The Battle of Baesweiler (22 August 1371) was a conflict between the duke of Luxembourg-Brabant and the Duke of Jülich.
Background
Attacks on Brabant's commercial interests in the territory of the Duke of Jülich had almost caused war in November 1367 and September 1369.[1] Peace was only maintained by the involvement of the Landfrieden.[1] After mercenaries robbed a number of Brabantine merchants on the territory of William II, Duke of Jülich in 1371, William refused to pay reparation to Wenceslaus I of Luxembourg, the Duke of Brabant, let alone punish the mercenaries, instead protecting them and even hiring some.[1] As Wenceslas prepared his forces, William sought help from his brother-in-law, Edward, Duke of Guelders.[2]
Battle
On 20 August, Wenceslas led his army of 2,500 from the border town of Maastricht towards the enemy capital of Jülich.[2] The army advanced slowly, burning and looting as it went and by the evening of 21 August was encamped near the town of Baesweiler north of Aachen.[2] On 22 August, Wenceslas' army was confronted by the smaller force of William, Duke of Jülich which consisted of 1,600 troops.[2] Two different versions of what happened next are recorded. In one, the army of Jülich attacked in the morning while the Brabant forces were at mass.[2] In the other, the army of Brabant had the best of the fighting until the late appearance of the troops of Edward, Duke of Guelders, perhaps from ambush.[3]
Boffa, Sergio (2010). "Low Countries:Narrative". In Rogers, Clifford J. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology. Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. pp. 540–549.
Nijsten, Gerard (2004). In the Shadow of Burgundy: The Court of Guelders in the Late Middle Ages. Translated by Guest, Tanis. Cambridge University Press.