Battle of Bouvines - The Contenders

The Contenders

Even today, the evaluation of forces is controversial. The classic French historiography often refers to Coalition troops three times more numerous than those of the King of France (Philip Contamine is not of this opinion: "In front, his opponents did not have a clear numerical superiority"). William the Breton, chaplain to Philip II at Bouvines at the battle, that the lines of soldiers stood in line in a space of 40 000 steps (15 hectares), which leaves very little clearance and predisposes melee. William the Breton also says in his column that the two lines of combatants were separated by a small space.

Philip Augustus had then launched an appeal to the municipalities in northern France, in order to obtain their cooperation.

Seventeen of the thirty-nine municipalities of the royal demesne answered the call for militia:

• Arras sent 1,000 men.
• Abbeville sent 2000 men.
• Paris sent a corps of 2000 men, 1750 of which fought on the battlefield.

In total, the royal army would include 7,000 militiamen.