Jacqueline, Countess Of Hainaut

Jacoba of Bavaria or '''Jacqueline of Wittelsbach''' (, Countess Of Hainaut and Holland from 1417 to 1432 . She was the only daughter of William VI, Count Of Hainaut And Holland . 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 .

EARLY LIFE

As a child, Jacqueline was married to John Of Valois, Duke Of Touraine , fourth son of Charles VI Of France and his Queen Consort Isabeau Of Bavaria . On December 15 , 1415 his elder brother Louis, Duke of Guyenne died and John became Dauphin . John of Touraine died on April 4 , 1417, and two months later, Jacqueline lost her father.

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 . 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 .

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 .

MARRIAGE TO THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND ITS AFTERMATH

In 1422 , Jacqueline married Humphrey, Duke Of Gloucester , son of Henry IV Of England by his first wife Mary De Bohun . Two years later Jacqueline and Humphrey took an army to the Continent 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 .

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.

FINAL DAYS

In 1430 Philip mortgaged Holland and Zeeland to the Borselen family, of which Francis, lord of Borselen, was the head. 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.

Jacqueline died of consumption in Teilingen Castle in 1436, and since she had no children, Philip of Burgundy inherited Hainaut and Holland.

REFERENCES

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Jacqueline, Countess Of Hainaut