List of wars in the Low Countries until 1560 explained

This is a list of wars that occurred in the Low Countries until 1560.

List

StartFinishName of conflictBelligerentsOutcome
Combatant 1Combatant 2
58 BCE50 BCEGallic WarsRoman RepublicGallic tribes
Germanic tribes
Celtic Britons
Iberian tribes
Decisive Roman victory
  • Roman Republic annexes Gaul and Belgica
54 BCE53 BCEAmbiorix's revolt
(part of the Gallic Wars)
Roman RepublicEburonesRoman victory
  • Rebellion suppressed
12 BCE16 CERoman campaigns in Germania (12 BC – AD 16)
(including the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest)
Roman EmpireGermanic tribesStrategic Germanic victory
  • Roman withdrawal
2828Roman EmpireFrisiiIndecisive; tactical Frisian victory
  • Roman withdrawal
4747Roman EmpireCananefates
Chauci
Frisii
Roman victory
  • Germanic revolt/invasion defeated
  • Temporary Roman occupation of Frisia
6970Roman EmpireBatavi
Cananefates
Frisii
Lingones
Treveri
Roman victory
  • Rebellion suppressed
286296Roman Empire Carausius
Franks
Roman victory
  • Rebellion suppressed
  • Franks (temporarily?) occupy the lands between
    the Rhine and Waal rivers, and between
    the mouths of the Rhine and Scheldt[1]
c.445c.450Frankish conquest of Turnacum and Cameracum[2] Roman EmpireSalian FranksFrankish victory
448448Roman EmpireSalian FranksRoman victory
c.450c.450Battle of Finnsburg?FrisiiDanesDanish victory
c.525c.525?Frankish Empire
Frisii?
DanesFrankish victory
600793Frankish EmpireFrisian KingdomFrankish victory
  • Frisian Kingdom annexed
715718Frankish Civil War (715–718)Carolingian faction (Austrasian)
Charles Martel
Chlothar IV (717–718)----Pippinid faction (Austrasian)
Theudoald (715–717)
Plectrude (715–717)
Neustrian faction
Ragenfrid
Dagobert III (†715)
Chilperic II
Redbad of Frisia (716–718)
Odo of Aquitaine (independent until 718)
Carolingian victory
  • Neustrians defeat Pippinids (715)
  • Charles subjects Pippinids, enthrones Chlothar (717)
  • Carolingians defeat Neustrians (718)
  • Chlothar dies, Charles recognises Chilperic as king
    but gains de facto power as palace mayor,
    establishing the Carolingian dynasty (718)
772804Saxon WarsFrankish Empire
Obotrite Confederacy
Saxons
Frisians
Frankish victory
  • Saxons and Frisians subdued
834891Viking raids in the RhinelandVikingsFrankish Empire, splitting into: Frankish victory
978980Franco-German war of 978–980Holy Roman EmpireLower lorraineWest FranciaStatus quo ante bellum
987991Charles-Hugh Capet warLower LotharingiaKingdom of FranceFrench victory
10121018Lower Lorrainian war of succession[3] County of Verdun
Prince-Bishopric of Liège
County of Leuven & Brussels
County of Namur
County of Hainaut
County of FlandersCounty of Holland

