The War of the Cow (1275–1276): A Feudal Conflict Sparked by Theft

The so-called War of the Cow (Guerre de la Vache) erupted from a seemingly minor incident—the theft of a cow—which escalated into a bloody regional war in the Low Countries. The conflict, centered around Ciney, the regional capital of Condroz, became a broader feudal struggle involving the nobility of Namur, Brabant, and Luxembourg against the forces of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

Origins of the Conflict: A Cow and a Miscarriage of Justice

• During a jousting tournament in Ciney, a peasant named Engorant de Jalhay stole a cow.
• He was caught and sentenced to pay a fine in lieu of execution, as was common practice.
• However, through error or misjudgment, the bailiff’s men executed him anyway.
• The peasant’s lord, considering this a breach of feudal justice, demanded recompense, setting off a chain of retaliatory attacks.

Escalation and Invasion of Condroz and Hesbaye (1276)

• The Marquis of Namur, allied with Duke John I of Brabant and Lord Gerard of Durbuy, invaded Hesbaye(a rich agricultural region).
• At the same time, Count Henry V of Luxembourg led a devastating campaign into Condroz, sacking towns and villages.
• On April 17, 1276, Henry reached Ciney, where he was met by a local militia of 2,400 men (half cavalry, half infantry) led by Jean de Halloy, the mayor and bailiff of Condroz, who had ordered Engorant de Jalhay’s execution.

The Battle of Ciney (April 17, 1276)

• The battle lasted from early morning until the afternoon, with the Condrusien militia heavily outnumbered.
• Despite fierce resistance, they were defeated, leaving 500 dead on the battlefield, including Jean de Halloy.
• Luxembourg suffered heavy losses, with 1,400 of its men killed, prompting Count Henry V’s infamous remark:
  • "Three gentlemen for a villein!"
  • This statement reflected noble disdain for the peasantry, as he lamented losing knights and lords over a mere commoner’s crime.

The Sack of Ciney (April 18, 1276)

• The next day, April 18, the bishop’s marshal, Robert de Forvie, arrived with reinforcements but found Ciney under siege by Count Henry.
• Unable to engage Henry’s forces, he withdrew to Dinant to raise more troops.
• That same day, Ciney was stormed and razed.
• The inhabitants, seeking refuge in the Church of Notre-Dame, were burned alive as the church was set aflame.
• All chroniclers agree on the date of the massacre, describing it as:
  • April 18,
  • The "fourteenth kalends of May", or
  • The Feast of Saint Ursmar.

The Sack of Meffe (April 19, 1276, Misericordia Sunday)

• The next day, April 19, known as Misericordia Sunday, Duke John I of Brabant sacked the city of Meffe, further escalating the destruction.

Aftermath and Legacy

• The War of the Cow, though seemingly trivial in origin, illustrated how feudal conflicts could escalate rapidly over issues of justice and honor.
• It also showcased the brutality of medieval warfare, particularly the deliberate targeting of civilians, as seen in the burning of Ciney’s inhabitants in the church.
• The war reinforced regional rivalries between the nobles of Brabant, Namur, and Luxembourg and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, influencing future feudal struggles in the Low Countries.

Despite its absurd cause, the War of the Cow remains a symbol of the unpredictable and violent nature of feudal justice, where small disputes could spark devastating wars.

The Battle of La Warde de Steppes (1277) and the Legacy of the War of the Cow

In 1277, a coalition of Liègeois militias achieved victory over Namur at the Battle of La Warde de Steppes, a key engagement in the ongoing feudal conflicts in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. This battle was a direct consequence of the War of the Cow (1275–1276), a conflict sparked by a seemingly minor dispute over cattle theft that escalated into a full-scale war between regional lords and ecclesiastical authorities.

The War of the Cow in Historical Accounts

The War of the Cow (Guerre de la Vache) became a well-documented episode in medieval history, extensively chronicled by Liègeois annalists:

• Jean d’Outremeuse and Jean de Hocsem provide detailed narratives of the war, describing the causes, key battles, and the devastation wrought upon the Condroz region.
• The Annales Leodienses, Floressienses, and Marchianenses, however, make only a brief mention of the conflict, noting simply that Ciney (Cheneys) was burned.
• This discrepancy reflects regional perspectives, with Liègeois chroniclers emphasizing the war’s significance, while other sources focused on its immediate material consequences.

Impact of the Battle of La Warde de Steppes

• The victory of the Liègeois militias over Namur reaffirmed the growing power of urban militias in medieval warfare, as cities and ecclesiastical territories increasingly resisted feudal lords.
• The battle further weakened the Marquisate of Namur, reinforcing the Prince-Bishopric of Liège’s influenceover the region.
• Though the war had started over a seemingly trivial incident, its repercussions lasted for decades, influencing regional power struggles in the Low Countries.

Legacy

The War of the Cow, though originating from a petty dispute, exemplified how feudal justice, noble ambitions, and urban autonomy clashed in the medieval Low Countries. The Battle of La Warde de Steppes in 1277 cemented Liège’s military resilience, foreshadowing later struggles between the Prince-Bishops of Liège and neighboring feudal lords in the following centuries.