Jean II de Croÿ (1390? –

Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; ; or ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced ...

, 25 March 1473) was Count of Chimay and progenitor of the line of Croÿ-Solre. Jean belonged to the powerful House of Croÿ.

Life

Jean was the second surviving son of Jean I de Croÿ and Marie de Craon. His elder brother was Antoine I de Croÿ. He was a prominent member of the Burgundian court. He governed Hainaut and

Namur Namur (; ; ) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital both of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration. Namur stands at the confl ...

in the name of the Dukes of Burgundy as ''grand bailli de Hainaut''. Jean's dominions were centred on the town of

Chimay Chimay (, ) is a city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Hainaut Province, province of Hainaut, Belgium. In 2006, Chimay had a population of 9,774. The area is 197.10 km2 which gives a population density ...

, of which he became the first count. In 1430, he was made one of the first Knights of the

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece (, ) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in 1430 in Brugge by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal. T ...

. Jean was godfather to

Charles the Bold Charles Martin (10 November 1433 – 5 January 1477), called the Bold, was the last duke of Burgundy from the House of Valois-Burgundy, ruling from 1467 to 1477. He was the only surviving legitimate son of Philip the Good and his third wife, ...

in 1433 and to the Dauphin in 1459. In 1435 he played an important part in the formation of the Congress of Arras. He was subsequently charged with bringing the city of

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

under Burgundian control. In 1436, Jean commanded the Burgundian-Flemish army that besieged Calais and was blamed for the complete failure of the expedition. During the Revolt of Ghent (1449–1453), he lifted the siege of

Oudenaarde Oudenaarde (; ; in English sometimes ''Oudenarde'') is a Belgium, Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of East Flanders. The municipality ...

and in 1453, he defeated William I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel at

Thionville Thionville (; ; ) is a city in the northeastern French Departments of France, department of Moselle (department), Moselle. The city is located on the left bank of the river Moselle (river), Moselle, opposite its suburb Yutz. History Thionvi ...

, securing the

Duchy of Luxembourg The Duchy of Luxembourg (; ; ; ) was a Imperial state, state of the Holy Roman Empire, the ancestral homeland of the noble House of Luxembourg. The House of Luxembourg became one of the most important political forces in the 14th century, comp ...

for Burgundy. Jean was also amongst those who took the Vow of the Pheasant in 1454. Jean had a great influence on

Philip the Good Philip III the Good (; ; 31 July 1396 – 15 June 1467) ruled as Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death in 1467. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty, to which all 15th-century kings of France belonged. During his reign, ...

, for which he was hated by

. When Charles the Bold came to power in 1465, he exiled Jean, as well as his son Philip I of Croÿ-Chimay and his brother Antoine I de Croÿ. Jean only reconciled with Charles in 1473, the year of his death.

Marriage and children

Jean was the progenitor of the only line of the House of Croÿ extant today, that of Croÿ-Solre. He married Marie of Lalaing (1390–1474) and had five children. * Jacqueline (1430–1500), married in 1463 Jean IV de Nesle * Philip de Croy-Chimay (Mons, 1430 – Bruges, 18 September 1482), lord of Quievrain, his successor * Jacques (1436–1516),

Bishop of Cambrai This is a List of bishops and archbishops of Cambrai, that is, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cambrai. Bishops For the first bishops of Arras and Cambrai, who resided at the former place, see Roman Catholic Diocese of Arras. On the death ...

* Michel de Croy, Seigneur de Sempy (died 1516), Order of the Golden Fleece * Catherine (1440–1515), married Adrien de Brimeu who died in the

Battle of Marignano The Battle of Marignano, which took place on 13–14 September 1515, near the town now called Melegnano, 16 km southeast of Milan, was the last major engagement of the War of the League of Cambrai. It pitted the French army, composed of t ...

(1515)

References

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Life

Marriage and children

References

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Further reading