B135R Siege and pillage of Grammon (Gerardsbergen) by troops of Marshal Guillaume IV of Enghien in 1380 Froissart’s Chronicles

The illumination presents a scene of military conflict centered around a fortified town. A walled settlement dominates the composition, its structures rendered in varying shades of red and brown, suggesting stone construction. The towns gate is open, allowing access for soldiers engaged in what appears to be an assault or occupation.
Here we see a chaotic assembly of figures – armored combatants wielding swords, spears, and shields. Some are actively engaging with defenders visible within the gate’s confines; others appear to be looting or moving through the towns entrance. The artist has depicted a sense of movement and disorder through the positioning of these individuals, their postures suggesting both aggression and urgency. A group of men carries what seems to be furniture or household goods away from the settlement, reinforcing the impression of pillage.
The landscape surrounding the town is rendered with a degree of detail, including trees and fields painted in green hues. The background features a distant hilltop crowned with buildings, possibly indicating another settlement or strategic vantage point. A small group of figures can be discerned on this elevated area, observing the events unfolding below.
Flanking the central scene are decorative borders filled with stylized floral motifs and miniature depictions of soldiers in various poses. These border vignettes contribute to the overall narrative by providing additional visual cues about military life and heraldry. The presence of a coat of arms – a fleur-de-lis on a blue field – in the lower left corner suggests an association with French nobility or allegiance.
The text accompanying the image, written in medieval script, likely provides a historical account of the depicted events, further contextualizing the scene within a specific narrative framework. The illumination’s style is characteristic of late medieval manuscript art, employing vibrant colors and meticulous detail to convey a sense of realism while adhering to established artistic conventions.
Subtly, the work conveys not only the brutality of warfare but also its impact on civilian life – the looting underscores the disruption and suffering inflicted upon the towns inhabitants. The artist’s choice to depict both combatants and civilians suggests an attempt to portray a comprehensive view of conflict beyond mere military action.