Battle of Zierikzee

Part of Franco-Flemish War

Manuscript depiction of a 13th century naval combat

Date

10-11 August, 1304

Location

Zierikzee, County of Zeeland
(modern Netherlands)

Result

French victory:

Annihilation of the Flemish fleet

Belligerents

Franco - Hollandic - Genoese Fleet

County of Flanders

Commanders and leaders

Rainier I Grimaldi

Guy of Namur (POW)

Casualties and losses

Unknown

French victory:

The battle of Zierikzee was a naval battle between a Flemish fleet and an allied Franco-Hollandic fleet which took place on 10 and 11 August 1304. The battle, fought near the town of Zierikzee, ended in a Franco-Holland victory. The battle is part of a larger conflict between the Count of Flanders and his French feudal lord, King Philip IV of France (1296–1305).

The County of Zeeland was an area that had been contested between the Count of Flanders and the Count of Holland since the 11th century. Originally granted in 1012 by Emperor Henry II to the count of Flanders Baldwin IV, by 1076 the area had become part of Holland but under Flemish overlordship. After the Flemish victory in the battle of the Golden Spurs, the Flemish attacked John II Avesnes, count of Holland, Zeeland and of Hainaut and conquered Lessines. The House of Dampierre and the House of Avesnes had been involved in a familial war for decades. In retaliation to the Flemish invasion of Hainaut John's son William plundered Cadzand.

In reaction on this raid, Guy of Namur, son of Guy I of Flanders, formed a fleet at Sluis, which sailed on 23 April 1303 to claim Zeeland for the Flemish. After Flemish landings near Arnemuiden and Veere the troops of William fled to Middelburg which surrendered on 9 May 1303. After this the Flemings conquered the whole of Walcheren and several other islands. Only Zierikzee was held for the count of Holland. In July 1303 an armistice was arranged between the Flemings and the count of Holland.

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Wikipedia