Guelders war of succession
Encyclopedia
The Guelders War of Succession was a battle for the throne of the Duchy of Guelders that raged between 1371 and 1379.
The war originated when Duke Rainald III
died without issue in 1371. His brother, Edward, who had been killed in the Battle of Baesweiler
earlier that same year also left no offspring. The pretenders to the ducal throne were the two daughters of Duke Rainald II: Mathilde, who was married to John II, Count of Blois
, and Maria, wife of William II of Jülich and mother to William I of Guelders and Jülich, on whose behalf she claimed the throne of Guelders.
14th-century Guelders was divided in two factions. The Heeckerens supported Machteld, and the Bronkhorsters supported William. The war lasted eight years, with Maria and her supporters emerging victorious and Maria's son William, becoming Duke of Guelders.
The war originated when Duke Rainald III
Reginald III of Guelders
Reginald III of Guelders was Count, later Duke, of Guelders and Count of Zutphen from 1343 to 1361, and again in 1371. He was the son of Reginald II of Guelders and of Eleanor of Woodstock, daughter of Edward II of England....
died without issue in 1371. His brother, Edward, who had been killed in the Battle of Baesweiler
Battle of Baesweiler
The Battle of Baesweiler was a conflict between the dukes of Brabant and Jülich.During this time, large groups of mercenaries roamed the lands of western Europe, bringing death wherever they came...
earlier that same year also left no offspring. The pretenders to the ducal throne were the two daughters of Duke Rainald II: Mathilde, who was married to John II, Count of Blois
John II, Count of Blois
John II of Châtillon , second son of Louis I of Châtillon and Jeanne of Avesnes, was count of Blois and lord of Avesnes from 1372 to 1381....
, and Maria, wife of William II of Jülich and mother to William I of Guelders and Jülich, on whose behalf she claimed the throne of Guelders.
14th-century Guelders was divided in two factions. The Heeckerens supported Machteld, and the Bronkhorsters supported William. The war lasted eight years, with Maria and her supporters emerging victorious and Maria's son William, becoming Duke of Guelders.