County of Luxemburg

Verdun victory
10181018Battle of VlaardingenWest Frisia (later County of Holland) Holy Roman EmpireLower LorraineWest Frisian victory
  • West Frisia obtains de facto autonomy
10371037Odo II invasion of LotharingiaCounty of ChampagneLower and Upper Lotharingia under Gothelo IHoly Roman EmpireKingdom of BurgundyBattle of Bar-le-Duc : death of Odo●Holy Roman Empire victory
10441056 Upper Lorraine
Pro-Godfrey Lower Lorraine
County of Flanders
County of Leuven & Brussels
Holy Roman Empire
Pro-Gothelo II Lower Lorraine
Pro-Frederick Lower Lorraine
Bishopric of Metz
Compromise
10701071 Pro-Robert Flanders
West Frisia (later County of Holland)
Pro-Arnulf Flanders
Kingdom of France
County of Hainaut
County of Boulogne
Duchy of Normandy
West Frisian victory
10761076West Frisia (later County of Holland)County of Flanders Prince-Bishopric of UtrechtLower LotharingiaWest Frisian victory
11011115Wars of Henry of Lower LorrainePro Henry Lower LotharingiaHoly Roman empire(1104-1106)Pro Godfrey Lower LotharingiaHoly Roman empire(1101-1104 and 1006-1115)Godfrey I, Count of Louvain remain Duke of Lower Lotharingia and Henry became count of Limburg
11021105German-Flemish warCounty of FlandersHoly Roman EmpireDuchy of Lower LotharingiaStatus quo ante bellum
11271128War of the Flemish succession (1127–1128) Pro-William Clito FlandersLower Lotharingia Pro-Theoderic of Alsace FlandersTheoderican victory
  • William Clito died of wounds, ending the war
11281131Godfrey-Waleran warPro Godfrey Lower LotharingiaPro Waleran Lower Lotharingia•Battle of Wilderen : Waleran victory•Waleran became duke of Lower Lotharingia•Godfrey renonce his title and went to the abbey of Affligem
11321297[4] [5] [6] County of HollandWest FrisiansHollandic victory
11391140Rebellion of Henry II of LimburgPro Henry Lower LotharingiaPro Godfrey Lower LotharingiaGodfrey victory, he remain duke of Lower lotharingia
11391159 County of Leuven & Brussels House of BerthoutLeuven victory
  • Leuven acquires the Lordship of Grimbergen
11421142Limburg-Fauquemont warCounty of LimburgLimburg victory
11651323[7] County of Flanders County of HollandHollandic victory: Treaty of Paris (1323)
  • Holland acquires Zeeland Bewestenschelde
11861263/5War of the Namurois–Luxemburgish succession[8] [9] House of Namur (Ermesinde)
Limburg-Luxemburg dynasty
County of Namur (contested)
County of Luxemburg (contested until 1199)
House of Flanders (Baldwins)
County of Hainaut
County of Namur (contested)
County of Flanders
Compromise
12021378 Prince-Bishopric of Liège
County of Loon
Duchy of Brabant
Dual Lordship of Maastricht
Compromise: Truce of Booienhoven
  • Liège acquires Moha and Loon
  • Brabant acquires Limburg and Overmaas
  • Dual Lordship of Maastricht confirmed
12031206Loon WarAda and Louis II
Loon
Supported by:
France
Staufen
Flanders
Brabant
Limburg
Utrecht
Liège
William
Holland
Supported by:
England
House of Welf
Military and long-term political victory for William
  • William recognised as count of Holland
12121213War of the Moha succession
(part of the Liégeois–Brabantian Wars)
Duchy of Brabant Prince-Bishopric of LiègeLiégeois victory
  • Moha annexed by Liège
12131214Anglo-French War (1213–1214) Kingdom of France
Duchy of Burgundy
County of Champagne
County of Dreux
County of Ponthieu
County of Saint-Pol
Duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Bretagne
Prince-Bishopric of Liège
Angevin Empire
(England, Anjou, Normandy, Aquitaine)
Holy Roman Empire
Flanders-Namur
County of Boulogne
Hainaut-Holland
Brabant-Leuven
Duchy of Lorraine
Duchy of Limburg
Duchy of Saxony
Palatinate
French victory
12251227Drenthe–Groningen war Burgraviate of Groningen
Bishopric of Utrecht
Burgraviate of Coevorden ("Drenthe")
Gelkingen
Drenther victory
  • Utrecht bishop dies in battle, new bishop proclaims crusade
12281232Drenther Crusade Bishopric of Utrecht
Frisian crusaders
Burgraviate of Coevorden ("Drenthe")
Ommelander rebels
Inconclusive
  • Drenthe retains de facto independence from Utrecht
