Frans Ackerman

Rallying to Philip van Artevelde in the Ghent Revolt of 1379 against Louis II, Count of Flanders, Ackerman was placed in command of the Reisers, a mobile force of 3,000 men responsible for securing the city's supply-lines with Liège, Brussels and Leuven.

[3] The English launched Despenser's Crusade in 1383, intervening in Flanders under the pretext of enforcing obedience to Pope Urban VI.

Ackerman took Aardenburg from a French garrison, sacking the town and carrying the plunder to Ghent, and made an unsuccessful attempt on Bruges.

Ackerman was a prominent member of the Ghent delegation who agreed the terms, but afterwards declined to serve the duke either at court or in the field.

[1] On 22 July 1387, while on his way to Saint Peter's Abbey, Ghent, Ackerman was murdered by a son of the Lord of Herzele who blamed him for his father's death.