Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
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The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle was fought on August 17, 1304 between the French and the Flemish. The French were led by King Philip IV the Fair. Both sides claimed victory: the rebels inflicted heavier casualties, but the French remained in possession of the battlefield. Eventually, the Treaty of Athis-sur-Orge, signed on June 23, 1305, recognized Flemish independence at the cost of the cities of Lille, Douai and Béthune, which were transferred to France.
Some historians estimate that the French suffered a loss of more than 3,000 knights, but most place their losses of knights at about 1,500, with a further 1,500 infantrymen and archers lost as well. Casualty figures for the Flemish rebels are scarce, but it would be prudent to state that their casualties were smaller than those of the French.
With this battle, the golden spurs that were collected by Flemish militiamen from the bodies of French cavalry in the Battle of the Golden Spurs two years before were taken down and reclaimed by the French. The Flemish had hung them up in the Church of Our Lady in Kortrijk as a symbol of victory in battle.
