The Battle of the Golden Spurs (July 11, 1302): A Flemish Victory Over French Cavalry

In response to the Bruges Matins (May 18, 1302), King Philip IV of France sought to punish the Flemish rebels, sending a powerful army led by Count Robert II of Artois. The battle that followed near Kortrijk on July 11, 1302, known as the Battle of the Golden Spurs, marked a historic victory for Flemish urban militias over a heavily armored French feudal cavalry force.

The Flemish Forces: A Well-Organized Infantry Army

• The Flemish army, numbering about 9,000 men, was composed primarily of town militias, including:
  • 3,000 Bruges militia led by William of Jülich (grandson of Count Guy) and Pieter de Coninck, a leader of the Bruges uprising.
  • 2,500 men from Bruges suburbs and coastal regions, commanded by Guy of Namur, the younger son of Count Guy of Dampierre.
  • 2,500 men from Ghent, led by Jan Borluut.
  • 1,000 men from Ypres, led by Jan van Renesse from Zeeland.
• The Flemish infantry were highly disciplined and well-armed, using:
  • The Goedendag, a spiked club with a spear-like tip, effective against armored cavalry.
  • The Geldon, a long spear, ideal for repelling mounted attacks.
• Unlike most medieval armies, the Flemish had no cavalry, relying entirely on foot soldiers who were regularly trained in urban militias.

The French Army: A Classic Feudal Force

• The French army, numbering around 8,000 men, was a traditional feudal force, comprising:
  • 2,500 noble cavalry, including knights and squires.
  • 1,000 crossbowmen.
  • 1,000 spearmen.
  • Up to 3,500 other infantry.
• Military doctrine at the time held that one knight was worth ten infantrymen, reinforcing the belief in cavalry supremacy.

The Battle: July 11, 1302

After failed Flemish attempts to take Kortrijk (July 9–10), the two armies met in open battle on July 11, 1302.

The Battlefield and Initial Engagement

• The battlefield was crisscrossed by ditches and streams, making it difficult for cavalry charges.
• The French attempted to improve conditions by having their servants place wooden planks over the streams, but they did not wait for this to be completed before attacking.
• The initial attack was led by the French infantry, who made good progress, but Count Robert II of Artois recalled them, wanting the noble cavalry to claim the victory.

The Decisive Cavalry Charge and the Flemish Response

• The French knights, hindered by their own retreating infantry, launched a disorganized charge into the Flemish ranks.
• The Flemish militia, firmly positioned and using their long spears and Goedendags, cut down the charging knights in large numbers.
• The French cavalry was completely overwhelmed, and when they realized the battle was lost, the survivors attempted to flee—only to be pursued for over 10 km (6.2 miles) by the Flemish.
• Count Robert II of Artois was surrounded and killed on the battlefield.

The No-Prisoners Policy

• The Flemish had either been ordered to take no prisoners or did not understand the custom of capturing knights for ransom.
• A modern theory suggests that Flemish commanders forbade taking prisoners while the battle was undecided, to prevent their ranks from breaking when soldiers attempted to escort captives away from the fight.

The Aftermath: The End of Cavalry Supremacy

• At least 1,000 French knights were killed, including many high-ranking nobles.
• The golden spurs of the fallen French knights were collected and hung in the Church of Our Lady in Kortrijk, giving the battle its name: the Battle of the Golden Spurs (Guldensporenslag).
• Contemporary estimates place total French casualties at over 10,000 dead and wounded.
• The French later recaptured the golden spurs in 1382 after the Battle of Westrozebeke, but the memory of the Flemish victory endured.

Legacy and Military Significance

The Battle of the Golden Spurs was a watershed moment in medieval military history, proving that:

• Disciplined and well-equipped infantry could defeat heavily armored cavalry, challenging the long-standing supremacy of the knightly charge.
• Urban militias with regular training were a formidable force, influencing the rise of professional armies in the later Middle Ages.
• The battle shocked military leaders across Europe, leading to a reevaluation of military tactics.

The Flemish victory at Kortrijk in 1302 was not just a military triumph, but a defining moment in the struggle for Flemish independence from French domination, influencing regional politics for generations.

The Enigmatic Years of André Beauneveu (1367–1372) and His Later Works

Little is known about André Beauneveu’s whereabouts between 1367 and 1372, as no documentary evidence survives from this period. His fellow Valenciennois, the chronicler Jean Froissart, suggested that Beauneveu may have traveled to England, possibly working with Jean de Liège in the employ of Philippa of Hainault, the English queen and a native of Beauneveu’s home region. However, there is no independent confirmation of such a visit, and his name does not appear in the normally meticulous Westminster account rolls from this time.

Return to the Low Countries and the Count of Flanders’ Monument

By 1372, Beauneveu had returned to the Low Countries, where he resumed work for both civic and aristocratic patrons. One of his most significant commissions between 1374 and 1377 was the funeral monument of Louis of Male, Count of Flanders. Although the monument was never completed, elements of the project survive, including a statue of St. Catherine, now housed in the Onze Lieve Vrouwkerk in Kortrijk.

This lifelike sculpture, with its graceful pose, direct gaze, and refined naturalism, exemplifies the elegance and sophistication for which Beauneveu was celebrated. The statue’s delicate drapery and expressive realism align with the artistic ideals that Froissart and his contemporaries admired in Beauneveu’s work, securing his reputation as one of the leading sculptors of the 14th century.

Legacy and Influence

Despite the gaps in his documented career, Beauneveu's surviving works demonstrate his significant role in shaping late Gothic sculpture. His ability to blend elegant courtly aesthetics with lifelike realism would influence later sculptors in both France and the Low Countries, bridging the transition toward early Netherlandish art.