John IV, Duke of Brabant
John IV, Duke of Brabant | |
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Antoine of Burgundy | |
Mother | Jeanne of Saint-Pol |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Belgique_-_Bruxelles_-_Maison_du_Pot_d%27%C3%A9tain_-_05.jpg/180px-Belgique_-_Bruxelles_-_Maison_du_Pot_d%27%C3%A9tain_-_05.jpg)
John IV, Duke of Brabant (11 June 1403 – 17 April 1427)
Succession as Duke of Brabant
John was born in Arras, and succeeded as duke of Brabant in 1415, after his father's death at the Battle of Agincourt. However, his succession was not immediately accepted by everyone. The holy Roman emperor Sigismund contested his succession, as he wished to curb the Valois influence (read: the influence of the duke of Burgundy, John's uncle) in the region. John the Fearless, the duke of Burgundy, naturally supported his nephew, as did the States of Brabant. Their joint support prevented a second succession war in the duchy.[2] Furthermore, through their support of John as the new duke, the States of Brabant gained regency over the duchy until the coming of age of the still underage duke.[3]
Marriage to Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut
In 1418, he married
However, the marriage did not provide the stability sought after by Jacqueline and her supporters and eventually led to estrangement of the couple in 1420. One of the reasons was his incapability to protect her rights in Holland and Zeeland. His attempts in the first year of their marriage, such as the disastrous
After the death of John III in 1425, the county of Holland once again fell to John IV. However, he immediately appointed his cousin Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, as the new regent as well as his heir in case he died without issue.[5]
Tensions in the Duchy of Brabant
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That John's advisors were of the Cod faction did not only cause friction in John's marriage to Jacqueline, but also caused tensions in the Duchy of Brabant. There was a great discontent amongst the cities and the aristocracy who had been powerful under his father's reign against these powerful advisors.
A forceful reaction of the duke against these measures was prevented by the uprising of the Brussels guilds. This meant that, for the time being, John had to bend to their wishes.[7] A reconciliation treaty was made in 1421 and John was restored to his full ducal powers. In return, he expanded the city privileges and the powers of the States of Brabant in 1422, a measure called the Nieuw Regiment.[7] With this reconciliation, the States of Brabant supported their duke in his fight against Jacqueline and her new husband, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. He never accepted the annulment of their marriage, and was post-mortem backed up by the pope in 1428.[8]
John died in
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Legacy
He is often typified as a weak prince, who was easily influenced by more shrewd and politically able men, such as Philip the Good and John III of Holland. His age and inexperience would have played a major role in this characterization.[9]
Ancestors
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Notes
- ^ Jean de Wavrin (1879). Recueil des croniques et anchiennes istories de la Grant Bretaigne, à présent nommé Engleterre. Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, and Green. pp. 223–.
- ^ De Brabantse Leeuw sluimert (1356–1430) in: Geschiedenis van Brabant, van het hertogdom tot heden (2004), p. 164
- ^ Geschiedenis van Brabant, van het hertogdom tot heden, p. 164-165
- ^ A. Janse, Een Pion voor een Dame, Jacoba van Beieren (1401–1436), 2009, p. 179-195
- ^ A. Janse, p. 238
- ^ Geschiedenis van Brabant, van het hertogdom tot heden, p. 165–166
- ^ a b Geschiedenis van Brabant, van het hertogdom tot heden, p. 166
- ^ A. Janse, p. 279–280
- ^ Geschiedenis van Brabant, van het hertogdom tot heden, p. 167-168