Histoire de Flandre (T. 3/4)

In the waning years of the 14th century, the Low Countries pulse with the energy of bustling trade cities and a proud tradition of communal liberty. At the centre of this world stands the charismatic duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Hardi, whose reputation for cool calculation and generous patronage masks a relentless drive for power. Through the eyes of chroniclers, listeners hear of his lavish courts, strategic marriages, and the delicate balance he tries to keep between opulent extravagance and the gritty ambitions of the Flemish burghers.

The fragile peace shatters when a rogue noble, the sire d’Escornay, launches a daring raid on Audenarde, breaking carts and doors in a flash of armed surprise. The townsfolk of Ghent rush to the duke’s council, demanding justice, while Philippe brushes it off as a private vendetta, yet quietly mobilises his forces across Artois. Tensions mount, setting the stage for a conflict that will test the very foundations of Flemish autonomy.