Grain shippers’ Storm the Town Hall in Ghent
2 January 1382 : Grain shippers’ Stormed the Town Hall in Ghent
1381: A Year of Unrest
1381 had been a year of great unrest. The authorities strove to retain control. The poor had become desperate, frustrated, and revolted across Europe. In France, a mob in Rouen had seized control, rioted, looted the rich, and forced priests, merchants, and the wealthy to tear up contracts. The French Council was reluctant to compromise, and the violence spread across Normandy, into Flanders. The latter was to the extent that the Count of Flanders needed to resort to military force to try and impose his will on the people. The walled city of Ghent refused to comply. It barred its gates and held firm.
Ghent Blockaded
By summer of 1381 Ghent was standing alone and blockaded. Supplies were slowly cut off by the tightening of the blockade on the city. Negotiations between the Count of Flanders, Lois de Male, and the people of Ghent proved to be difficult. De Male would only accept unconditional surrender. In October, an agreement was made. The City would surrender and hand over 200 of the agitators who had argued for the defiance. The compromise was not supported by everyone within Ghent, with the weavers and mob in opposition to it.
High Stakes
Knowing that a list of 200 agitators would be handed to the Count of Flanders made the leaders of the mob and some politicians more determined to hold out. Those in favour of peace on these terms were increasingly frustrated. Tension was high as lives were at stake from both the siege conditions and, for the leaders of the mob, likely execution upon the surrender of Ghent to the Count.
Grain Shippers’ Guild Storm Ghent Town Hall
On 2 January 1382 members of the Grain Shippers’ Guild took matters into their own hands. With their livelihoods severely damaged by the siege, they were desperate for the peace to go ahead. A crowd, mainly men from the Guild, marched on the town hall. They stormed into the building and sought out the leaders of the opposition to peace. Several men were tortured, then killed. A street battle took place between those in favour of the deal, and those who were opposed to it.
Political consequences
The events of the 2nd led to the opponents of the peace taking a firm grip on Ghent. On the 13th a General Assembly was called in which the opponents to the deal made demands for its rejection. In an unusual series of decisions those who supported peace opted to walk out of the meeting. This left the Weavers Guild in a majority, and they appointed a Captain of Ghent to assume command of the defence of the city.
This Captain, Philip Van Artevelde, was a shrewd appointment. He had connections with the Free Company’s[i] and in England and in February 1382, he had proposals heard by the English Great Council. An alliance of sorts was agreed. Later, Van Artevelde took the fight to the Count of Flanders, securing victory at Bruges[ii].
[i] Froissart, J. Ed: Brereton, G. Penguin. 1968.Chronicles. Book Two, Affairs of Flanders. Page 231
[ii] Sumption, J. Divided Houses, The Hundred Years War III. Faber and Faber. 2009. Page 456.
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