Feast of the Flemish Community in Belgium

On this day in 1302 the Battle of Courtres took place.On this day in 1302, the Battle of Courtres (or the Battle of the Golden Spurs) took place - the battle of the rebellious Flemish with the army of France on July 11, 1302 near the town of Kortriejk.

The royal army (feudal militia reinforced by Lombard crossbowmen and Spanish dart-throwers) led by the king's relative, Captain-General Comte d'Artois, met with the Flanders militia. The Earl of Artois led 7,500 horsemen and 3,000 to 5,000 mercenaries on foot.

The city militia was 13-20 thousand, but it consisted of only 10 knights (commanders and their retinue), the rest were infantrymen (archers, crossbowmen, pikemen, foot soldiers with gondags and clubs).

The Flemish came out victorious and collected 700 pairs of golden spurs from the corpses of the knights, so the Battle of Curtres went down in history as well as the Battle of the Golden Spurs.