The lucky marriage - Alternate history of the Capetian Dynasty

[aegis03florin]

hmmm. No Spain to troll France in the future, I would expect. France might gobble Navarre and/or Aragon (Catalonia seems evident anyway, they have a good old 987 claim).
If Al-Andalus is only weakened, it seems Grenada might survive until 2015
Archbishop of Toledo... What did he do IOTL? outside of these anti-muslim crusades?

Well, I will not say for now what will happen.... What can I say is that I want to stop that freaking intermarrying... well, the Popes tried to... but hmm, I have an advantage.... I write this history!

Concerning Rodrigo Jimenez of Rada, he arrive to established the Toledo primate over the entire peninsula and was a very good and capable chancellor of Castile.

 

[DracoLazarus]

I can't wait for the next update...

 

[aegis03florin]

Still working on it...

 

[DracoLazarus]

Still working on it...

Then it's proba bly gonna be Bouvines.

 

[aegis03florin]

The Franco-Anglo-German-Flemish amicable encounter ​

Part I – The Flirt
​

The year of the Lord 1212

The year on 1212 start very well for King Philip who obtained the formal submission of the Gascons lords when the Royal army lead by Guy II of Dampierre crossed the Dordogne. Guy was named Seneschal of Bordeaux and charged with the difficult task of imposing the royal authority on that part of France more interested to sell they wine to England than to fight against them. The local lords submit to the king for now but they seems to not have the intention to keep theirs words.

But the luck start to turn when the English armada, led by John in person, arrived in April in Saintoge, and the entire region receive him as liberator. Guy found itself forced to retreat to Perigueux with the remaining loyal forces that were not captured or killed. A Gascon army led by Géraud IV d'Armagnac, trap him in the town of Perigueux, starting a long siege.

John, arrived on the continent with a strong force formed mostly from mercenaries but reinforced with many household royal knights and feudal contingents from South of England and even Ireland. Receiving the fidelity of the most of the Aquitanian nobles, he start a long march to Poitou and Anjou, putting Chinon under the siege by the end of May.

Once again, Philip Augustus gathered the Royal host in Paris and marched south to meet the English. Once again, he could rely on the same nobles as 6 years ago. He remember that was a good thing that he discouraged his vassals to go in crusade this year... Philip hopped to repeat the battle of Poitiers, but when approached, the English retreat. While pursuing John who retreat faster than he could approach, Philip received terrible news. Emperor Otto IV had entered in Hainaut with a strong army, while Baldwin go to meet him with the Flemish troops, joined with English mercenaries of William Longsword and the traitor Renaud of Damartin. They plan to strike to Paris while he was chasing John with the entire French army. He had left strong garrisons in the north to protect the kingdom against the Flemish, but they were no match to the Emperor full force. Philip was in rage seeing that he was lured in a trap. John outmaneuver him and now his capital is in peril.

A quick decision was made. Prince Louis, duke of Bretagne will stay with an army and try to deny John any advancement in the north, while the King will speed up to north with the bulk army. Louis was left with less than 800 knights and 10 to 11.000 infantry, much less then John’s army.

Philip took any horse and mule he can find in order to speed up his army. He sent heralds to all the communes to gather militias. The Oriflamme was planted at Amiens. Threatened by invasion, the response of the communes was outstanding. Twenty one[1] of the thirty-nine municipalities answered the call for militia: Paris sent more than 3.000, Aras and Amiens 1.000 each, Abbeville region sent nearly 2.000 while many other communes sent smaller forces, but in total, Philip had 12.000 militias, backed by another 4.000 sergeants, feudal levy and mercenaries.

Oriflamme - The sacred banner of the Abbey of St. Denis, used by the Capetian Kings as rally point of he entire kingdom

​

The Emperor Otto IV had gather a very strong force. The combined Imperial, Flemish and English were not only superior in numbers, but they were also superior in quality. Their infantry, 24 or 25.000 strong was the best of the best that could be found in Western Europe: the battle-hardened Brabancons mercenaries, the fierce Saxon infantry, the disciplined Flemish militias and many other troops of good quality.

