PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Battle of Warns
rdfs:comment
  • After the Hollandic counts completed their conquest of West Frisia they planned the conquest of Middle Frisia, most of the present province of Friesland. In 1345 William IV, count of Holland, prepared a military action to conquer Middle Frisia, crossing the Zuiderzee with a large fleet and with the help of French and Flemish knights, some of whom had just returned from a crusade.
Strength
  • Unknown
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Date
  • 1345-09-26
Commander
  • 25
Caption
  • The monument of the battle of Warns in Friesland. It says, in Frisian, "Better to be dead than a slave".
Casualties
  • Unknown
Result
  • Victory for the Frisians, West Frisia not under Dutch subjugation.
combatant
  • 25
Place
  • Stavoren, Warns, Friesland
Conflict
  • Battle of Warns
abstract
  • After the Hollandic counts completed their conquest of West Frisia they planned the conquest of Middle Frisia, most of the present province of Friesland. In 1345 William IV, count of Holland, prepared a military action to conquer Middle Frisia, crossing the Zuiderzee with a large fleet and with the help of French and Flemish knights, some of whom had just returned from a crusade. He set sail in Enkhuizen to cross the Zuiderzee, together with his uncle John of Beaumont, and landed near Stavoren and Laaxum. They planned to use the Sint-Odulphus monastery near Stavoren as a fortification. The Hollandic knights wore armour, but had no horses as there wasn't enough room in the ships, which were full of building materials and supplies. William's troops set fire to the abandoned villages of Laaxum and Warns and started to advance towards Stavoren. In the countryside around Warns the Hollandic count was attacked by the local inhabitants. With their heavy armor the knights were no match for the furious Frisian farmers and fishermen. The path the Dutch knights choose to flee led straight to the Red Cliffs. As they fled they entered a swamp where they were decisively beaten. Their commander William IV of Holland was killed. When John of Beaumont heard what had happened, he ordered a retreat back to the ships. They were pursued by the Frisians and only a few made it to Amsterdam.