The narrow ground where Philip's castles (Gaillon under Cadoc, Vernon, the island fort at Le Goulet, Gisors) face John's (Chateau-Gaillard, Les Andelys, Boutavant, Port-Mort) across the Seine meadows and the western Vexin.
It was fought over and wasted every year from 1196 to 1199: Richard's Chateau-Gaillard was built in defiance of the Louviers peace, his raids of 1197-98 burned the Vexin, and Philip's men struck across the Seine after Richard's death. Since the truce of October 1199 (to 13 January 1200) there is no open raiding, but garrisons a few miles apart and recently burned villages make it the least farmed ground of the march this winter.
How things stand that morning
Quiet under truce; reverts to active raiding if the talks after 13 January fail. Le Goulet (May 1200) fixes a line here and the belt fades.
Who raids whom
Both sides: Cadoc's routiers from Gaillon and the Vernon garrison against the Andelys country; the Chateau-Gaillard garrison and John's mercenaries against Gaillon, Vernon and the Gisors villages. No raiding is recorded under the current truce.
Anchors on each side
French: Gaillon, Vernon, Le Goulet island fort, Gisors, Neaufles. Angevin: Chateau-Gaillard and Les Andelys, Boutavant, Port-Mort, Lyons-la-Foret.
Last campaign
1199 (Philip's spring attack after Richard's death); before that the Vexin campaign of September 1198. Truce since October 1199.
Where the sources disagree
- The Normandy researcher was asked to consider the same belt from the Norman side; the campaign may merge the two.
Evidence: The campaigns of 1196-99 are well attested; their effect on farming in the winter of 1199-1200 is an inference, since a truce is in force. Drawn narrowly for that reason.
On the map: Indicative only; under truce on 1 January 1200.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.