Jan+Breydel

Jan Breydel was born in the 13th century in Bruges. Breydel was a butcher, but is best known for leading a big uprising in Bruges. He was the leader and organizer of the uprising Bruges Matins, a very deadly uprising against the leader Philip the Fair, the King of France. Jan worked together with Pieter de Coninck, Pieter helped organize and lead in the uprisings. Pieter was a weaver and friend of a Jan.

On May 1st, 1302, Breydel and Coninck attacked the castle of Male and destroyed the French garrison there. He also participated in the Battle of the Golden Spurs in Kortrijk. Breydel was involved in a lot of little battles in Bruges leading up to the big uprising against Philip the Fair. In 1309 an uprising occurred in Bruges against a treaty, Breydel, Coninck and Jan Heem were the leaders of the uprising, they wanted to get rid of and stop the Treaty of Athis sur Orge. The treaty was forced upon Flanders, a region of northern Belgium made up of Dutch speakers.

People in Belgium have seen Breydel and Coninck as heroes and patriotic leaders of Belgium and the Flemish traditions. They are seen as leaders and nationalists. If they didn't stop the rule of Philip the Fair people in the North of Belgium would not be speaking Dutch, they would be speaking French. The northern part would of also lost a lot of there traditions and ways and turned to French ways.