Why did Jacob van Artevelde support England during the Hundred Years’ War?

Jacob van Artevelde supported England during the Hundred Years’ War primarily for economic reasons. The Flemish textile industry, centered in cities like Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres, was heavily dependent on the import of English wool to maintain its production and prosperity.123

While the Count of Flanders, Louis I, remained loyal to the French king Philip VI, the Flemish towns could not afford to alienate Edward III of England, as a disruption in the wool supply would cause immediate social and political upheaval. Initially, van Artevelde attempted to maintain an armed neutrality to safeguard this vital trade. However, as the conflict intensified, he concluded that neutrality was impracticable and formally aligned the Flemish towns with England in 1340 to ensure the continued flow of raw materials necessary for the region's economy.12453