The Role of Towns in the Battle of Bouvines (1214)

On 27 July 1214, the French king Philip II defeated a coalition of rebellious magnates and the German emperor in the Battle of Bouvines. The battle became celebrated on the French side as the first moment when all elements of society, noble and common, came together to defend the nation. This paper argues that, in fact, towns had long been participants in the military growth of France’s Capetian monarchy. A multitude of other combatants were on hand for both sides besides the knights who dominate the contemporary narratives, including mounted sergeants, mounted crossbowmen, and infantry. It is suggested here that medieval towns were home to these other soldiers. In addition, we need to appreciate the roles of towns as nodes of military production, sources of finance for war, and shapers of policy