John of England now hastily reconciled himself to Innocent, at the
price of the independence of his kingdom. He thus became in a better
position to aid his excommunicated nephew, and revenge the loss of
Normandy and Anjou on Philip Augustus. His plan was now a twofold one.
He himself summoned the barons of England to follow him in an attempt
to recover his ancient lands on the Loire. Meanwhile, Otto and the
Netherlandish lords were encouraged, by substantial English help, to
carry out a combined attack on France from the north. The opposition
of the English barons reduced to comparative insignificance the
expedition to Poitou, but a very considerable army gathered together
under Otto, and took up its position in the neighborhood of Tournai.
Among the French King's vassals, Ferrand, Count of Flanders, long
hostile to his overlord Philip, and the Count of Boulogne fought
strenuously on Otto's side; while, of the Imperial vassals, the Count
of Holland and Duke of Brabant (Lower Lorraine) were among Otto's most
active supporters. A considerable English contingent came also, headed
by Otto's bastard uncle, William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury. Philip
himself commanded the chivalry of France, leaving his son Louis to
fight against John in Poitou. On July 27th the decisive battle was
fought at Bouvines, a few miles southwest of Tournai. The army of
France and Church gained an overwhelming victory over the league which
had incurred the papal ban, and Otto's fortunes were utterly
shattered. He soon lost all his hold over the Rhineland, and was
forced to retreat to the ancient domains of his house in Saxony. His
remaining friends made their peace with Philip and Frederick. The
defection of the Wittelsbachers lost his last hold in the south of
Germany, and the desertion of Valdemar of Denmark deprived him of a
strong friend in the North. John withdrew from Continental politics to
be beaten more decisively by his barons than he had been beaten in
Poitou or at Bouvines.