John II (1247 – 22 August 1304) was Count of Hainaut, Holland, and Zeeland.

Life

John II, born 1247, was the eldest son of

John I of Hainaut John of Avesnes (1 May 1218 – 24 December 1257) was the count of Hainaut from 1246 to his death. Life Born in Houffalize, John was the eldest son of Margaret II of Flanders by her first husband, Bouchard IV of Avesnes. As the marriage of Marg ...

and

Adelaide of Holland Adelaide of Holland ( nl, Aleide (Aleidis) ; – buried 9 April 1284), Countess of Hainaut, was a Dutch regent. She was a daughter of Floris IV, Count of Holland and Matilda of Brabant. She was also a sister of William II, Count of Holland and K ...

.Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 22 He became Count of Hainaut on the death of his grandmother, Countess Margaret I of Hainaut. John continued the war between the House of Dampierre and the

Avesnes family The Avesnes family played an important role during the Middle Ages. The family has its roots in the small village Avesnes-sur-Helpe, in the north of France. One branch produced a number of Counts of Holland during the 13th century. The family di ...

against Count Guy of Flanders for

Imperial Flanders Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * Imperial, Te ...

. John II became

Count of Holland The counts of Holland ruled over the County of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century. House of Holland The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was the son or foster-son of Gerolf, Count in Frisia (Dijkstra suggests th ...

in 1299 upon the death of his cousin

John I John I may refer to: People * John I (bishop of Jerusalem) * John Chrysostom (349 – c. 407), Patriarch of Constantinople * John of Antioch (died 441) * Pope John I, Pope from 523 to 526 * John I (exarch) (died 615), Exarch of Ravenna * John I o ...

.Johan C H Blom, ''History of the Low Countries'' (New York: Berghahn Books, 2006), p. 58 The personal union he established between Hainaut and Holland–Zeeland lasted for another half-century. John I's father,

Floris V Floris V (24 June 1254 – 27 June 1296) reigned as Count of Holland and Zeeland from 1256 until 1296. His life was documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler. He is credited with a mostly peaceful reign, moder ...

, had been fighting against Flanders for Zeeland.Johan C H Blom, ''History of the Low Countries'' (New York: Berghahn Books, 2006), pp. 57–8 He sought help of France against Flanders. The French defeated the Flemish in 1300 and 1301. The rebels in Zeeland were defeated as well. John's brother,

Guy of Avesnes Guy van Avennes (also spelt as Guy van Avesnes; Dutch Gwijde van Avesnes) (c. 1253 – 23 May 1317, Utrecht) was Bishop of Utrecht from 1301 to 1317. Family He was descended from an important Hainaut family, the House of Avesnes. He was the bro ...

, became

bishop of Utrecht List of bishops and archbishops of the diocese and archdioceses of Utrecht. Medieval diocese from 695 to 1580 Founders of the Utrecht diocese * * * * * Bishops * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

. Thus, all his main enemies were gone. The tide changed dramatically after a Flemish uprising and the defeat of the French army at the

Battle of the Golden Spurs The Battle of the Golden Spurs ( nl, Guldensporenslag; french: Bataille des éperons d'or) was a military confrontation between the royal army of France and rebellious forces of the County of Flanders on 11 July 1302 during the Franco-Flemis ...

in 1302, where John's eldest son was killed fighting for the French. The Flemish attacked Hainaut and Zeeland supported by the dissatisfied population there. Guy of Namur defeated John's son, William, in a battle on the island of

Duiveland Duiveland is the name of a former island and a former municipality in the Dutch province of Zeeland. The island of Duiveland was joined to Schouwen in 1610, forming the island of Schouwen-Duiveland. It is the eastern part of the current island. Th ...

. Bishop Guy of Utrecht was taken prisoner. Guy of Namur and Duke John II of

Brabant Brabant is a traditional geographical region (or regions) in the Low Countries of Europe. It may refer to: Place names in Europe * London-Brabant Massif, a geological structure stretching from England to northern Germany Belgium * Province of Bra ...

conquered most of Utrecht, Holland, and Zeeland. Guy of Namur was finally defeated in 1304 by the fleet of Holland and France at the naval Battle of Zierikzee. John II regained most of his authority when he died in the same year.

Family

In 1270, John married Philippa, daughter of Count

Henry V of Luxembourg Henry V the Blondell (1216 – 24 December 1281), called the Great, was the Count of Arlon from 1226 to his death, lord of Ligny from 1240 to his death, Count of Luxembourg and Laroche from 1247 to his death, and the Marquis of Namur between 1 ...

and Margaret of Bar. Their children were: # John, Lord of Beaumont, Count of Ostervant. Killed in battle (11 July 1302). # Henry, a canon in

Cambrai Cambrai (, ; pcd, Kimbré; nl, Kamerijk), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department and in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, regio ...

, (died 1303). #

William I, Count of Hainaut William the Good ( nl, Willem, french: Guillaume; – 7 June 1337) was count of Hainaut (as William I), Avesnes, Holland (as William III), and Zeeland (as William II) from 1304 to his death. Career William, born , was the son of John II, Count ...

( – 7 June 1337) He succeeded his father in 1304. Married Joan of Valois, daughter of Charles, Count of Valois. #

John of Beaumont John of Beaumont (1288 – 11 March 1356) was a younger brother of count William III of Holland. He was the lord of Beaumont and count of Soissons by virtue of his marriage. Life He was born in 1288 as John of Hainault, 4th son of John II, Co ...

(1288 – 11 March 1356). He was married to Margaret, Countess de Soissons. # Margaret (died 18 October 1342), married

Robert II of Artois Robert II (September 1250 – 11 July 1302) was the Count of Artois, the posthumous son and heir of Robert I and Matilda of Brabant. He was a nephew of Louis IX of France. He died at the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Life An experienced soldier, ...

, who was killed at the

, 11 July 1302. # Alice or Alix (d. 26 October 1317), who married 1290

Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk Roger Bigod (c. 1245 – bf. 6 December 1306) was 5th Earl of Norfolk. Origins He was the son of Hugh Bigod (1211–1266), Justiciar, and succeeded his father's elder brother Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk (1209–1270) as 5th Earl of ...

, by whom she had no issue. # Isabelle (died 1305), married Raoul de Clermont Lord of Nesle, who was killed in battle at the

, 11 July 1302. # Joan, a nun at Fontenelles. # Mary of Avesnes (1280–1354), married Louis I, Duke of Bourbon. # Matilda, Abbess of Nivelles. John's illegitimate children were: # Willem de Cuser # Aleid van Zandenburg, who was married firstly to Wolfert II of Borselen, lord of Veere, and secondly to Otto III of Buren.Orlanda Lie and Joris Reynaert eds., ''Artes in context. Opstellen over het handschriftelijk milieu van Middelnederlandse artesteksten'' (Hilversum 2004), 67.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:John II, Count of Hainaut Avesnes family Counts of Holland Counts of Hainaut 1247 births 1304 deaths 13th-century people of the Holy Roman Empire 14th-century people of the Holy Roman Empire

Life

Family

See also

References