Arnold, Duke of Guelders

Arnold of Egmond (14 July 1410 – 23 February 1473) was Duke of Guelders, Count of Zutphen.

Arnold, Duke of Guelders
Arnold, Duke of Guelders
Born(1410-07-10)10 July 1410
Egmond-Binnen
Died23 February 1473(1473-02-23) (aged 62)
Grave
Noble familyEgmont
Spouse(s)Catherine of Cleves
Issue
FatherJohn II, Count of Egmond
MotherMaria van Arkel

Life

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Arnold was born in Egmond-Binnen, North Holland, the son of John II of Egmond and Maria van Arkel.[1] On 11 July 1423, Arnold, still a boy, succeeded Duke Reinald IV. Arnold was the grandson of Reinald's sister, Johanna. Although the Emperor Sigismund had invested the Duke of Berg with the duchy of Gelders, Arnold retained the confidence of the Estates by enlarging their privileges, and enjoyed the support of Duke Philip of Burgundy. Arnold was betrothed, and afterwards united in marriage to Catherine of Cleves, a niece of Philip of Burgundy. Subsequently, however, Duke Arnold fell out with his ally as to the succession to the see of Utrecht, whereupon Philip joined with the four chief towns of Guelders[2] in the successful attempt of Arnold's son Adolf to substitute his own for his father's authority. Arnold gave up his claim on Jülich only after his defeat in 1444 by Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg.[3]

 
Egmond coat of arms

When Charles the Bold became Duke of Burgundy in 1467, after rejecting a compromise, Adolph was thrown into prison. Arnold, against the will of the towns and the law of the land, pledged his duchy to Charles for 300,000 Rhenish florins (1471).[3] Upon Arnold's death two years later at Grave, Charles took possession of the duchy, starting a series of wars that would last more than 70 years.

Family and children

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Arnold was married in Cleves on 26 January 1430 to Catherine of Cleves (1417–1479),[2] daughter of Adolph IV, Duke of Cleves and Marie of Burgundy. Their children were:

Ancestors

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References

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  1. ^ Stein 2017, p. 47.
  2. ^ a b c Vaughan 2004, p. 292.
  3. ^ a b Künker 2007, p. 320.
  4. ^ Jansen 2002, p. 262.
  5. ^ Nijsten 2004, p. 374.
  6. ^ Nijsten 2004, p. 101.

Sources

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  • Jansen, S. (2002). The Monstrous Regiment of Women: Female Rulers in Early Modern Europe. Palgrave Macmillan US. pp. 262–. ISBN 978-0-230-60211-3.
  • Künker, Fritz Rudolf (2007). Künker Auktion 121 - The De Wit Collection of Medieval Coins. GmbH & Co. KG Numismatischer Verlag Künker. pp. 320–. GGKEY:XA7PPK6ZHF7.
  • Nijsten, Gerard (2004). In the Shadow of Burgundy: The Court of Guelders in the Late Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press.
  • Stein, Robert (2017). Magnanimous Dukes and Rising States: The Unification of the Burgundian. Oxford University Press.
  • Vaughan, Richard (2004). Philip the Good: The Apogee of Burgundy. Vol. 3. The Boydell Press.
Arnold, Duke of Guelders
Born: 14 July 1410 Died: 23 February 1473
Preceded by Duke of Guelders
1423–1465
Succeeded by
Preceded by Duke of Guelders
1471–1473
Succeeded by