Battle of Baesweiler

Date	22 August 1371
Location	Baesweiler, Aachen (district)
Result	Victory for Jülich and Guelders

Belligerents

Commanders and leaders

William II of Jülich

Edward of Guelders †

Wenceslaus of Brabant

William I of Namur

Strength

1600 men-at-arms, unknown but small number of militia infantry

2500 men-at-arms, unknown but small number of militia infantry

Casualties and losses

Unknown. Duke of Guelders killed

Unknown. Duke of Brabant captured

The Battle of Baesweiler (22 August 1371), or Slag bij Baesweiler, was a conflict between the dukes of Brabant and Jülich.

Attacks on Brabant's commercial interests in the territory of the Duke of Jülich had almost caused war in 1367 and 1369. After mercenaries robbed a number of Brabantine merchants on the territory of William II, Duke of Jülich in 1371, William refused to pay reparation to Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg, husband of the Duchess of Brabant, let alone punish the mercenaries, instead protecting them and even hiring some.

Wenceslas prepared his forces and tried to attack the Duke of Jülich. William however sought help from his brother in law, Edward, Duke of Guelders.

On 20 August, Wenceslas led his army from the border town of Maastricht towards the enemy capital of Jülich. The army advanced slowly, burning and looting as it went and by the evening of 21 August was encamped near the town of Baesweiler north of Aachen. On 22 August, Wenceslas' army was confronted by the smaller force of the Duke of Jülich. Two different versions of what happened next are recorded. In one, the army of Jülich attacked in the morning while the Brabant forces were at mass. In the other, the army of Brabant had the best of the fighting until the late appearance of the troops of the Duke of Guelders, perhaps from ambush. The battle ended with the capture of the Duke of Brabant and William, Margrave of Namur, and the death of the Duke of Guelders. Guy I of Luxembourg, Count of Ligny was also killed.

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