the Golden Spurs (Courtrai)
Kortrijk (Courtrai), Flanders, Belgium
What happened
Flemish town militias led by William of Jülich, Guy and John of Namur and Pieter de Coninck fought a French royal army of knights under Count Robert II of Artois. France had occupied the County of Flanders, and in 1302 the people of Bruges rose up against the French. King Philip IV sent an army of armoured knights to crush the revolt. Near Kortrijk the Flemish foot soldiers, armed with pikes and spiked clubs, stood behind ditches and streams, and the French knights' charges could not break their line.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a famous early example of ordinary foot soldiers defeating armoured knights on horseback. Since 1973, 11 July has been the official holiday of Belgium's Flemish Community.
What came next
About 500 pairs of golden spurs taken from the defeated knights were hung in a church in Kortrijk, giving the battle its name. France later won the wider war.
Did you know?
The Flemish fighters used a club with a metal spike called a goedendag, which means 'good day'.
Timeline
- 1300France occupies Flanders.
- 18 May 1302Rebels rise against the French in Bruges.
- 11 July 1302Flemish militias defeat the French knights near Kortrijk.
- 197311 July becomes the Flemish Community's official holiday.