Battle of Gisors facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Gisors
Date 27 September 1198 Location Courcelles-lès-Gisors, Oise, Picardy, France Result English victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of England Duchy of Normandy	Kingdom of France
Commanders and leaders
Richard the Lionheart	Philip Augustus
Strength
200 and/or more knights unknown amount of infantry-presumably more than knights	300 and/or more knights unknown amount of infantry-presumably more than knights
Casualties and losses
unknown number of casualties	at least 100 knights captured

The Battle of Gisors was a small but important fight that happened on September 27, 1198. It took place near Courcelles-lès-Gisors in France. This battle was part of a bigger conflict between two powerful kings: Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart, and Philip II of France, also known as Philip Augustus. Their rivalry lasted for many years, from 1194 until Richard's death in 1199. The fighting started again after a short break, which was just long enough for farmers to gather their crops. Both kings attacked each other's lands, causing a lot of trouble for the people living there.

What Led to the Battle?

Richard the Lionheart moved into French territory. He captured several castles along the way. Two important castles he took were Courcelles and Burris. The castle of Courcelles still has a strong, unique oval tower today.

King Philip Augustus of France wanted to get Courcelles back. He marched from Mante with about 300 knights. He also had many foot soldiers and citizens with him.

The French army was larger than Richard's forces. As they marched, they changed direction. They decided to advance towards the town of Gisors. This is where the two armies met.

The Battle of Gisors

The Anglo-Norman army, led by Richard, fought bravely. They defeated the French forces. Many important French knights were captured during the fight. They also captured many horses that had lost their riders.

The French soldiers tried to escape the battle. They fled by crossing a bridge at the town of Gisors. However, the bridge could not hold their weight. It broke down, sending many soldiers into the river.

King Philip Augustus himself fell into the water. Richard later joked that the King of France "had to drink of the river." Philip's troops managed to pull him out of the water. Even though the French lost the battle, the strong fortress of Gisors remained in their hands.

After the Battle

After the Battle of Gisors, the two kings agreed to another temporary truce. This peace agreement was made at a place called Vernon. It gave both sides a short break from the fighting.

Richard's Famous Motto

Before the Battle of Gisors, Richard the Lionheart supposedly created a special phrase. This phrase was "Dieu et mon droit" (pronounced "Dee-uh ay mon DWAH"). It means "God and my right."

Richard used this phrase to tell his friends from his enemies. It also showed that he believed he owed his kingdom only to God and his own right. He did not believe he owed loyalty to the King of France for his lands like Normandy, Aquitaine, and Anjou. This motto is still used today by the British monarchy.