1226/81231/2War of the Succession of Breda[10]
12441254War of the Flemish Succession House of Flanders
House of Dampierre
Supported by:
Anjou (3rd conflict)
House of Avesnes
Supported by:
Holland (2nd conflict)
Zeeland (2nd conflict)
Compromise
  • Dampierre obtains Flanders
  • Avesnes obtains Hainaut
1245/501273/5Great Interregnum Hohenstaufen party Welf party Compromise
12561422Friso-Hollandic Wars County of HollandUpstalsboom League
Various other Frisian factions
Holland conquers West Frisia,
but makes no substantial gains in Middle Frisia
12721278War of the Cow Prince-Bishopric of Liège County of NamurIndecisive
  • Status quo ante bellum
12831289War of the Limburg Succession Duchy of Brabant
County of Loon
City of Cologne
County of Guelders
County of Luxemburg
Electorate of Cologne
Brabantian victory
12961335[11] Awans WarouxStalemate
  • Status quo ante bellum
12971305Franco-Flemish War Kingdom of France
Flemish patricians
County of Flanders
County of Namur
French victory
  • Flanders cedes Lille, Douai, Bethune and Orchies to France
  • Flanders remains independent
13031306Brabantian artisan guildsBrabantian patrician class
Duke of Brabant
Patrician–ducal victory
  • Rebellion suppressed
13221326 Prince-Bishopric of Münster County of GueldersCompromise: Peace of Wesel
  • Guelders acquires the Lordship of Bredevoort
  • Münster acquires the Lordship of Bermentfelde (in Borken)
13231328Peasant revolt in Flanders 1323–1328 Kingdom of France
Flemish count and loyalists
Flemish rebelsFrench victory
  • Restoration of pro-French count
  • Repression of all who participated in the revolt
13361366Wars of the Loon Succession
(part of the Liégeois–Brabantian Wars)
County of Loon[12]
Supported by:
Duchy of Brabant (1337–1363)
Duchy of Luxemburg (1361–1366)
Prince-Bishopric of Liège
Supported by:
Avignon Papacy
Liégeois victory
13371453Hundred Years' War
      Valois victory
      • England permanently loses all lands in France except Calais
      • Valois-Burgundy becomes semi-independent state (1363)
      • Burgundy starts gradual acquisition of Low Countries (1384)
      • Flanders remains under French suzerainty (1453)
      13501361 Reginald III, Duke of Guelders
      Heeckeren faction
      Edward, Duke of Guelders
      Bronckhorst faction
      Edwardian victory
      13501490Hook and Cod warsHook league (anti-Burgundy)Cod league (pro-Burgundy)Cod victory
      • Holland remains in Burgundian hands
      13521365War of the Valkenburg succession Reginald of Schönforst---- Duchy of Brabant (1364–1365) Waleran of ValkenburgBrabantian victory
      • Brabant inherited Valkenburg in 1378
      13561357War of the Brabantian Succession Duchy of Brabant
      Duchy of Limburg
      Lordship of Mechelen
      Duchy of Luxemburg
      County of Flanders
      County of Namur (Jun. '56–Feb. '57)---- Duchy of Guelders
      County of Zutphen
      Flemish–Guelderian victory
      • Joanna recognised as duchess of Brabant
      • Flanders and Guelders acquire some Brabantian lands
      13641368First war of Guelders Duchy of Brabant
      Heeckeren faction
      County of Holland
      County of Hainaut
      Duchy of Guelders
      Bronckhorst faction
      County of Zutphen
      Bishopric of Utrecht
      Military stalemate, diplomatic Brabantian victory
      • Brabant regains county of Megen
      13711371Battle of Baesweiler Duchy of Jülich
      Duchy of Guelders
      County of Zutphen
      Duchy of Brabant
      County of Namur
      County of Ligny
      Jülich–Guelderian victory
      13711379First War of the Guelderian Succession Duchy of Jülich
      Bronckhorst faction
      Blois
      Heeckeren faction
      Jülich victory
      13791385Revolt of Ghent (1379–1385)
      (part of the Hundred Years' War)
      Kingdom of France
      County of Flanders
      Duchy of Burgundy (1384–5)
      Ghent rebels
      Kingdom of England (1383–5)
      Franco–Burgundian victory
      • Peace of Tournai
      • Ghent recognises royal and comital authority
      • Ghent is granted amnesty
