Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault and Holland

Jacoba of Bavaria or Jacqueline of Wittelsbach (1401 – 1436, Dutch: Jacoba van Beieren, French: Jacqueline de Bavière) was Duchess of Bavaria-Straubing, Countess of Hainaut and Holland from 1417 to 1432. She was the only daughter of William VI, Count of Hainaut and Holland from his marriage (born after 16 years of otherwise childless marriage) with Margaret of Burgundy, daughter of Margaret III of Flanders and Philip II, Duke of Burgundy. Jacqueline was the last Wittelsbach ruler of Hainaut and Holland. Following her death, the estates passed into the inheritance of Philip III, Duke of Burgundy. Image File history File links Jakobaa. ... Image File history File links Jakobaa. ... [edit] Events The Lollards, a religious sect taught by John Wycliffe, were persecuted for their beliefs. ... Events April - Paris is recaptured by the French End of the Hussite Wars in Bohemia. ... Bavaria-Straubing was a part of Bavaria which was a state between 1353 and 1432, and part of the Holy Roman Empire In 1353, Lower Bavaria was partitioned into Bavaria-Landshut and Bavaria-Straubing. ... The virtually independent county of Hainaut emerged from chaotic conditions at the end of the 9th century as a semi-independent state, at first a vassal of the crown of Lotharingia. ... The Counts of Holland ruled over the county of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century. ... Events Antipope Benedict XIII is deposed, and Pope Martin V is elected. ... Events June 1 - Battle of San Romano - Florence defeats Siena foundation of Université de Caen In the end of the Hook and Cod wars, Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut and Holland is forced by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to abdicate all her estates in his favour; end of Hainaut... Duke William II of Bavaria-Straubing was also count William VI of Holland, count William IV of Hainaut and count William V of Zeeland. ... Margaret of Dampierre (1350-1405) was countess of Flanders and twice Duchess of Burgundy. ... Philip II, Duke of Burgundy Philip II, Duke of Burgundy, known as the Bold (Philippe II de Bourgogne, le Hardi in French) (January 15, 1342, Pontoise – April 27, 1404, Halle), was the fourth son of King John II of France and his wife, Bonne (Judith), daughter of the king and... The Wittelsbach family is a European royal family and a German dynasty from Bavaria. ... Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (Philip the Good or Philippe le Bon) (1396–1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. ...

Early life

Even in her youth, Jacqueline was referred to as "of Holland", indicating that she was heiress of her father's states. As a child, Jacqueline was betrothed to John of Valois, Duke of Touraine, fourth son of Charles VI of France and his Queen consort Isabeau of Bavaria. Both children were brought up in the Castle Le Quesnoy in Hainaut, the boy having been given into tutelage of his father-in-law, as he was expected to succeed as ruler there and not in any way in France itself. It was a happy youth with both given a very good education. On 6 August 1415, when she was just fourteen, the young couple married in 's-Gravenhage. Jean de Touraine (August 31, 1398 – April 5, 1417) was the fourth son and ninth child of Charles VI of France and Isabeau of Bavaria. ... Charles VI Charles VI the Well-Beloved, later known as the Mad (French: Charles VI le Bien-Aimé, later known as le Fol) (December 3, 1368 – October 21, 1422) was a King of France (1380 – 1422) and a member of the Valois Dynasty. ... King George V of the United Kingdom and his consort, Queen Mary A queen consort is the wife and consort of a reigning king. ... Isabeau de Bavière (also Isabella of Bavaria-Ingolstadt; ca. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... Events Friedrich I Hohenzollern (b. ... Arms of The Hague The Hague (with capital T; Dutch: Den Haag, or officially s-Gravenhage) is the administrative capital of the Netherlands, located in the west of the country, in the province South Holland of which it is also the capital. ...

