John II, Count of Holland facts for kids

John II (born in 1247 – died on August 22, 1304) was an important ruler in the Middle Ages. He was the Count of Hainaut, Holland, and Zeeland. This meant he governed these areas, which are now parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands.

Becoming a Powerful Count

John II was born in 1247. He was the oldest son of John I of Hainaut and Adelaide of Holland. He became the Count of Hainaut after his grandmother, Countess Margaret I, passed away.

John II continued a long-standing conflict between his family, the Avesnes family, and another powerful family, the House of Dampierre. This fight was against Count Guy of Flanders over control of an area called Imperial Flanders.

Uniting Hainaut and Holland

In 1299, John II became the Count of Holland when his cousin, John I, died. This was a big deal because it meant John II now ruled both Hainaut and Holland–Zeeland. This joining of two separate areas under one ruler is called a personal union. This union lasted for about 50 more years after John II.

Before John II, his cousin's father, Floris V, had been fighting against Flanders for control of Zeeland. Floris V asked France for help against Flanders. The French army defeated the Flemish forces in 1300 and 1301. Rebellions in Zeeland were also put down. John's brother, Guy of Avesnes, even became the bishop of Utrecht, a powerful religious and political leader. With these victories, many of John II's main enemies were gone.

Challenges and Conflicts

Things changed quickly after a big uprising in Flanders. In 1302, the French army was defeated at the Battle of the Golden Spurs. This was a huge loss for France. Sadly, John II's oldest son was killed in this battle while fighting for the French.

After this defeat, the Flemish forces attacked Hainaut and Zeeland. They were helped by people living there who were unhappy with John II's rule. Guy of Namur, a leader from Namur, defeated John's son, William, in a battle on the island of Duiveland. John's brother, Bishop Guy of Utrecht, was even taken prisoner.

Regaining Control

Guy of Namur and Duke John II of Brabant managed to conquer most of Utrecht, Holland, and Zeeland. However, John II fought back.

In 1304, Guy of Namur was finally defeated by the combined fleets of Holland and France in a naval battle near Zierikzee. John II managed to get back most of his power and control. He passed away in the same year, 1304.

John II's Family

In 1270, John II married Philippa. She was the daughter of Count Henry V of Luxembourg. John and Philippa had many children:

1. John, who was Lord of Beaumont and Count of Ostervant. He was killed in the Battle of the Golden Spurs on July 11, 1302.
2. Henry, who became a religious leader (a canon) in Cambrai. He died in 1303.
3. William I, Count of Hainaut (born around 1286 – died June 7, 1337). He took over as Count after his father, John II, died in 1304. William married Joan of Valois.
4. John of Beaumont (born 1288 – died March 11, 1356). He married Margaret, Countess de Soissons.
5. Margaret (died October 18, 1342). She married Robert II of Artois, who was also killed at the Battle of the Golden Spurs on July 11, 1302.
6. Alice or Alix (died October 26, 1317). She married Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk in 1290, but they did not have any children.
7. Isabelle (died 1305). She married Raoul de Clermont, Lord of Nesle, who was killed in battle at the Battle of the Golden Spurs on July 11, 1302.
8. Joan, who became a nun at Fontenelles.
9. Mary of Avesnes (born 1280–died 1354). She married Louis I, Duke of Bourbon.
10. Matilda, who became the Abbess of Nivelles, a leader of a group of nuns.

John also had two children outside of his marriage:

1. Willem de Cuser
2. Aleid van Zandenburg, who married Wolfert II of Borselen first, and then Otto III of Buren.

See also

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