The Battle of Bouvines, July 27, 1214, is important to the early development of the French state.In the alliances orchestrated by Pope Innocent III, Philip Augustus of France defeats Otto IV of Germany and Count Ferrand of Flanders so decisively that Otto is deposed and replaced by Frederick II Hohenstaufen.
Ferrand is captured and imprisoned.Additionally, the defeat leads to their ally King John of England being forced to sign the Magna Carta by his discontented barons.Philip is himself able to take undisputed control of the territories of Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy, and the Touraine, which he had recently seized from Otto's kinsman and ally John of England.Bouvines is in modern France between Lille (Rijsel) and Tournai (Doornik), and in the 13th century is in the county of Flanders.
