The Flemish knights were the first to fly; then the Germans in the centre of the host were crushed by the overwhelming numbers of the French; last of all the English on the right of it were broken by a fierce onset of the Bishop of Beauvais who charged mace in hand and struck the Earl of Salisbury to the ground.

The news of this complete overthrow reached John in the midst of his triumphs in the South, and scattered his hopes to the winds.

He was at once deserted by the Poitevin nobles; and a hasty retreat alone enabled him to return in October, baffled and humiliated, to his island kingdom.
[Sidenote: Rising of the Baronage] His return forced on the crisis to which events had so long been drifting.

The victory at Bouvines gave strength to his opponents.

The open resistance of the northern barons nerved the rest of their order to action.