Robert II, Count of Artois Falls at the Battle of the Golden Spurs
On July 11, 1302, Robert II, Count of Artois, was killed while leading the French army at the Battle of the Golden Spurs near Kortrijk in modern-day Belgium. Confident that his heavily armored knights would overwhelm the Flemish militia, Robert launched a series of cavalry charges—but the determined Flemish infantry held their ground and inflicted one of the most shocking defeats of the Middle Ages.
Robert's death marked a turning point in the battle and became a symbol of the decline of traditional knightly warfare against disciplined foot soldiers. The stunning Flemish victory echoed across Europe, proving that well-organized infantry could defeat the most powerful feudal armies of the age.
