| Conflict between Holland and Flanders regarding control of Zeeland | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Duchy of Brabant (from 1304) | Kingdom of France (from 1304) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| John II of Brabant (from 1304) | Philip IV of France (from 1304) | ||||||||
The jurisdiction of Zeeland was disputed by the counts of Flanders and Holland from the beginning of the 11th century to the beginning of the 14th century. The beginning of the conflict is dated at 1012, but as far as is known the first actual fighting between the two sides did not occur until 1165. The military struggle, interspersed with long periods of tense peace, continued until 1315. In 1323, the two parties finally signed an official peace treaty in Paris.
The importance of Zeeland lay both in its control of the shipping routes and thus the toll revenues, as well as the presence of marine clay that made the cultivation of grain possible.
11-12th century
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In 1012, emperor Henry II lent Zeeland to the count of Flanders, Baldwin IV. Zeeland was at the time already under the influence of the count of Holland. Due to the investiture controversey, the area was lent to the count of Holland by Flanders in 1076. Flanders and Holland relationships were positive at the time. Flemish count Robrecht I even came to the aid of his stepson Dirk V of Holland in his war with the bishop of Utrecht.
After the Flemish count Charles the Good was murdered in 1128, Zeeland again fell to the count of Holland. This lead to various skirmishes between Floris III of Holland and Philip I, the count of Flanders.
Hollandic toll
editFloris III starting charging a toll at Geervliet, which disrupted Flemish trade. He also ordered to hijack Flemish ships and laid claim to Waasland. Count Philip I successfully retaliated in 1158 and Floris III was forced to submit to the Flemish count. In 1166, Floris III once again attempted to introduce a toll at Geervliet. Philip I was forced to retaliate again, this time taking Floris III as his prisoner. Floris III was forced to sign a treaty in Bruges in 1167, agreeing to recognise Flemish merchants' presence in Zeeland and agreeing that Zeeland would be ruled as a condominium. This meant the sovereignty would be shared between Flanders and Holland. The treaty stabilised the situation for about 10 years. In conclusion, the Flemish were initially victorious and had the upper hand during the 12th century. However, due to the rising power of Holland, this would shift in the 13th century.
Even though it was agreed in the treaty that Holland would no longer charge a toll for the Flemish, they once again reinstated the toll at Geervliet in 1179. In 1195 the toll was also legalised by emperor Henry VI. This pushed Flemish count Baldwin to go war against Dirk VII of Holland, who at the time was already in a succession conflict with his brother Willem. Dirk was greatly aided by his wife Adelaide in successfully fighting at two fronts and dispelling the Flemish.
War of the Flemish succession
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When Margaretha II of Flanders succeeded her childless sister Johanna as countess of Flanders and Hainaut in 1244, a war broke loose between Margaretha's children of different marriages, the houses of Avesnes and Dampierres. The French king, tasked with negotiating a peace in 1246, gave Flanders to Guy of Dampierre and Hainaut to John of Avesnes .
Willem II of Holland saw an opportunity to fully claim ownership of Zeeland by allying himself with House Avesnes. Conflict broke out when Willem II, in 1248 now crowned king of the Holy Roman Empire, refused to pay homage to Margaretha. Willem II being crowned king created the awkward situation in that, despite being king, Flanders was still lending him Zeeland which is why he would normally have to pay homage to Margaretha.
During the imperial diet of 1252 Willem II declared Margaretha was to lose her lands and that these were to be given to his ally John of Avesnes. This resulted in a battle between Flemish and Hollandic forces near the Zeelandic town of Westkapelle in 1253. Holland was victorious and the Flemish army had to retreat.
An armistice was signed in the summer of 1255, as a result of the death of Willem II on the 28th of januari 1256. Peace was agreed shortly after, thanks to a negotiation facilitated by French king Louis IX. The count of Holland would still have to pay homage to the Flemish count in regards to Zeeland, but the condominium was removed. Half of the earnings which would originally be distributed to the count of Flanders, would now be given to Floris de Voogd, who was serving as regent to Floris V.
When John of Avesnes passed away in 1257, it seemed Margaretha would be victorious in the Flemish war of succession. However, the Flemish government had gained a substantial debt during the war. Flanders was forced to ask for funds from its cities, which the cities used to leverage more autonomy.
It was Margaretha's intention to create an independent county of Zeeland ruled by Floris de Voogd and heavily influenced by Flanders. Floris de Voogd would pass away during a tournament in 1258, causing frustration in Flanders. This frustration only grew when Florent of Avesnes was declared stadtholder of Zeeland in 1272.
