Expulsion of Flemish Weavers

Timeline

1. 1288–1290Flanders · FlandersThe Flemish cities imposed restrictions and additional tariffs on English wool imports, threatening England's principal source of export revenue. The English crown sought economic countermeasures to protect its interests in the wool trade.
2. 1290Woolen towns of England · EnglandEdward I ordered all foreign merchants in England to leave within a set period, with the Flemish weavers foremost among them. The measure aimed to strike at Flanders' dependence on English wool for its woolen industry while addressing domestic craftsmen's concerns about job competition.
3. 1290–1291Coastal Western Europe · Western EuropeSome expelled Flemish weavers migrated to Scotland, northern France, or elsewhere, taking their skills and labor with them. Though the Anglo-Flemish trade dispute intensified in the short term, over the long run both sides continued to seek easing through diplomacy and tariff negotiations.