Massacre of French Garrison

Date: May 18, 1302 • Location: Brugge, Belgium

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1302–1305.

Armed insurrectionists massacred the occupying French garrison in Bruges, Flanders, killing approximately 2,000 people.

The Matins of Bruges was the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges on 18 May 1302 by the members of the local Flemish militia. It has been named "Matins" in analogy to the Sicilian Vespers of 1282. The revolt reignated the Franco-Flemish War and led to the Battle of the Golden Spurs, which saw the Flemish militia defeat French troops on 11 July 1302.