The battle of Bouvines according to the Minstrel of Reims

This account of the battle, written around 1260, comes from the anonymous Minstrel of Reims, who composed this version for an audience of nobles, and makes his own embellishments to the the events of that day.

And then the King has all his villages and communes called up and they all assembled on a Saturday in front of Tournai with tents and pavilions. When Ferrand and his party found out the King was in Tournai, they were overjoyed because they believed that they had them in their net. They asked for a battle the next day. When the King heard this, he felt pained because it was Sunday and asked through Brother Guerin that they wait till Monday. The count refused him as he believed that the King wanted to run away. Upon this, Brother Guerin went back and Count Renaud accompanied him for a while. When Count Renaud came back, Messire Hugh of Boves said in front of Emperor Otto and the Count of Flanders: "Hah! Count of Boulogne, what sort of treason have you concocted with Brother Guerin!" "Obviously," said the count, "you are lying like the wicked traitor that you are, and your words show well that you are Ganelon's kin. You must know that in case of battle, I will wither be killed or taken but you, you will run away like a vile coward and liar!"

The dispute remained thus and Brother Guerin came back to the King and told him: "Sire, may God help you! You will have the battle tomorrow without fail. It is necessary that you call up your battalions." Then the King called up his battalions and put them under the command of the ten most valorous men he had. And the Emperor Otto and the Count of Flanders and Count Renaud and Count William Longsword who was the brother of the King of England - who had sent him as he himself was in Poitou at La Ruche fighting against My Lord Louis who was giving him a very hard time - these aforementioned great lords were parceling France out and were each reserving part for themselves. Count Ferrand Wanted Paris, Count Renaud wanted Normandy, and the Emperor wanted Orleans and Chartres and Estampes, and Hugh of Boves wanted Amiens, and in this way they each picked their share.

It takes but a few hours for God to do his work
And he who laughs in the morning
Will cry in the evening.

Thus was Saturday, and when Sunday morning came, the King got up and had all his people at Tournai assembled fully armed with their banners unfurled and their trumpets sounding and all their echelons in formation.  They marched till they came into view of a bridge called Bouvines. There was a chapel there and the King had mass held as it was still morning. The mass was sung for the King by the Bishop of Tournai and the King listened to it fully armed. And when mass was over, the King had bread and wine brought to him and had the bread sliced into pieces. He took one and ate it. And then he said to all those around him: "I beg my loyal friends who are here to eat with me in memory of the twelve apostles who drank and ate with our Lord. And if one of you is thinking of wickedness and treachery, let him stay away." Then Messire Enguerrand of Coucy came forward and took the first slice, and the Count Gaucher of Saint-Pol took the second and said to the King: "Sire, today will show who is going to be your traitor!" And he said these words because he well knew the King suspected him on account of evil gossip. Then, the Count of Sancerre took the third slice and all the other barons followed; there was such a press that they could not get to the hanap. And when the King saw this, he was gladdened and told them: "Lords, you are all my men and I am your Sire, regardless of whomever I might be.  I have much loved you and brought you great honor and given you largely of what was mine. I have never wronged or failed you but I have always led you rightfully. For God's sake, I beg you all today to protect my body and my honor, and yours as well. And if you think that the crown would be better served by one of you, I agree to it and want it with good heart and good will." Upon hearing this, the barons all cried for pity and said: "Sire, for God's sake, we do not want any King but you. Ride bravely against your enemies, we are ready to die with you." Then the King climbed on a horse and all the barons, strong and confident, did too, with their banners unfurled and each in his conroi. Then you could see the Flemings arriving in a disorderly manner, [stepping] in front of each other and carrying ropes to bind the French. And the King had pulled back toward the side of the hill so that the sun would face the enemy. When the Flemings saw him turn toward the hill, they said to each other that they must be running away. They vied to throw themselves first against the French and the French received them vigorously, and soon they were the first to be defeated. This was because the Count of Saint-Pol went around the host, attacked them in the rear, and threw himself at them like a lion, and it was a marvel how much he accomplished with his weapons and his body. All the other barons were proving themselves so well, that they were all above reproach. Oudarz of Reson, who carried the banner of Champagne and by right led its battalion, had gone so far ahead that he came upon Count Renaud. These were the two men on earth who hated each other the most and who had caused the aggravation of the present conflict. When Count Renaud saw him, he was so elated that not even God could have held down his feet and he charged him while the Count of Saint-Pol charged him [Renaud] in turn. They were all tangled up in a large melee and they injured each other severely so long they were fighting.

But the King's strength grew as that of the Flemings diminished because they were in the wrong and were there by a wicked agreement. Then the hosts engaged each other everywhere and many were killed. The Count of Saint-Pol did not relent and persevered till he took Count Renaud by force. When he was taken, the Flemings all lost heart. Then the French rejoiced and charged Ferrand's echelon; he was taken along with the Count of Ponthieu and Messire William Longsword and many great lords not named in the accounts. When Emperor Otto saw that all was lost, he turned his horse around and took flight along with Hugh of Roves. And the Emperor went away to Germany and died some time later in a mean house, poor and miserable. And Hugh of Roves went on a boat to go to the King in England. But God who gives protection to good and none to evil, took his protection away from him and caused a great storm over the sea and he was drowned. And all of what was left of the host was captured and defeated. The King was told that Ferrand was taken along with Count Renaud and the Count of Ponthieu and his brother and William Longsword and many other great men. Then the King asked: "Why have we not captured the Emperor?" And you must know that no one had mentioned the Emperor but he brought the matter up because he wanted a greater victory as there is more honor in defeating an Emperor than a vassal.

In this way the battle ended and the King with great rejoicing returned to Tournai with all his prisoners while the Flemings were in great mourning. This defeat occurred in the year of Our Lord 1214, in the month of July, on the second Sunday. And on that day My Lord Louis well and truly defeated King John at La Roche-aux-Moines in Poitou. The next day, the King went to Lille and had it burned and had all the good towns of Flanders fortified and garrisoned. The King came back to France with all his prisoners and put Ferrand in the Louvres in Paris, which he had wanted, and the Count Renaud in the Goulet, since he had wanted Normandy, and the other prisoners were put where he wished. King Philip loved in peace ever after and was feared and respected all over the land.

This translation was originally published in The Legend of Bouvines: War, Religion and Culture in the Middle Ages, by Georges Duby, translated by Catherine Tihanyi (University of California Press, 1990).  We thank Catherine Tihanyi for allowing to republish this material.