The battle of Fornham St Genevieve in 1173 ended a Flemish mercenary invasion of East Anglia in support of the revolt of the Young King Henry against his father Henry II. The Flemish force under Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester, was caught crossing the River Lark near Bury St Edmunds by a royalist force and routed. De Beaumont and his countess were captured. The local population reportedly joined in killing the fleeing Flemings. The battle checked the most dangerous external threat to Henry II during the great revolt of 1173-1174.
Hundreds of Flemish mercenaries killed; leaders captured
Royal: knights and levies under Humphrey de Bohun. Rebel: Flemish mercenaries c.3,000 under Earl of Leicester
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