The revolt began in April 1173 and resulted from the efforts of King Henry II of England to find lands for his youngest son, Prince John.
John's other three legitimate brothers (Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey) objected and fled to the court of King Louis VII of France, where they raised a rebellion.
Robert de Beaumont, the Earl of Leicester, then decided to invade England with a force of Flemish mercenaries.
[2] Leicester attempted to join forces with another rebel, Hugh Bigod, the Earl of Norfolk, who was based at the castle of Framlingham.
With his forces split, Leicester's cavalry was captured, and his mercenaries were driven into nearby swamps, where the local peasants killed most of them.