Gui de Dampierre, the last Earl Free In Dunkirk, a street bears his name since 1814 ... Guy de Dampierre was the last of the Counts of Flanders still independent of neighboring French.
Of all the regions of Europe, two are in advance: Northern Italy and Flanders .... She really has generally fertile land, peasants and enterprising bourgeois entrepreneurs and daring in the city, many shops open. For cities like Bruges or Hondschoote for ports such as Dunkirk, trade is vital ... The Counts fully understand the situation in Flanders, ideally located on major trade routes.
A belated emancipation
Born around 1226, Guy de Dampierre Count of Flanders, was proclaimed in 1253 by his mother, Margaret of Constantinople, but it carries real power to the abdication of the latter in 1279. During that time, he learns the hard exercise of power by following the orders of "Marguerite Black" ... During his youth, his family struggle constantly referred to the family of Avesnes for succession to the Counts and Hainaut. The two families feuded viciously tough but accept the compromise drafted by St. Louis in 1256. Gui has been jailed for three years in prison after the battle Zealand Westkapelle the former island of Walcheren, captivity that peace does not clear ... He must gain power through the possession of new lands: in 1263, Gui bought from Baldwin II of Courtenay rights he has on the marquis of Namur but it conflicts with Henry V of Luxembourg, which has won the coveted stronghold by the Flemish. The war began but the two men were reconciled. The peace treaty concluded by them is sealed by Gui marriage to the daughter of Henry, who then waived his rights to Namur. But Flanders is not the world, times are difficult for Christianity. The Crusaders lost Jerusalem and has long been the ideal of the Crusades is a pious remembrance ... St. Louis may want to take back the city that thrice holy that it has undertaken in the Holy Land at the previous crusade is more ... He therefore decided on one last expedition ultramarine. His fleet anchored outside Tunis. He laid siege to the city. The Crusaders face the onslaught of the plague. The Holy King of the French off before seeing Jerusalem, the Crusades died under the Tunisian sun ... Gui de Dampierre can return to Flanders ...
The Lily the Lion cons
Like Comte, he favors the wool trade with England to guarantee the Economics cloth towns. Seeking to control local finances, he faces the aldermen too jealous of their power and which are supported by the King of France who eye on these neighboring lands, so rich and populous. The small nation is heading for the Count of Flanders, the guardian of their interests. The kings of France invited in Flemish policy when, in 1297, Guy tries to marry Philippine daughter to Edward, heir to the throne of England ... What a fantastic set policy that would make! This is too much for the fiery Philippe le Bel, his lord, who then comes in Flanders, up garrisons in the towns where he goes, fights Furnes and occupied the country! Gui, rebellious vassal to his commitments, is imprisoned after a visit with two of his son and fifty knights. This is not counting on the people's anger rumbling! On the morning of Friday, May 18, 1302, the Matins of Bruges are bloody means any person suspected of being a supporter of Lily of France is murdered by the followers of Comte. We must face the royal army. Too confident in the Flemish foot soldiers, knights of Philip the Fair were massacred by the militia at the Battle of communal Kortrijk 11 July 1302. Ultimate affront, the golden spurs of the flower of French chivalry are then hung from the ceiling of the Church of Our Lady of Kortrijk. Philip the Fair holds its revenge! In 1304, his first defeat ships fleet Gui south of Holland and his Knights crush the Flemings at the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle August 18, under a scorching heat ... Gui de Dampierre has, since its release , told the County to his son Robert, but he is powerless: the French have already taken control of Flanders ... for a while! As for Guy, he is again imprisoned and died in captivity at Compiegne the following year. Gui, the soul of the struggle against the Ogre French, could not keep out of reach of Flanders neighbor.
