Jacqueline of Bavaria or Jacoba van Beirern countess of Holland Zeeland and Hainaut is the founding mother of the later kingdom of the low countries or better known as the Kingdom of Belgica.(Le Quesnoy, baptised 16 juli 1401)
First married to the Dauphin of France she was re-married after his death with Jan of Brabant.
Jan of Brabant was her 2 years younger nephew and a weak easy to manipulate man, more interested in hunting, drinking and women than state affairs.
Jacoba, assisted in the early years of her marriage by her father William VI, who just survived an amputation of his leg, seized power by removing one by one their opponents in the Estates of Brabant, and so taking control of the Duchy of Brabant.
In 1421 she gave birth to a son, William, how ever it is suspected the father was not Jan but her lover trustful supporter Frank van Borselen a noble man from Zeeland.
When on 1422 Jan of Brabant died by an unfortunate hunting accident, or murder, and a halve year later her beloved father she became Countes and Duces of Holland, Zeeland, Hainaut and Brabant, and regent of her son and future Duke. The lands were one of the fasted growing economies and only eclipsed in wealth by Flanders and Italy.
All ready during the last 5 years of the live of her father she was involved in politics, initially encouraged by her father who lost much energy after his amputation and saw a fine successor in her, despite she was a woman.
Only she opposed more and more her father in the power struggle in the County of Holland between the Nobles, who wanted to keep the old order and the Nobles and Merchants who demanded more influence from the cities in state affairs.
Gradually she chooses more the side of the Cities, by this opposing her father but at the same time denying her uncle Jan of Bavaria, Bishop of Liege, any influence in Holland and Brabant.
Mean while in 1427 her son William VII was married in his seventh year to Anna the daughter of Adolf van Gulik-Berg, his last surviving child. Anna would inherit the Duchy Berg and Gulik in 1437.
In 1438 Jacoba stepped back in favor of her son William VII Duke of Holland, Zeeland, Haunait, Brabant, Gulik and Berg lord of Friesia. In reality she provided her son who turned to be ,ore than an equal in screwed politics and battle as his rivalries the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings of France.
In 1441 he acquired the Ducy of Gelre after removing Arno;d van Egmont, by this also eliminating his major opponent in Holland........
First married to the Dauphin of France she was re-married after his death with Jan of Brabant.
Jan of Brabant was her 2 years younger nephew and a weak easy to manipulate man, more interested in hunting, drinking and women than state affairs.
Jacoba, assisted in the early years of her marriage by her father William VI, who just survived an amputation of his leg, seized power by removing one by one their opponents in the Estates of Brabant, and so taking control of the Duchy of Brabant.
In 1421 she gave birth to a son, William, how ever it is suspected the father was not Jan but her lover trustful supporter Frank van Borselen a noble man from Zeeland.
When on 1422 Jan of Brabant died by an unfortunate hunting accident, or murder, and a halve year later her beloved father she became Countes and Duces of Holland, Zeeland, Hainaut and Brabant, and regent of her son and future Duke. The lands were one of the fasted growing economies and only eclipsed in wealth by Flanders and Italy.
All ready during the last 5 years of the live of her father she was involved in politics, initially encouraged by her father who lost much energy after his amputation and saw a fine successor in her, despite she was a woman.
Only she opposed more and more her father in the power struggle in the County of Holland between the Nobles, who wanted to keep the old order and the Nobles and Merchants who demanded more influence from the cities in state affairs.
Gradually she chooses more the side of the Cities, by this opposing her father but at the same time denying her uncle Jan of Bavaria, Bishop of Liege, any influence in Holland and Brabant.
Mean while in 1427 her son William VII was married in his seventh year to Anna the daughter of Adolf van Gulik-Berg, his last surviving child. Anna would inherit the Duchy Berg and Gulik in 1437.
In 1438 Jacoba stepped back in favor of her son William VII Duke of Holland, Zeeland, Haunait, Brabant, Gulik and Berg lord of Friesia. In reality she provided her son who turned to be ,ore than an equal in screwed politics and battle as his rivalries the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings of France.
In 1441 he acquired the Ducy of Gelre after removing Arno;d van Egmont, by this also eliminating his major opponent in Holland........