The Low Countries around 1375
Yellow realm of the House of Avesnes, light yellow additions
Utrecht
Arnold (or
Arnoud)
II of Horne (1339–1389) was the son of
William V of Horne and Elisabeth of Cleves. He was
canon, provost,
Bishop of Utrecht from 1371 to 1378, and
Bishop of Liège from 1378 to 1389.
After the death of bishop
Jan van Virneburg in 1371, the cathedral
chapter nominated its provost as candidate for the bishopric, but the rest of the chapters supported the papal candidate Arnold van Horne, who as a result become bishop. Arnold seems to have been a forceful bishop, though he endangered the financial state of the bishopric.
He involved himself in the Gelre/
Guelders War of Succession, which almost led to his capture.
Fom 1373 to 1375 he waged war against the with Willam of Avesnes count of Holland, over the advantageously located trading town of Vreeswijk. The war against William V did not went well, and ended in the selling of Oversticht in 1375.
The wars emptied the coffers and in order to improve his finances, Bishop Arnold was forced to grant participation to the Utrecht
burghers in the administration of the land, in the
Landbrief (landletter) of 1375, after which they accepted new taxes. This
Landbrief is an important document that is considered the first constitution of the
Nedersticht.
After the wars ended, an old party struggle in the city erupted again, with the
Gunterlingen on one side and the
Lichtenbergers on the other side.
Bishop Arnold managed to keep the parties separate, but could not prevent that William of Avesnes gained influence in both rivaling parties.
He was moved to the Bishopric of Liège in 1378 by
Pope Urban VI. However, the chapter at Liege had chosen someone else for the bishopric, and this candidate was supported by
Antipope Clement VII. Only after a year of struggle was Arnold able to take his seat at Liege.
Arnold of Horne was a learned man who was a good organizer, and able to inspire.
View attachment 322853