The allied cavalry was also stronger than the French one, but it can be considered of same quality. They were 800 knights from Brunswick and other imperial lands, reinforced with more than 1.000 from the other German nobles, with another 600 from Flanders and Hainaut, 200 English ones commanded by William Longsword, the earl of Salisbury and another 120 commanded by Renaud of Damartin. In total, more than 2.700 while the French barely number 1.800 but they were the cream of the European chivalry. On each side, the knights were supported by about 2000 mounted sergeants that made the light cavalry.

But the campaign had no turned very well for the French. The strategy considered by the French had failed in its main objectives to cut the enemy from reinforcements and to deny them to advance to Paris, so they were now forced to retreat southward. Saint-Quentin, Peronne and the other northern cities were heavy fortified and Philip hoped that by crossing the river Somme he could buy time and deny Otto the passage. With some luck, the allies will be bogged down and will lose the initiative, while their man will get tired and will starve, as all the lands north of the Somme were wasted in order to deny the enemy to live of the land. After all, “war without fire is like sausage without mustard”[2].


-------------------
Main Sources:
Wikipedia
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-battle-of-bouvines-1214/
http://www.xenophongroup.com/montjoie/bouvines.htm#campaign
"VIE DE PHILIPPE AUGUSTE Par RIGORD", by M. GUIZOT
“Richard I and the science of war in the middle age” by John Ghillinghan
http://xenophongroup.com/montjoie/oriflam.htm
http://www.earlyblazon.com/

[1] IOTL were 17 but ITTL there are 4 more as the thread of invasion is bigger. Also, they sent more man than OTL
[2] Words of Eduard III of England, from “Richard I and the science of war in the middle age” by John Ghillinghan

 

[aegis03florin]

Part II – The Prelude

​

"Seigneurs, dimanche est ce jour
Que notre Seigneur a consacré
Non pour oeuvrer ni combattre,
Mais pour se reposer, se distraire, s'amuser.
Ainsi, s'il plaît à Dieu, par si haut jour
Je n'aurai bataille, mais repos."

extract from “La chronique rimée”[1]​

Sunday 26 August 1212, morning

The Royal army had started to cross the Somme at Voyennes in Vermandois, while the Imperial army approached in haste. Otto’s army made a forced march that morning, hoping to surprise the French who are running away, while crossing the Somme and destroy it. The Imperial vanguard attacked the French rear-guard commanded by the viscount Adam of Melun. Philip feel that a disaster could happened so, at the advice of Hospitaler brother Guerin who was his “Garde des Sceaux”, he give the order of battle. He cross back the Somme and plant the Oriflamme in the middle of the battlefield, guarded by Galon of Montigny. Duke of Burgundy took his knights and smash into the Imperial vanguard, releasing the viscount of Melun who was by now overwhelmed. They return victorious to the right flank of the army, cheered by the infantry who were in train to form the line.

The crossing back of the Somme and the forming of the battle line was done with an admirable precision, especially taking in consideration the fact that the bulk of the army was made by militias. Philip arrange his army in three battles.

In the center, the first line was made up by militias, enforced with some mercenaries and flanked by more experimented royal infantry, while the second line was made by heavy cavalry lead by the King in person and commanded by his loyal men: William des Barres, Bartholomew of Roye, Girard Scophe, William of Garland, Enguerrand III of Coucy and Gautier of Nemours. Right next the king was his cousin, Pierre of Dreux, the jure uxoris Count of Flanders and Hainaut, with a small band of loyal knights.

The right wing was also dress in two lines, first one being formed by cavalry from Burgundy and Champagne under the overall command of Duke of Burgundy and seconded by brother Guerin, Gaucher III de Châtillon, Count of Saint-Pol, William I of Sancerre, Mathieu de Montmorency and Adam II Viscount of Melun, having in the second line the feudal infantry from their domains.