On December 15, 1415 Jean's elder brother Louis, Duke of Guyenne died and John became dauphin. John of Touraine died on April 4, 1417 (in Compiègne, of an abscess in his neck, though rumored to have been poisoned), and two months later, on 31 May 1417, Jacqueline lost her father. December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Friedrich I Hohenzollern (b. ... The Dauphin was the heir apparent to the throne of France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... Events Antipope Benedict XIII is deposed, and Pope Martin V is elected. ... Compiègne is a commune in the Oise département of France, of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... Events Antipope Benedict XIII is deposed, and Pope Martin V is elected. ...

Marriage to the Duke of Brabant

Acknowledged as sovereign in Holland and Hainaut, Jacqueline was opposed by her uncle John III, duke of Bavaria-Straubing and bishop of Liege but she had the support of the Hoek faction in Holland (the faction of the small cities and petty nobility in the County). In 1418, her uncle and guardian John the Fearless, duke of Burgundy, organized her marriage to her cousin John IV, Duke of Brabant and Limbourg. By the mediation of John the Fearless, a treaty of partition was concluded in 1419 between Jacqueline and John III of Bavaria; but it was merely a truce, and the contest between uncle and niece soon began again and continued with varying success until the death of John III in 1425. John III, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing of the House of Wittelsbach was bishop of Liege. ... The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in present Belgium. ... The Hook and Cod wars (Dutch: Hoekse en Kabeljauwse twisten) comprise a series of wars and battles in Holland between 1350 and 1490. ... Events May 19 - Capture of Paris by John, Duke of Burgundy September - Beginning of English Siege of Rouen Mircea the Old, ruler of Wallachia dies and is succeeded by Vlad I Uzurpatorul. ... Duke John I aka Jean de Valois and Jean de Bourgogne (May 28, 1371, Dijon – September 10, 1419, on the bridge of Montereau), also known as the Fearless (French: sans peur) was Duke of Burgundy from 1404 to 1419. ... The Duchy of Burgundy, today Bourgogne, has its origin in the small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Balds kingdom of West Franks. ... John IV, Duke of Brabant (Atrecht June 11, 1403 – April 17, 1427, Brussels) was the son of Antoine, Duke of Brabant and Jeanne de St. ... Events January 19 – Hundred Years War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England which brings Normandy under the control of England. ... Events Foundation of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Births John II, Duke of Lorraine (died 1470) Edmund Sutton, English nobleman (died 1483) Deaths January 18 - Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, English politician (born 1391) March 17 - Ashikaga Yoshikazu, Japanese shogun (born 1407) May 24 - Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of...

In 1420 Jacqueline finally left her husband - due to personal and political disagreements between the two - and was invited to the Kingdom of England by Henry V. There her marriage with John of Brabant was declared illegal and she obtained a divorce from Avignon Pope Benedict XIII. The Flag of England The Kingdom of England was a kingdom located in Western Europe, in the southern part of the island of Great Britain. ... Henry V, (August 9 or September 16, 1387 – August 31, 1422), King of England (1413-1422), son of Henry IV by Mary de Bohun, was born at Monmouth, Wales, in August or September 1386 or 1387. ... Benedict XIII, born Pedro Martínez de Luna, (b. ...

The marriage brought no happiness to her. He was two years younger, spoilt and weak. It was at this time that Jacoba's troubles with her uncle John of Bavaria began when he claimed her counties and fuelled the civil war between the political factions.

When she realised she was without the support of both her husband and her mother while still confronted by the continuous opposition of her uncle, she fled to England. On arrival it was Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who welcomed her. He was thirty, unmarried and, according to an English chronicle, 'exceeded any monarch in knowledge'.

It was the English king Henry V who prevented her from marrying the Duke of Gloucester. Nevertheless, she was an honoured guest and, when the future Henry VI was born, Jacoba was one of the godparents.

