John II, Count of Holland

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John II of Avesnes (1247 – August 22, 1304) was count of Hainaut from 1280 to his death, succeeding his grandmother, Margaret II. John continued the war between the house of Dampierre and the house of Avesnes against count Guy of Flanders for imperial Flanders.

He became Count of Holland in 1299 with the death of John I, Count of Holland, through his mother Adelaide of Holland, heiress and regent of this county. His descendants maintained this personal union between the counties.

His nephew, count Floris V, was fighting against Flanders for Zeeland. He sought help of France against Flanders. The French defeated the Flemish in 1300 and 1301. The rebels in Zeeland were defeated as well. The brother of John, Guy of Avesnes, became bishop of Utrecht. So all main enemies were gone.

The tide changed dramatically after a Flemish uprising and the defeat of the French army at the battle of Courtrai in 1302. Flemish patriots attacked Hainaut and Zeeland supported by the dissatisfied population there. Guy of Namur defeated Johns son, William, in a battle on the island of Duiveland. Bishop Guy of Utrecht was taken prisoner. Guy of Namur and duke John II of Brabant 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.

[edit] Family and children

In 1270, John married Philippine of Luxemburg, daughter of Count Henry II of Luxemburg and Marguerite of Bar. They children were:

1. John, senior de Beaumont, Count of Ostervant (d. 11 July 1302).
2. Henry, a canon in Cambrai, (d. 1303).
3. Simon.
4. William III, Count of Hainaut.
5. Jean, senior de Beaumont, (1288 – 11 March 1356). He was married to Marguerite, Countess de Soissons.
6. Margaret, (d. 18 October 1342), married Robert II of Artois.
7. Alix, (d. 26 October 1317), married 1290 Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk.
8. Isabelle, (d. 1305), married Raoul de Clermont, senior de Nesle.
9. Jeanne, a nun at Fontenelles.
10. Marie (1280–1354), married Louis I, Duke of Bourbon.
11. Matilda, Abbess of Nivelles.
12. Willem de Cuser (b. 1290)

[edit] References

• Encyclopedia: Grote Winkler Prins
• French wikipedia on this subject

[edit] See also

• Counts of Hainaut family tree
• Counts of Holland family tree

Preceded by Margaret	Count of Hainaut	Succeeded by William III
Preceded by John I	Count of Holland and Zeeland