      13821383Despenser's Crusade
      (part of the Hundred Years' War,
      Revolt of Ghent and Western Schism)
      Kingdom of France
      County of Flanders
      Avignon Papacy
      Kingdom of England
      Ghent rebels
      Papal States
      Truce
      • English withdrawal
      13851390[13] Duchy of Brabant
      Duchy of Limburg
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Kingdom of France
      Duchy of Guelders
      County of Zutphen
      Land of Cuijk
      Duchy of Jülich
      Guelderian victory
      • Land of Cuijk acquired by Guelders
      13971399Third war of Guelders[14] Duchy of Brabant
      Prince-Bishopric of Liège (1397–98)
      Duchy of Guelders
      Duchy of Jülich
      Peace of Ravenstein, 15 August 1399
      14011412[15] County of Holland
      Gorinchem (1406–7)
      Land van Arkel
      Duchy of Guelders (1409–12)
      Hollandic victory
      • Arkel sold to Holland
      • Arkel later divided between Holland and Guelders
      14131422Great Frisian WarVetkopersSchieringersStalemate
      • Status quo ante bellum treaty
      14231449Utrecht Schism[16] Pro-Rudolf Utrecht
      Lichtenbergers
      Hook league
      Proysen
      Papal States (1432–1449)
      Anti-Rudolf Utrecht
      Lokhorsten
      Cod league
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Duchy of Guelders (1423–29)
      Papal States (1423–32)
      Council of Basel (1431–49)
      Antipope Felix V (1439–49)
      Lichtenberger victory
      • Rudolf militarily defeats Guelders (1429)
      • Pope Martin V and Zweder van Culemborg die (1431/3)
      • Pope Eugenius IV recognises Rudolf (1432)
      • Council of Basel dissolves, Antipope steps down (1449)
      • Walraven van Meurs renounces claims (1449)
      • Rudolf recognised as Prince-Bishop of Utrecht
      14381441Dutch–Hanseatic War
      (part of the Sound Wars)
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Hanseatic League
      Lüneburg
      Mecklenburg
      Pomerania
      Holstein
      Brandenburg
      Stalemate; compromise
      14421446Hollandic–Bremer war County of Holland
      County of Zeeland
      County of Flanders
      Frisian lands
      BremenPeace of Harderwijk (1446)
      14491453Revolt of Ghent (1449–1453) Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Ghent rebelsBurgundian victory
      • Rebellion suppressed
      14561458Utrecht war (1456–1458) Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Graauwerts
      Cod league
      Van Brederode
      Van Montfoort
      Lichtenbergers
      Hook league
      Burgundian victory
      14581464[17] Harinxmas (Schieringers)Donias (Vetkopers)Successive reconciliations between warring clans
      14591459Revolt against Arnold[18] Pro-Adolf Guelders
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Pro-Arnold GueldersArnoldian victory
      • Adolf reconciles with Arnold, but continues plotting
      14651468Wars of Liège Prince-Bishopric of Liège
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Liégeois rebels
      Green Tent Companions
      Kingdom of France
      Burgundian victory
      • Burgundy de facto annexes Liège
      14651468War in Guelders Pro-Adolf Guelders
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Electorate of Cologne
      Pro-Arnold Guelders
      Duchy of Cleves
      County of Mark
      Adolfian victory
      • Adolf imprisons Arnold (1465–1471)
      • Adolf becomes Duke of Guelders
      • Guelders reclaims Wachtendonk
      14731473Burgundian conquest of Guelders[19] Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Duchy of Cleves
      County of Mark
      Duchy of Guelders
      County of Zutphen
      Burgundian victory
      • Burgundy inherits and conquers Guelders
      • Adolf remains in Burgundian prison (1471–1477)
      14741477Burgundian Wars Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Duchy of Savoy
      Duchy of Lorraine
      Franco–Swiss victory
      14771482War of the Burgundian SuccessionHabsburg