The left wing was similarly formed, under the command of Pierre of Courtenay, seconded by Simon of Montfort, William IV of Ponthieu and Robert II of Dreux. A small reserve was let to guard the bridge over the Somme under the command of Philip of Dreux, the Bishop of Beauvais. The terrain from the back and the left side of the army was marshy, while in the right side there was a small forest of willows and osiers, preventing ample flanking maneuvers.

On the other side of the battlefield, Otto was astonished seeing the French army dressing for the battle. He believe that they are running and expected a quick victory over the remaining troops. Anyway, confident in his superiority, he order his army to form up in battles.

In the center he put a line of heavy cavalry from Germany, formed by the troops of Duke Albert I of Saxony, Duke Frederick II of Lorraine, Duke Henry III of Limburg, Count William III of Jülich, Count Adolf VI of Berg and other minor nobles, backed by a strong infantry force of Brabancons and Saxon and he stand in the third line with his knights from Brunswick.

The right wing under the command of William Longsword seconded by Renaud of Damartin, Duke Henry I of Brabant and Count William I of Holland. It was dress in similar way, having cavalry in front and the infantry in the second line the bulk of the infantry was made by English and Brabancon mercenaries, reinforced by the feudal infantry.

The left wing was formed by the troops from Flanders and Hainaut under the command of Baldwin, reinforced by Philip II Courtenay, Margrave of Namur and Count Theobald I of Bar and Luxemburg. Same pattern, cavalry in front and infantry behind.

Otto knew that he had superior cavalry and wanted to crush the French using this weapon. His battle plan was brake the French centre using a charge of heavy cavalry followed by infantry assault and kill or captured the king. He place his famous standard on the centre of the battlefield mounted on a lavishly decorated chariot and guarded by a strong infantry troop. Present to the battlefield, Guillaume le Breton will relate in his “Philipiades”, the impression made by the Imperial flag:

“On a chariot, he has a pole raised around which a dragon is curled which can be seen far away from all sides, its tail and wings bloated by the winds, showing its terrifying teeth and opening its enormous mouth. Above the dragon hovers Jupiter’s bird with golden wings while the whole of the surface of the chariot, resplendent with gold, rivals the sun and even boasts of shining with a brighter light”.
​

After a brief prayer, the French King make a speech to the troops, remembering that they fight for God and their King, against savage invaders, cursed and excommunicated by the Pope, who come for pillaging their lands and homes. The same Guillaume le Breton had kept for posterity a part of his words:

“Now, the Lord Himself is giving me what I wanted; now, beyond our merits and our hopes, divine favor is granting us more than all our wishes. Those we were previously trying to reach through long detours and the many turns of the roads, the Lord’s mercy has brought to us, so that He Himself could, through us, destroy His enemy in one blow. With our swords He will cut off the members of His enemies; He will turn us into cutting instruments; He will hit and we will be the hammer; He will lead the whole battle and we will be His ministers. I have no doubt that victory will be His, that He will triumph through us, that we will triumph through Him over His own enemies who bear Him so much hatred. [...] This is why, strengthened with the unbreakable power of hope, I am asking you to show yourselves to be the enemies of the enemies of the Church. May your fighting prevail, not for me but for you and the kingdom;”
​

A messenger was sent to Otto in order to ask him to respect the “Paix de Dieu” and not give battle in that holy day of Sunday.


--------------------------------
Attached, there is the disposition of troops before the battle.
--------------------------------
Main Sources:
Wikipedia
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-...bouvines-1214/
http://www.xenophongroup.com/montjoi...s.htm#campaign
"VIE DE PHILIPPE AUGUSTE Par RIGORD", by M. GUIZOT
“Richard I and the science of war in the middle age” by John Ghillinghan
http://xenophongroup.com/montjoie/oriflam.htm
http://www.earlyblazon.com/


[1] The original text is: "Signour, diémence est huï / Que nostre Sire a pris sour lui / C'on ne doit ouvrer ne combatre, / Mais reposer, déduire, esbatre. / Jà, se Dieu plest, par si haut jor / N'aurai bataille, mais séjor." - “La chronique rimée de Philippe Mousket” by Alain STRECK http://bataille.bouvines.free.fr/textes/mousketvo.htm

 

[DracoLazarus]

It smells like an epic showdown is coming in the IIIrd and IVth parts of the Battle of Bouvines. I can't help grinning.

