In 1302, the medieval world witnessed an event that defied the laws of social and military order. The Battle of the Golden Spurs was not just a conflict; it was a brutal massacre where the finest heavy cavalry in Europe was systematically butchered by a militia of weavers, fullers, and butchers. This documentary explores how the wealthy yet oppressed cities of Flanders rose up against the tyranny of King Philip the Fair of France, culminating in a clash that would forever shatter the myth of the invincible knight.
We dive deep into the tactical innovations that made this impossible victory a reality. You will learn how the Flemish militia utilized the marshy terrain of Courtrai to trap the French army in a deadly kill box. We analyze the terrifying mechanics of the Goedendag, a simple yet devastating weapon designed specifically to stop a charging warhorse and crush the armor of its rider. This was a battle where the rules of chivalry were suspended, and the order of the day was to take no prisoners, leading to the gruesome death of commanders like Robert of Artois.
The narrative takes you from the bloody streets of Bruges during the Matins of Bruges uprising to the mud-soaked fields of the Groeninge stream. We examine the fatal arrogance of the French nobility, who treated their enemies with contempt right up until the moment they were dragged from their saddles into the muck. The defeat was so total that the victors collected 500 pairs of golden spurs from the fallen knights, hanging them in a church as a grim warning to future invaders.
This video also places the Battle of the Golden Spurs within the wider context of military history. It marks the beginning of the Infantry Revolution, a pivotal shift that would eventually lead to the decline of feudalism and the rise of professional standing armies. By comparing the rigid mindset of the French aristocracy with the disciplined, cohesive structure of the Flemish guilds, we uncover timeless lessons about hubris, adaptability, and the power of a united people fighting for their survival.
Join us as we reconstruct the sights and sounds of 14th-century warfare, stripping away the romantic myths to reveal the gritty, violent truth of how the foot soldier finally became king. Whether you are a student of medieval warfare tactics or simply fascinated by stories of the underdog overcoming impossible odds, this detailed account of the events of July 11, 1302, will change the way you look at history.
HISTORICAL SOURCES & FURTHER READING:
“The Battle of the Golden Spurs (Courtrai, 11 July 1302)” by J.F. Verbruggen.
Chronicles of the 14th Century regarding the Franco-Flemish War.
Analysis of the Annals of Ghent (Annales Gandenses).
Studies on Medieval Urban Militias and the Guild System.
#BattleOfTheGoldenSpurs #MedievalHistory #MilitaryTactics #HistoryDocumentary #Knights
35 Comments
never heard about this battle brilliant story telling loved it 👏
Brilliant video
Love your historical stories. Look forward to them each day. Thank you
The Flemish had loyalty to their fellow country men & did the right thing. Something that is sadly lacking in todays world!
Virgin french cavalry vs Chad flemish infantry.
I hate myself for watching a.I., but damned it if these stories aren’t perfect for falling asleep too.
At the old Ren Faire we used to demonstrate what a wedge-spiked hammer, eighteen inches long, would do to a plate helmet. Went in like a nail into a board. I can't imagine how terrifying it would be in sledgehammer form.
Noble knights and squires eh..🎪
I like this channel but I’m starting to notice similarities in phrases and story telling. Starting to wonder how accurate the stories are
Nothing but getting killed by an angry middle age man with a temper
"The answer was a goedendag to the face"
I don't mind the illustrations, it's the attempt to make it look 'old' by digitally inserting 'film dirt', 'speckles' and 'defects'. It's annoying. Still, a good overview of the battle and the changes that would sweep through Europe. Just make sure the illustrations are as historically accurate as you can make them.
Heavy cavalry was useless in the wrong terrain.
Clone ca.
Excellent narration, as usual, and I truly appreciate the take-home message at the end. Those who ignore the lessons of history are bound to repeat mistakes. Greetins from Costa Rica.
The author did not address the effects of the Flemish guilds in preparing the men to fight together as brothers as they had apprenticed together since childhood.
Great story.
Jesus is King
Calling them “peasants” oversimplifies the story.
Many were trained militias who understood their ground better than heavily armored cavalry ever could.
watching from the Philippines.
One thing I learned from watching and reading lots of war documentaries is being a superior force doesn't always guarantee you'll always stand on top. Another thing I learned is a pissed off civilian population is just as bad or even worse than being besieged by an invading army.
My grandfather took me to Kortrijk where this happened. Standing on that quiet field, knowing thousands of arrogant knights died in that mud because they underestimated shopkeepers… it gave me chills. 😢
very nice and beautifull explained tale…😊
"Picture this…."
Strange that the dialect of Kortrijk , still has the French sound 🤔😉😂
Thx greetings from Belgium 🙏😉
India the add run here are million times each after every minute ! Given me migraines !!. Hey have you heard of Num PIE!!!! Just 20 minutes and 40 times!! Are you crazy??!! unsubscribing it! Last video I will watch
Well done except for the tendency to repeat the same information more than once. Added 15 unnecessary minutes to the video. Also, what’s with so many of the AI generated videos wanting to know where we are from?
That's not what a goedendag looks like, AI garbage spewer!
AI also can't do crossbows, it seems.
I’m an American who married a Belgian and moved here 20 years ago – currently divorcing the Belgian, but staying because I really have no other choice at this point. I live in Flanders and I speak fluent Flemish. People think it’s still very funny to make me say schild en vriend. Of course my brother-in-law when he met me for the first time had me say it and I had no idea what it meant. My then boyfriend explained it to me. I have a French name. I took it personally. I eventually went to work here in Brussels. I sat with the Flemish table, of course because I spoke fluent Flemish. One jerk decided to try to make me say it thinking somehow after living here for over a decade already, I wouldn’t know what it meant considering I was part of a Flemish family and had become a citizen so I had to know Belgian history. And I had done research on it. He asked me to say it and then I said why do you want me to say it in modern Flemish? That’s not what they spoke. And I told him exactly what it was in medieval Flemish. This was at the lunch table with a bunch of Flemish guys watching on while I was eviscerating this guy. He didn’t know his own history. I started explaining the entire situation and how the battle went down in Flemish. I wasn’t welcome back by him at the lunch table anymore. These people have problems. I thought America was fucked up. Belgium says hold one of my many beers.
Philip IV deserved every setback. He was a horrible human being.
Free Dries.
2:19
The Flemish experience it once more via far left policy made in Brussels. EU Freestate
15:14
Jan Breydel stadion. Club Brugge + Cercle Brugge.
38:21
FY Spurs!!!
40:31
Rise of the foot soldier😂
Mostly AI slop. Generated storytelling fantasy details to fill a lack of historical fact
After the French, the Spanish and then the French again, oh and the Germans after that, what a pain living in an area where the loons want to conquer you.