Marriage to the Duke of Gloucester and its aftermath

It was only after the unexpected death of Henry V that Jacoba and Humphrey married. However, as not all rules were observed, this was in haste so that the actual date of their marriage, in October 1422, is unknown. She had hoped that Humphrey would restore her to her counties but, being regent in England, he was occupied with affairs of state. In 1422, Jacqueline married Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, son of Henry IV of England by his first wife Mary de Bohun. Events January 10 - Battle of Nemecky Brod during the Hussite Wars. ... Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1390 - February 23, 1447) was the fifth son of King Henry IV of England by his first wife, Mary de Bohun. ... // Birth and life before accession - relationship with Richard II - exile - return and usurpation Henry IV (April 3, 1367 – March 20, 1413) was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence the other name by which he was known, Henry of Bolingbroke. His father, John of Gaunt was the third and oldest... Mary de Bohun (~1369 - June 4, 1394) was the first wife of King Henry IV of England and the mother of King Henry V, but was never queen. ...

Then her situation changed as, on 6 January 1425, her uncle John of Bavaria died, the victim of poisoning.

At the end of 1424 Humphrey, with an army, moved to The Netherlands but was soon embroiled in politics between England and France as well as between the opposing Burgundians and Armagnacs. Soon Humphrey began to distance himself from her cause. The army in order to press their claim to Jacqueline's lands, where she was now opposed by her former husband, John of Brabant. In 1425 Humphrey deserted his wife, who found herself obliged to submit to her cousin, Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, after being besieged in the city of Mons in Hainault. Jacqueline was placed under house arrest in the chateau of Ghent. Events Foundation of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Births John II, Duke of Lorraine (died 1470) Edmund Sutton, English nobleman (died 1483) Deaths January 18 - Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, English politician (born 1391) March 17 - Ashikaga Yoshikazu, Japanese shogun (born 1407) May 24 - Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of... Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (Philip the Good or Philippe le Bon) (1396–1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. ... The central square and town hall of Mons Mons (Dutch: Bergen) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. ... Gent at Night Ghent (IPA: ; Gent in Dutch; Gand in French, formerly Gaunt in English) is a city and a municipality located in Flanders, Belgium. ...

In the continual factional fighting, Gerard van Poelgeest, a follower of Jacoba, besieged the city and castle of Schoonhoven. Once the city was taken, it took another six weeks before the castle was forced to surrender. He allowed all occupants, except Allairt Beylinc, to go free. Having a personal grudge against Allart Beylinc, he dictated that Beylinc could ransom himself for 1000 schilden and was given seven months to bring the amount together. However, once the seven months had passed, Allairt Beylinc, having failed, returned expecting to be imprisoned; but that night Poelgeest had him buried alive.

Humphrey, having lost interest in Jacoba and her counties, then returned to England and consoled himself with Eleanor Cobham, Jacoba's lady-in-waiting, while Jacoba was imprisoned by Philippe, Duke of Burgundy. However, when it was rumoured that she was to be taken to Rijssel or even as far as Savoy, two knights came to her rescue. Visiting her, they brought her men's clothing and, thus disguised, she was able to pass unnoticed by the guards.

At the end of 1425 Humphrey sent a fleet of twenty-four ships containing an army of 2,000 men under command of Lord FitzWalter. However, the cities in Zeeland were not prepared to assist and Jacoba had no army to come to their assistance. In the meantime, Philippe, Duke of Burgundy, had been prepared and, on 13 January 1426, started his attack on the main force. The English forces were annihilated and only the knights were not killed as they would secure a ransom. This victory placed Zeeland securely into Philippe's hands. On 27 February 1426 Pope Martin V decreed that Jacoba was still the wife of Jan IV, Duke of Brabant, and this released Humphrey from his obligations to come to her aid.

