Page "Battle of Bouvines" Paragraph 9

Even today, the evaluation of forces is controversial.

The classic French historiography often refers to Coalition troops three times more numerous than those of the King of France ( Philip Contamine is not of this opinion: " In front, his opponents did not have a clear numerical superiority ").

William the Breton, chaplain to Philip II at Bouvines at the battle, that the lines of soldiers stood in line in a space of 40 000 steps ( 15 hectares ), which leaves very little clearance and predisposes melee.

William the Breton also says in his column that the two lines of combatants were separated by a small space.