 

[aegis03florin]

Well... there is not Bouvines but Voyennes

Thanks for reading!

 

[DracoLazarus]

Well... there is not Bouvines but Voyennes

Thanks for reading!

It is still going to be the landmark for the beginning of French Nationalism.

 

[galileo-034]

At Bouvines, there was the ground to help the French denying Otto his numerical advantage, a plain between marshes and woods:

 

[aegis03florin]

At Bouvines, there was the ground to help the French denying Otto his numerical advantage, a plain between marshes and woods:

True. Here, the terrain is marshy in the left and in the right side there was a small forest of willows and osiers, preventing ample flanking maneuvers, especially of cavalry ones. Still, the French army is quite cornered. After all, Philip is forced to give battle by the approaching enemy (who also hoped to surprise them divided by the river). Is not the best place for cavalry...


Thanks for input and for the photo . I hope you enjoy!

 

[aegis03florin]

Part III – The Play​

​

First Act – The Opening

When the messenger arrived and ask for not fighting that day, Otto perceived it as a desperate attempt to avoid a certain defeat and, at the best, just an away to buy some time, so he quickly dispatch it with the words: “Say to your King that he will meet his ancestors today and he will tell them that on this field he had lost France”.

Still, the much needed time was obtained by brother Guerin who sent 300 mounted sergeants, mostly from Soissons, to charge the Flemish. The proud Flemings and Germans knights, “who were very eager to fight, greatly scorned being first challenged by sergeants instead of knights. Because of this, they did not deign to move from their position but waited and received them very harshly”[1]. The charge was repulsed with high loses but the crossbowmen had time to take their positions in front of the infantry and start shooting the knights in front of them.

After the first volley, the knights charged. The crossbowmen shoot a second time and run back to the infantry who let them pass, closing the ranks quickly and waiting the charge. A full charge of heavy knights against the militia should not take it easy, as 9 times from 10 will end with a carnage in the ranks of the second.

The horses close the distance, speeding to gallop and the knights start to lower the lances for the impact shouting “Death, death to the French!”, “For Glory and Emperor!” and “Kill them all!”. The tension rise to tremendous heights, but a miracle happened. The German horses start to stumble and to brake the formation, apparently without reason. During the deployment of the crossbowmen, some soldier spread caltrops on the battlefield in front of the infantry, using the cover of the skirmishers. This surprise the German knights who lose the momentum and had many horses wounded. The charge, while very bloody, do not brake the infantry. They retreat in disarray and let the approaching Saxon infantry to finish the job.

The French right wing, formed mostly of knights from Burgundy and Champagne, charge the Flemish knights in their turn. In order to overcome the numerical inferiority, the knights were organized by brother Guerin into a single line, having the mounted sergeants behind: “Lord Knights, the field is large, spread yourselves out so that the enemy does not surround you and because it is not fitting that some become the shields of others. Rather, arrange yourselves in such a way that you can all fight together at the same time, all in one front.”

This time, the Flemish haply join in the charge and a vicious cavalry fight followed. Infantry on both side advance to support their knights. Philip of Courtenay, the Marquis of Namur fight halfhearted, as his father was on the opposite camp. Philip acquired Namur from his mother Yolanda, after his uncle, also Philip, had gone to Constantinople to become Emperor. Being short of money to fight back the Greeks and Bulgarians, he had sell the county to his twin sister who previously had ensured the regency. He was now fighting for the Emperor, disobeying his father wish. Fortunately, his father was leading the French left side, otherwise he would be opposed directly to him. His hesitation was admirably exploited by the Brother Guerin who swept across the battlefield with a toke force of knights and smash into Namur forces, put them to fly. The count of Saint-Pol, Gauthier of Chatillon, joined into the battle with his forces. The Margrave Philip was captured, while the count of Bar and Luxemburg flee from the battlefield. In the same time, the Duke Eudes of Burgundy, “who had many a good knight in his troop”, fight fiercely the Flemish but he was slowly pushed back.