John of Brabant now mortgaged the two counties of Holland and Zeeland to Philip, who assumed their protectorate. Jacqueline, however, escaped from the chateau, disguised as a soldier, and for three years struggled gallantly to maintain herself in Holland against the united efforts of Philip of Burgundy, John of Brabant, and the cities of the Hook faction. At first she met with success. The death of John of Brabant (April 1427) freed the countess from her quondam husband; but nevertheless Pope Martin V pronounced Jacqueline's marriage with Humphrey illegal, and Philip, putting out his full strength, broke down all opposition. By a treaty (referred to as the "Reconciliation of Delft") made in July 1428, Jacqueline was left nominally countess, but Philip was to administer the government of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut and was declared heir in case Jacqueline should die without children. The Hook and Cod wars (Dutch: Hoekse en Kabeljauwse twisten) comprise a series of wars and battles in Holland between 1350 and 1490. ... Events Lincoln College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, is founded. ... Martin V, né Oddone Colonna or Odo Colonna (1368 – February 20, 1431), Pope from 1417 to 1431, was elected on St. ... Events October 12 - English forces under Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury besiege Orléans. ...

From then onwards Jacoba was involved with skirmishes with the Burgundian forces. Although she might win, her victories were never decisive. On 17 April 1427, Jean IV, Duke of Brabant, died, which did not reduce her marital problems. The Pope decreed that her marriage to Jean IV had been valid which annulled her marriage to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. Within months Humphrey married his mistress, Eleanor Cobham.

Without allies Jacoba realised she had no chance of regaining her counties and, on 3 July 1428, a treaty 'de Zoen van Delft' was signed with Philippe, Duke of Burgundy. She kept her title of Countess of Holland, Zeeland and Hainault, but Philippe was appointed as her heir in case she died without children. Also she was not allowed to marry without the permission of her mother, Philippe and the three counties.

With this treaty she gained more than what she could have expected. Although she retained what in fact were empty titles, her image appeared with Philippe's on the coins of her territory while some of her followers were given prominent positions. There was to be a council of nine which ruled her counties, of which she was to be allowed to appoint three. From now as her life was empty she merely travelled through her counties.

Final Days

In 1430 Philip mortgaged Holland and Zeeland to the Borselen family, of which Francis, lord of Borselen, was the head. Placed in charge of her finances was Frank van Borselen who had been one of her opponents. However, their relationship led to marriage and, without the required permissions, Philippe nevertheless remained her heir. Jacqueline now made her last effort. In 1432 she secretly married Francis of Borselen and endeavoured to foment a rising in Holland against Burgundian rule. Philip invaded Holland and threw Borselen into prison. Only on the condition that Jacqueline abdicated her estates in his favour would Philip allow Jacqueline her liberty and recognize her marriage with Borselen. She submitted in April 1432, retaining her title of duchess in Bavaria, and lived on her husband's estates in retirement. Jacoba thus renounced her titles and became known as Duchess in Bavaria, of Holland, Countess of Oostervant. On 1 March 1434 Jacoba and Frank van Borselen were married in the church of St. Maartensdijk and Philippe gave Frank the title of Count of Oostervant also. // Events May 23 - Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne The Ottoman Empire captures Thessalonica from the Venetians First use of optical methods in the creation of Art A map of Europe in 1430. ... Events June 1 - Battle of San Romano - Florence defeats Siena foundation of Université de Caen In the end of the Hook and Cod wars, Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut and Holland is forced by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to abdicate all her estates in his favour; end of Hainaut...

Her marriage with Frank van Borselen was happy but, in the summer of 1436, it became obvious that she was gravely ill. Jacqueline died of "consumption" (presumably tuberculosis) in Teilingen Castle 8 October 1436, and since she had no children, Philip of Burgundy inherited Hainaut and Holland. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones and joints. ...

Duke William II of Bavaria-Straubing was also count William VI of Holland, count William IV of Hainaut and count William V of Zeeland. ... The virtually independent county of Hainaut emerged from chaotic conditions at the end of the 9th century as a semi-independent state, at first a vassal of the crown of Lotharingia. ... The Counts of Holland ruled over the county of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century. ... The Counts of Zeeland were also count of Holland. ... Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (Philip the Good or Philippe le Bon) (1396–1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.