Philip van Artevelde

Philip van Artevelde (c. 1340 – 27 November 1382) was a Flemish patriot, the son of Jacob van Artevelde. Because of his father's prominence he was godson of English queen Philippa of Hainault, who held him in her arms during his baptism.

Largely due to his father's name and the memory of his godmother, Philip was a leader of Ghent in 1381 at the head of the burgher's rebellion against Count Louis II of Flanders. Early success led to the capture of Bruges and most of Flanders by the rebels, but Philip perished in the crush of bodies at the Battle of Roosebeke in 1382.

His body was displayed before French king Charles VI and then hanged from a tree. After his death the command of Ghent was taken up by Franz Ackerman.

His life was commemorated in a tragic play by Sir Henry Taylor in 1834.

References

• Jean Froissart, Chroniques, Book II.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Filips van Artevelde

• Encyclopedia Britannica (1911) entry for Philip Van Artevelde.
• Excerpt from Froissart's Chronicle describing Philip's rise to power.
• Excerpts from Taylor's "Philip Van Artevelde".