The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle was fought on 18 August 1304 between the French and the Flemish. The French were led by King Philip IV the Fair in person.
| Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle | |||||||
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 The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle, 1304, by Charles Philippe Larivière | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| France | Flanders | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Philip IV |
Philip de Chieti William of Jülich (+) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| unknown | 15.000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 4.500 | |||||||
Prelude
The French King wanted revenge for the defeat in Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, after which the Flemish had retaken Douai and Lille. On August 10 1304 the Flemish suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of Zierikzee, in which Guy, Count of Flanders was taken prisoner and John III, Lord of Renesse killed.
Philip Of Chieti, son of Count Guy, Count of Flanders, had gathered a strong Flemish army to stop the French invasion and taken up positions on the Pévèle hill.
The Battle
After a day of fighting the outcome was undecisive and negotiations were opened between 17:00 and 18:30. When a French force under Guy de Saint-Pol tried to surround the Flemish, he was pushed back. Now the furious Flemish decided to launch a frontal attack, and surprised the French, who thought the battle was over for the day.
The attack reached king Philip IV of France, who was wounded and his horse was killed.
He barly escaped alive, because some knights around him covered his flight, paying for this act with their lives.
The Flemish reached the royal tent, but then William of Jülich was killed.
As only the Flemish right wing had attacked, and the left wing under John I, Marquis of Namur was already leaving the battlefield, the Flemish right wing also withdrew.
The French chose not to pursue the Flemish.
Aftermath
Both sides claimed victory: (the rebels may have inflicted heavier casualties) but the French remained in possession of the battlefield and forced a Flemish retreat. The French also conquered Douai and Orchies and burned down Seclin.
After further minor battles, eventually the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge was signed on 23 June 1305 which recognized Flemish independence, at the cost of the cities of Lille, Douai and Béthune, which were transferred to France, and the paying of exorbitant fines to King Philip IV.