<b>Flanders (~900-1384)<b>

Flanders was the most important French province since the 1100's. Situated on the border of the Holy Roman Empire and speaking Flemish rather than French, they were always different and more independent minded. They were part of France and could not connect to the other peoples speaking related languages, but they never considered themselves French. Apart from that, their advanced culture made them stand out even more.

The Flemish had been very much involved with the British Isles ever since the 11th Century; a large group of Flemings accompanied William the Conqueror to England in his invasion of 1066, and a lot of them settled in Wales and Scotland as well as England and Ireland. They brought their advanced knowledge of wool manufacture with them, knowledge that was put to good use, as it later became one of the British Isles' most prosperous trades. The Flemish connection with England was thus strong, and it was not uncommon for an English king to seek out an alliance with these people to help him in wars against France.

One of the earliest of these instances was in 1214, when the Flemish were one of the allies of King John of England. The count of Flanders was one of the 140 nobles captured, after the battle of Bouvines (1214), and he was led in a triumphal procession through Paris, a humiliation no count or duke from the Low Countries suffered since.

Flanders' economy was at its peak in the 13th century, when it was the richest of all French provinces. In 1302, the wealthy Flemish began a war for independence, culminating in the famous battle of Kortrijk (1302) also known as the Battle of the Gulden Spurs. The rebellion proved in vain in the long run, though, but it was still a vital part of the formation of Flanders, for it gave it its pride and strengthened nationalism, and the battle is still celebrated today.

Another sharp clash with French authority came in the Hundred Years War, when an alliance was made with King Edward III of England. Large Flemish forces served in English armies, and they played a vital part in the siege of Calais (1347). Surprisingly, the count of Flanders was very much pro-French and died fighting the English at the battle of Crcy (1346). Had he survived, he would have been fighting his own Flemings, too!

The semi-independence of the Flemish cities and guilds was eventually lost when the county fell to Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy, in 1384, through a fortunate marriage. Flanders was a wealthier province than Burgundy, and it became the heart of the Burgundian state. Despite their importance, the Flemish again rebelled several times, but the Burgundians defeated each attempt. So it happened that Flanders eventually passed in to Habsburg hands at the end of the Middle Ages, and would change ownership from Spain to Austria to the Netherlands, until they finally gained their long-sought independence in 1830.