In 1290 this lead to Guy of Dampierre taking Floris V as his prisoner during peace talks in Biervliet, encouraged by John I of Brabant. Floris was released after agreeing to pay damages. After his release he would however not fulfil this promise, he only paid a small percentage of the agreed amount.
Starting 1299, the house of Avesnes ruled the counties of Zeeland and Holland in a personal union. After Floris V of Holland died in 1296, his very young son John I was initially heavily influence by the Flanders-supporting John III of Renesse. In april 1297, John would however relinquish control to Wolfert of Borselen. Wolfer was murdered only two years later. This resulted in John II of Avesnes, count of Hainaut at the time, being appointed regent of Holland and Zeeland until John I would come of age. John I would never rule, as he passed away at the age of 15. This also ended the house of Holland bloodline. John II of Avesnes would gain full control of Holland and Zeeland, resulting in Holland and Zeeland entering a personal union with the county of Hainaut under house Avesnes.
14th century
editIn 1300/1301, John II was able to use the French victories over the Flemish to strengthen his position. He also defeated Zeelandic rebels and named his brother Guy of Avesnes bishop of Utrecht in 1301.
Count of Flanders Guy of house Dampierre pushed back against the French influence on Flanders in 1297 and entered a military alliance with England. The French patience was tested and in 1300 Philip IV of France ordered the occupation of Flanders. Count Guy was imprisoned, but had much support from peasants, farmers and nobility alike. Public resistance took place in Bruges, which on the 18th of mei 1302 was the location of the matins of Bruges, a bloody attack by Bruges citizen on the French troops who had taken the city only a day before. In response, the French raised an army and marched on the city of Kortrijk. In Kortrijk, they were defeated by the Flemish in the battle of the Golden Spurs.
Thanks to victory in the south, count Guy of Flanders could now focus on his old rival, John II of Avesnes, count of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut. John II had allied himself with the French and suffered defeat alongside them in the battle of the Golden spurs. In February of 1303, the Flemish invaded Hainaut. Lessines was conquered by the Flemish army on the 2nd of April, and 22 surrounding villages were set on fire. In pursuit of revenge, the 17 year old son of John II, William, started raiding the village of Cadzand which was under Flemish control at the time.
This resulted in the Flemish army raising a fleet in Sluis under leadership of Guy of Namur, who meant to claim all of Zeeland for Flanders. The claim was supported by some Zeelandic nobility, whom had been banished by William of Avesnes. On the 23rd of April, the Flemish fleet left the harbor and made for Walcheren and Zuid-Beveland. John II of Avesnes left his son William in charge of the defense.
The Flemish conquered all of Walcheren and the remaining Zeelandic islands. Only Zierikzee was able to resist the Flemish army. In July an armistice was signed. Count John II of Avesnes recognised Flemish control of the all island south of the Meuse and passed them on to Guy of Namur, with the exception of Zierikzee, which remained in Hollandic and Zeelandic control but was not allowed to be strengthened.
After the Flemish went on a few successful raids in the north of France, they voided the armistice agreement with Holland in 1304. The Flemish invaded Holland en Utrecht, after which John II of Brabant allied himself with Flanders. In March, Guy of Namur led the Flemish army to victory against Holland in Duiveland. The bishop of Utrecht was taken prisoner by the Flemish, and anti-Holland sentiment grew in the city of Utrecht itself. Flanders and Brabant managed to take over much of Holland and Zeeland. Utrecht, Leiden and Delft were all occupied by the Flemish.
Only Dordrecht and Haarlem managed to withstand being occupied. Witte van Haemstede, bastard son of count Floris V, was able to return the Hollandic cities to William's side, which forced the Flemish to retreat. The Flemish then laid siege on Zierikzee, which held, but was in danger of starvation.
Meanwhile, at the end of June, the armistice between Flanders and France was set to expire. French king Philip IV raised a large army, which invaded Flanders from the south. A few weeks prior, Philips IV had sent Reinier Grimaldi to Holland to offer his support in order to end the siege of Zierikzee. The French fleet arrived on the 10th of August, and the battle of Zierikzee took place. The combined forces of France and Holland finally defeated the Flemish fleet and ended the siege of Zierikzee. One week later, the French army defeat the Flemish army in the battle of Mons-en-Pévèle.
Finally, the treaty of Paris was signed between Flanders and Holland in 1323. The count of Flanders agreed to let go of his claims on Zeeland and agreed to recognise William the Good as William III, count of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland. The Western Scheldt was declared the official border between the county of Flanders and the county of Zeeland. [[Category:History of Zeeland]] [[Category:History of Flanders]] [[Category:History of the Netherlands]]
- ^ Graaf, p. 156, 167.