On the other side, on the French left, the hostilities start later. The knights charged in small groups and retreat to the shelter of their infantry. When William Longsword order his mercenary infantry to advance and push the French into the swamp, Simon of Montfort took his battle-hardened knights and charge the Duke Henry of Brabant. He was followed by Pierre of Courtenay, the Count of Auxerre and Tonerre who charge William of Holland. The duke of Brabant, while having more knights than Montfort, was not match for the famous crusader. He was captured and his knights start to flee. They were soon followed by the Hollandaise ones. Seeing that he will lose his cavalry arm and fearing to not be encircled, William Longsword order his infantry to take defensive stance, creating circles from where the archers and crossbowmen could shoot and his knights and the ones lead by Renaud of Boulogne could retreat and do sorties.


---------------------------
Main Sources :
Wikipedia
[1] William the Breton
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-battle-of-bouvines-1214/

 

[aegis03florin]

Second Act – The Crisis

While the French wings perform well, in the center the situation was desperate. While confident after repulsing the cavalry charge, the French militias received the full attack of the one of the best infantry forces in the Western Christendom. They were not match to the Saxon and Brabancon mercenaries who engaged them and cut them into pieces. Fiercely assaulted, they lose faith and start to lose ground. To prevent a disaster, Philip Augustus charge with his knights to rescue them. The impetuous charge stop the Imperial attack and a ferocious melee followed. But the Brabancon were not the men who brake under a cavalry attack… They fought back with so tenacity that arrived to surround the French king. Overwhelmed from all sides, Philip was thrown from his horse by a routier who hook him with his godendart between the haubert and maille, while his destrier[1] is killed by a pike. Philip had his left leg cough under his horse and try to dress up but many enemy thrown upon him “like a pack of wolfs upon a wounded prey”, trying to capture or kill him. Daggers and spears search a fissure or a split in his chainmail but he had the best armor money can buy.

Depiction of King Philip at Voyennes
​

Galon of Montigny, who carried the Oriflamme, seeing the danger, call for help twirling the standard with his left hand, while pushing away the pikes and fighting back the enemies with his right one. Pierre Tristan, a knight from his bodyguard thrown itself to the ground, kill the man who hold the king by his neck and fight back the assailants, “putting himself in front of the blows so as to protect the King”. With the risk to trample his suzerain, Montigny push his horse thru the enemies and create a wall in front of the king. Others knights come to help, cutting their way thru the enemies and rescue the king. William des Barres gallop quickly with his echelon and smash his way to the king, as the enemies open a corridor when they see him. But when they arrived to pull him out from the dead horse, they see that his right leg, who was caught under the animal, was bleeding. The king was nearly unconscious as he had received several mace hits on his helmet. Carried by over by his loyal men, many believed that he was dead. Cries of “Le Roy est mort!” panicked the remaining militias who start to run away to the bridge.

-------------------------
Main Sources:
Wikipedia
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-battle-of-bouvines-1214/
Source of the photo: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28484146
----
[1] Godendart = pike that had a hook; haubert = helmet ; maille= chainmail; destrier = warhorse; routier = mercenary soldier organised into bands or “routes”

 

[aegis03florin]

The battle was too big, I need to split it in 4...

 

[galileo-034]

Given the ground, with the progression (by either side) blocked by the river and the flanks faring well, a Cannae-like move seems a logical choice with Breton and Montfort both striking at Otto's centre after smahing his wings.

 

[aegis03florin]

Given the ground, with the progression (by either side) blocked by the river and the flanks faring well, a Cannae-like move seems a logical choice with Breton and Montfort both striking at Otto's centre after smahing his wings.

Well.... Cannae it's not possible... as the French do not have numerical superiority in cavalry.
Also, the Breton Ost is with Prince Louis chasing John in Poitiou.

