Valeir van de Moart (Memorial Battle of Gavere)

The Battle of Gavere was the decisive battle of the Ghent Revolt (1449–1453), in which the Ghent militias were defeated by the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good.

The reason for the revolt of the people of Ghent was the high taxes in their city. When the news spread that Philip the Good had gathered an army of 30,000 men near Gavere, the people of Ghent formed a similar army with militias from all over the county of Flanders.

However, the chances of victory of the people of Ghent during the battle of Gavere on 23 July 1453 were immediately thwarted when their artillery was destroyed by an explosion. The Burgundian army defeated the people of Ghent at Semmerzake near Gavere. Thanks to the persistent resistance of 1000 intransigent inhabitants of Ghent, Ghent was not looted and destroyed. After this battle, Ghent submitted to the Duke of Burgundy by signing the Peace of Gavere.

pmoerman