He was the son of Louis I, Count of Nevers, and Joan, Countess of Rethel, and grandson of Robert III of Flanders.

Beginning as a series of scattered rural riots, the peasant insurrection escalated into a full-scale rebellion that dominated public affairs in Flanders for nearly five years until 1328.

[6] Philip VI of France was forced to come to Louis's aid while Zannekin and his adherents were decisively defeated by the French royal army in the Battle of Cassel.

[8] When the Hundred Years War started, Louis remained steadfast in his French policy, even with the county being economically dependent on England.

[9] His actions resulted in a boycott of the wool trade imposed by King Edward III of England,[9] which in turn sparked a new insurrection in 1337 under Jacob van Artevelde.