The Flemish, economically allied to England, was discontented with French rule. Burdened with heavy taxes during the reign of Charles VI, the people of Flanders took up arms under the leadership of Philip van Artevelde. During the uprising a large number of peasants and townspeople gathered en masse at Roosebeke in East Flanders. Here they were attacked by a strong force of mounted French knights commanded by the Count of Flanders, Louis II de Maele. Ill trained and poorly armed, the Fleming infantry was wedged together by repeated cavalry charges and then cut down with sword and lance in a one-sided slaughter with van Artevelde among those slain. A severe repression followed, and a year later, on the death of the Count of Flanders, the region passed to the rule of Burgundy, which stamped out the last vestiges of revolt.