 

[galileo-034]

My fault, I meant the right wing under Guérin. The lack of cavalry prevents a complete encirclement, but a joint move of French flanks is a threat important enough to compell the Imperials to retreat; they can't really continue to press towards the river without risking such a catastrophic scenario. In the better scenario, the Imperials withdraw to reform their lines further away and regroup with the wings, ending the battle for the day into a draw.

But I'm curious to see how you will end the battle, given how you rewrote Las Navas de Tolosa in a less disastrous way for Almohads (Castillans not taking advantage of the victory to expand).

 

[aegis03florin]

My fault, I meant the right wing under Guérin. The lack of cavalry prevents a complete encirclement, but a joint move of French flanks is a threat important enough to compell the Imperials to retreat; they can't really continue to press towards the river without risking such a catastrophic scenario. In the better scenario, the Imperials withdraw to reform their lines further away and regroup with the wings, ending the battle for the day into a draw.

But I'm curious to see how you will end the battle, given how you rewrote Las Navas de Tolosa in a less disastrous way for Almohads (Castillans not taking advantage of the victory to expand).

you will find.... tomorrow morning!

 

[aegis03florin]

Third Act – The Redressing

Seeing that his strategy worked, Otto decide that it’s the time to finish the business, so he order his knights to charge. When he heard the imperial battle cry “Rome!”, Simon of Montfort realize the danger, so he abandon the fight against the English and Brabantians and, rallying his men, rode to receive the imperial attack. This move save the French center from the total annihilation. Montfort and his men were trashed by the Brunswick knights who throw them in disarray, and provoking them high loses. Otto had the upper hand. Frustrated that he had lost the momentum of the charge, he renew the attack against the thin line of French knights. The two sides descend into a melee, not very favorable to the already exhausted French.

The count of Beauvais, Philip of Dreux, decide that it’s not time to waste. Till now he guarded the bridge and direct the group of monks who chant songs and recite from the Psalms to strengthen the spirit of the fighters. He order now his footman to stop anyone to cross the bridge, friend or foe and rode forward with the 20 knights from the ecclesiastical domains and 120 mounted sergeants. With cries of “Montjoie, Saint-Denis” the Bishop charged Otto, smashing his way with a big mace that “accidentally was in his hands”. On his side was the young Philip Hurepel, the son of the King who join the battle for rescue his father with a small group of bodyguards.

In the meanwhile, Philip Augustus return to his senses and, finding that many believed he is dead, he mount on another horse despite his wounded leg. His legs were tightly roped to the sell to prevent his falling. He throw his helmet away in order to be recognize by the people and ride back to the battle “like he had not yet fight before”, followed by his close bodyguards who carried the Oriflamme and the Royal Banner - "azure semé-de-lis or", golden fleurs de Lis on blue azure. As his chronicler William le Breton let us know, the King was saved from the claws of a certain death “by the Grace of God, by the outstanding virtue of the special armour with which his body was enclosed and by the loyalty and devotion of his men”.

Seeing that his king was alive, the running infantry stopped at the bridge, and reformed. After all, they could not cross as the foot sergeants had closed the passage creating a wall of shields and spears. They returned as soon as possible back to the battle.The same William le Breton tell us that “after the King had remounted and the rabble who had brought him down had all been destroyed and killed, the King’s battalion engaged Otto’s echelon”.

Weakened by the sudden departure of Monfort and his knights, the left wing start to lose ground as the English renew their attacks. The French were pushed back into the swamps and they were in great danger. Seeing this time his brother in peril, Philip of Dreux come into rescue, but too late as the Count Robert of Dreux was slain in front of his yes by the English forces. This get mad the bishop who fight like a lion and full of rage and anger, he kill William Longsword in a hand to hand combat with a blow of his mace in his head[1]. The English infantry retreat back in round schiltrom formation, keeping the French at bay, under the leadership of Renaud of Boulogne.

On the right, Brother Guerin come to rescue the Duke of Burgundy who was nearly routed by the Flemish knights. Together they throw them back to their infantry. While the French had partially recovered and somehow stabilized the center, the battle was far from finish or won.


