Editing Battle of Bouvines (section)

==Prelude==
In 1214, Count [[Ferdinand of Flanders]] desired the return of the cities of [[Aire-sur-la-Lys]] and [[Saint-Omer]], which he had recently lost to King [[Philip II of France]], in the [[Treaty of Pont-à-Vendin]]. He thus broke allegiance with Philip and assembled a broad coalition including [[Emperor Otto IV]], [[King John of England]], Duke [[Henry I of Brabant]], Count [[William I of Holland]], Duke [[Theobald I of Lorraine]], and Duke [[Henry III of Limburg]].{{sfn|Verbruggen|1997|p=239}}

The campaign was planned by John, who was the fulcrum of the alliance; his plan was to draw the French away from Paris southward towards his forces and keep them occupied, while the main army, under Emperor Otto IV, marched on Paris from the north.{{sfn|Verbruggen|1997|p=239}} John's plan was followed initially, but the allies in the north moved slowly. John, after two encounters with the French, retreated to [[Aquitaine]] on 3 July.

On 23 July, having summoned his [[vassal]]s, Philip had an army consisting of 6,000 to 8,000 soldiers.{{sfn|Verbruggen|1997|pp=245–246}} The Emperor finally succeeded in concentrating his forces at [[Valenciennes]], although this did not include John, and in the interval Philip had counter-marched northward and regrouped.{{sfn|Verbruggen|1997|p=240}} Philip now took the offensive himself, and after manoeuvring to obtain good ground for his cavalry he offered battle on 27 July, on the plain east of Bouvines and the river [[Marque (river)|Marque]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=336–337}}

Otto was surprised by the speed of his enemy and was thought to have been caught unprepared by Philip, who probably deliberately lured Otto into his trap. Otto decided to launch an attack on what was then the French rearguard.{{sfn|Verbruggen|1997|p=241}}

The allied army drew up facing south-west towards Bouvines, the heavy cavalry on the wings and the infantry in one great mass in the centre, supported by a [[cavalry]] corps under Otto himself. The French army formed up opposite in a similar formation, cavalry on the wings, infantry, including the town militias, in the centre. Philip, with the cavalry reserve and the royal standard, the [[Oriflamme]], positioned himself to the rear of the men on foot.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=336–337}} It is said by [[William the Breton]], chaplain to Philip at the battle, that the soldiers stood in line in a space of 40,000 steps ({{convert|abbr=on|15|ha|disp=or}}), which leaves very little clearance and predisposes to hand-to-hand fighting. William the Breton also says in his chronicle that "the two lines of combatants were separated by a small space".{{sfn|Duby|1990}}