      Duchy of Burgundy
      Burgundian Netherlands

      Valois-Orléans


      Kingdom of France

      Duchy of Guelders

      Treaty of Arras (1482), Treaty of Senlis (1493)
      • Habsburg acquires Burgundian Netherlands and more
      • France annexes the Duchy of Burgundy, Picardy and more
      • Swiss Confederacy annexes some Burgundian lands
      14771499
      (1477–82, 1494–9)
      (part of the War of the Burgundian Succession)
      Habsburg:

      Duchy of Burgundy (1477–82)
      Burgundian Netherlands
      Duchy of Cleves (1498–9)
      Duchy of Jülich (1498–9)
      Guelders:
      Duchy of Guelders
      Supported by:
      Kingdom of France
      Guelderian victory
      • De facto Guelderian independence
      14811483Utrecht war of 1481–83
      (part of the Hook and Cod Wars)
      Cod league
      Duchy of Burgundy
      Hook league
      Duchy of Cleves
      Cod victory
      • Utrecht remains in Habsburg Burgundian hands
      14831492Flemish revolts against Maximilian
      Habsburg Netherlands
      County of FlandersHabsburg victory
      • City walls of Bruges demolished, loses economic position
      14881490Squire Francis War
      (part of the Hook and Cod Wars)
      Cod league (pro-Habsburg)

      Habsburg Netherlands
      Hook league (anti-Habsburg)Cod–Habsburg victory
      • Holland remains in Habsburg hands
      14911492Bread and Cheese Revolt
      Habsburg Netherlands
      Bread and Cheese folkHabsburg victory
      • Rebellion suppressed
      15021543Guelders WarsHabsburg:

      Spanish Empire (incl. Netherlands)
      County of Holland
      County of Flanders
      Duchy of Brabant
      Duchy of Luxemburg---- Imperial Frisia (Saxony) (1514–15)---- Bishopric of Utrecht (1508–28)
      Guelders:
      Duchy of Guelders
      Groningen & Ommelanden (1514–36)
      Frisian rebels (1514–23)
      Jülich-Cleves-Berg (1538–43)
      Supported by:
      Kingdom of France---- County of East Frisia (1514–17)---- Utrecht rebel groups (1520–28)
      Habsburg victory
      • Guelders, Utrecht, Frisia and Groningen annexed
      • Overijssel and Drenthe detached from Utrecht
      • Jülich and East Frisia remain independent
      15141517Saxon feud
      (part of the Guelders Wars)
      Imperial Frisia (Saxony) (1514–15)---- Habsburg Netherlands (1515–17)----24 German princes County of East Frisia---- City of Groningen
      Ommelanden
      Frisian rebels---- Duchy of Guelders
      Compromise
      15311534
      (part of the Guelders Wars)
      County of East Frisia Duchy of Guelders
      Harlingerland---- Lordship of Jever
      Guelderian victory; Peace of Logum
      • Jever becomes Habsburg vassal (1531)
      • Harlingerland becomes Guelderian vassal
      • East Frisia pays war indemnity to Guelders
      15391540Revolt of Ghent (1539)
      Spanish Empire (incl. Netherlands)
      Ghent rebelsHabsburg victory
      • Rebellion suppressed
      15421546Italian War of 1542–1546

      Spanish Empire (incl. Netherlands)

      Ottoman Empire
      Jülich-Cleves-Berg

      Inconclusive
      • Treaty of Crépy (1544)
      • Treaty of Ardres (1546)
      15511559Italian War of 1551–1559
          Spanish and Imperial (Habsburg) victory