-------------------------
Main Sources:
Wikipedia
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-...bouvines-1214/
----
[1] At Bovines he was captured by Philip of Dreux.

 

[aegis03florin]

Forth Act – The Final Drop

In that critical moments, a diversion had seal the fate of the battle. A small squadron of mounted sergeants and crossbowmen, no stronger than two hundreds, and lead by three knights appears at the back of the Germans. It was a band charged for pillaging the land in order to deny the enemy resources for living. They were far south on the left side of the Somme when the battle start and they found about after the fight was well in its way. The band, originally from Artois, was under the command of Pierre d’Arques[1], castellan of Arques and a close friend of Prince Louis. He decide to cross the river at Fort de Ham, 5-6 miles in the south, to bypass the willow and osier forest and to charge the baggage train of the enemy army.

They arrived just in time, a God gift and blessing. Pierre d’Arque decided to attack the place where was the Imperial battle flag mounted on a chariot and guarder by an infantry force, as well as the Imperial tent. They charge making great noise, crying “Artois!”, “Monjoie!” and “Breizh!”, the Breton war cry. The reserve infantry that guarded the flag was routed, panicked by the sudden attack. They believed that Prince Louis had attacked with all his army. It helped a lot the fact that Pierre had the banners of his master and shouted in Breton, a cry he learned in Brittany during the succession war.

This was the nail in the coffin for the German army.The infantry from both center and the left Imperial wing believed that they are surrounded and start to flee. Everyone was tiered and exhausted of the fight, on both sides but the Imperials give it first as their moral crumble. Soon, a breach opened in the Flemish lines and the count of Saint-Pol was eager to exploit. He penetrates with his men and attack the enemy from behind. Other breach open and the Count William I of Sancerre repeat the maneuver but even more successful as he captured Baldwin. This marked the total collapse of the entire wing who was cut into pieces. With the last resources, humanly and "horselly" possible, Eude of Burgundy redress his knights and charge the center, aiming to the Emperor.

Attacked by reverse and thinking that an entire new french army had just arrived in his back, Otto start to fear that the battle was ended and it’s not his much thought victory. Already fighting with the French, he try to disengage and retreat but a heavy coup of sword glided on his armor and cut deep in the head of his horse. The wound made the animal mad who throw his master on the ground[2] and flee, but not before seriously trample Otto. Several loyal Saxon knights jumped to rescue their suzerain but they were quickly surrounded. The same scene happened earlier with Philip repeat now with Otto. Unfortunately for him, the ones that had surrounded him were not mediocre infantry, but they were knights from the royal household, the French cream of the cream. Guy Mauvoisin, Gerard La Truie, Stephen of Longchamp and William of Garlande were just several among who surrounded Otto. The emperor and his men were captured after a fierce combat. Seeing their emperor captured and attacked from two sides, both the Germans knights and infantry melted away...

The catastrophe was total: William Longsword was killed, both Otto and Baldwin were captured, as well as many other knights and nobles, the center and the left wing had vanish away. Only Renaud of Damartin hold the ground. He had the mercenary infantry form a huge circle, a big schiltrom from where he made sorties with his cavalry but each time he returned he had less and less men. The game was over for him as well…

As the King Philip was not in situation to fight or lead troops, he entrusted the overall command to Brother Guerin. He sent the mounted sergeants to chase the fleeing troop and he surround Renaud with the rest of the army. The rebellious count was requested to surrender but he refuse so he was assaulted from all side. They fight like mad savages beasts trapped in cage but they were finally broken. Anyone who not surrendered was killed. Renaud was captured alive and brought in front of the king. The chase was pursued very late in the evening and stooped only in the middle of the night.

The victory was total!

-----------------------------

Main Sources:
Wikipedia
http://deremilitari.org/2014/03/the-...bouvines-1214/
[1] Well, the same fictional character I used previously in the Breton war of succession to guard Chateaubriant during the battle of Tours. Why I'm using it and not a real character? Well... for fun!
[2] At Bouvines, a similar thing happen but the horse carried away the emperor before dying. He was saved as he remount a fresh horse and flee.