Battle of Roosebeke

Battle of Roosebeke
Battle of Roosebeke (Jean Froissart, 1405)
Date 27 November 1382 Location Roosebeke (Westrozebeke), near Kortrijk, Belgium (At that time located in the County of Flanders) Result French victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France County of Flanders	Flemish towns led by Ghent
Commanders and leaders
Charles VI of France Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy Olivier de Clisson Louis de Sancerre Mouton de Blainville	Philip Van Artevelde †
Strength
16,000	14,000
Casualties and losses
unknown	higher than the French casualties

The Battle of Roosebeke (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Westrozebeke) took place on 27 November 1382 on the Goudberg (golden mountain) between a Flemish army under Philip van Artevelde and a French army under Louis II of Flanders who had called upon the help of the French king Charles VI after he had suffered a defeat during the Battle of Beverhoutsveld. The Flemish army was defeated, Philip van Artevelde was slain and his corpse was put on display.

Philip II had ruled the council of regents from 1380 till 1388, and ruled France during the childhood years of Charles VI, who was Philip's nephew. He deployed the French army in Westrozebeke to suppress a Flemish rebellion led by Philip van Artevelde, who intended to dispose of Louis II of Flanders. Philip II was married to Margaret of Flanders, Louis' daughter.

Ghent had rebelled against Count Louis II of Flanders. The Count surrounded the city, and when the citizens of Ghent asked for terms, Louis demanded that all men between the ages of 15 and 60 must present themselves with halters around their necks. The count would then decide whom he would pardon and whom he would execute. The men of Ghent determined to fight and on 5 May 1382, under the leadership of Philip Van Artevelde, they issued from their city and smashed Louis' overconfident army.

The French nobility, facing an incipient peasant revolt at home, felt forced to move against the upstart Flemish commoners. The French royal party patched up its differences with the unruly citizens of Paris and mounted an expedition on behalf of the Count of Flanders. The army "probably numbered around 12,000" and included King Charles VI and the dukes of Burgundy, Bourbon and Berry, lords Clisson, Sancerre, Coucy, and other notables. The Oriflamme was carried for the first time since the Battle of Poitiers.

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