          Bibliography

          Notes and References

          1. Encarta-encyclopedie Winkler Prins (1993–2002) s.v. "Franken". Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum.
          2. According to Lanting & van der Plicht (2010), the conquest of Turnacum and Cameracum probably happened in the period 445–450. Book: Lanting . J. N. . van der Plicht . J. . 2010 . Palaeohistoria 51/52 (2009/2010) . De 14C-chronologie van de Nederlandse Pre- en Protohistorie VI: Romeinse tijd en Merovische periode, deel A: historische bronnen en chronologische thema's . https://books.google.com/books?id=6HCeJU_7SFwC&pg=PA46 . Groningen . Groningen Institute of Archaeology . 46–47 . 9789077922736 . 8 July 2020 . nl.
          3. Timothy Reuter (ed.), The New Cambridge Medieval History. Volume 3, c.900–c.1024 (1999), p. 321.
          4. Book: Nieuwenhuijsen, Kees . 2018 . De Slag bij Vlaardingen 1018: Strijd om het graafschap Holland . Utrecht . Uitgeverij Omniboek . 289 . 9789401912693 . 5 January 2020.
          5. Book: 't Jong, Henk . 2018 . De dageraad van Holland: De geschiedenis van het graafschap 1100-1300 . Utrecht . Uitgeverij Omniboek . 123 . 9789020534870 . 5 January 2020.
          6. News: Resten West-Friese moordpartij gevonden . NOS . 25 November 2011 . 5 January 2020.
          7. Oorlog om Holland 1000-1375 (Verloren, Hilversum, 2004),, p. 156, 167.

          8. Encarta-encyclopedie Winkler Prins (1993–2002) s.v. "Namen [geschiedenis]. §1. Regeerders". Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum.
          9. Book: Coppens, Thera . 2019 . Johanna en Margaretha: Gravinnen van Vlaanderen en prinsessen van Constantinopel . Meulenhoff Boekerij . 348, footnote 315 . 9789402313956 . 11 January 2020.
          10. Book: Boeren, P.C. . 1962 . Hadewych en Heer Hendrik Van Breda . Leiden . E.J. Brill . 28–29 . 19 December 2016. nl.
          11. Encarta-encyclopedie Winkler Prins (1993–2002) s.v. "Awans-en-Waroux-oorlog". Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum.
          12. Arnold and Godfrey were also quarreling amongst themselves, and did not constitute a united front against the Liégeois prince-bishop.
          13. Book: Eads . V. . Rogers . Clifford J. . 2010 . The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology: Volume I . Oxford University Press . Oxford . 218 . 978-0195334036 . 16 December 2019.
          14. Book: Houthuys, Astrid . 2009 . Middeleeuws kladwerk: de autograaf van de Brabantsche yeesten, boek VI (vijftiende eeuw) . Hilversum . Uitgeverij Verloren . 261 . 9789087040635 . 12 January 2020.
          15. Book: Brouwer, Maria . 2016 . Governmental Forms and Economic Development: From Medieval to Modern Times . Switzerland . Springer Publishing . 161 . 9783319420400 . 21 December 2019.
          16. Book: van Engen, Hildo . 2006 . De derde orde van Sint-Franciscus in het middeleeuwse bisdom Utrecht: Een bijdrage tot de institutionele geschiedenis van de Moderne Devotie . Hilversum . Uitgeverij Verloren . 137–138 . 9789065509208.
          17. , Fryslân, staat en macht (Hilversum 1999) pp. 53–60.
          18. Book: Nuyens, Willem Jan Frans . Willem Jan Frans Nuyens

            . Willem Jan Frans Nuyens . 1873 . Algemeene geschiedenis des Nederlandschen volks, van de vroegste tijden tot op onze dagen, Deel 2 . Amsterdam . 91–98 .

          19. Encarta-encyclopedie Winkler Prins (1993–2002) s.v. "Karel [Bourgondische gewesten]. §1. Buitenlandse politiek". Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum.