John II of Avesnes (1247 – 22 August 1304) was the oldest son of John I of Avesnes and Adelaide of Holland.
Contents |
John II 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 cousin, 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. John's brother, Guy of Avesnes, became Bishop of Utrecht. So all his main enemies were gone.
The tide changed dramatically after a Flemish uprising and the defeat of the French army at the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, where his eldest son was killed fighting for the French. Flemish patriots attacked Hainaut and Zeeland supported by the dissatisfied population there. Guy of Namur defeated John's 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.
In 1270, John married Philippa of Luxembourg, daughter of Count Henry V of Luxembourg and Margaret of Bar. Their children were:
| Preceded by Margaret |
Count of Hainaut 1280–1304 |
Succeeded by William I |
| Preceded by John I |
Count of Holland and Zeeland 1299–1304 |