Editing Louis VIII of France (section)

===Campaign of 1214===
In 1213, Louis occupied two towns in Flanders, St. Omer and Aire,{{sfn|Warren|1997|p=203}} which led to animosity between Louis' father, Philip II, and Count Renaud of Boulogne.{{sfn|Warren|1997|p=203}} By 1214, Philip II of France was facing an alliance consisting of King John of England, Emperor [[Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto IV]], Count [[Renaud I, Count of Dammartin|Renaud of Boulogne]] and Count [[Ferdinand, Count of Flanders|Ferdinand of Flanders]].{{sfn|Barlow|1999|p=335}} Facing a two-front war, the first attack coming from Flanders led by Otto, Renaud and Ferdinand, supported by the [[William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury|Earl of Salisbury]] would march south-west, while the other attack from Poitou, under John, would march north-east towards Paris.{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=286}}

Louis was given command of the front against John in Poitou. The first part of the campaign went well for the English, Louis being outmaneuvered by John, and losing the city of [[Angers]] by the end of June.{{sfn|Warren|1997|p=221}}  When John besieged the castle of [[Roche-au-Moine]], a key stronghold, Louis was forced give battle against John's army.{{sfn|Warren|1997|p=222}} When faced against Louis' forces, the local Poitevin nobles refused to advance with the king; left at something of a disadvantage, John retreated back to [[La Rochelle]].{{sfn|Warren|1997|p=222}} Shortly afterwards, Philip won the hard-fought [[Battle of Bouvines]] in the north against Otto and John's other allies, bringing an end to John's hopes of retaking Normandy.{{sfn|Warren|1997|p=224}}