Jacqueline of Holland
(Countess of Hainaut)
1401–1436 |
Jacqueline of Holland was a Countess who bravely held her own against the many deceitful members of her family. Although forced to give up her counties for the sake of their preservation, she remained loyal to her people and unrelenting in her battle for sovereignty.
Born in Hainaut, Jacqueline was betrothed at an early age to John of Valois, Duke of Touraine and son of Charles VI of France. At fourteen, she and her fiancé were wed, and four months later, John’s older brother passed away, making him heir to the French throne. Unfortunately, both John and Jacqueline’s father died two years later, leaving the young girl without any close family. Acknowledged as sovereign of Hainault and Holland, Jacqueline was opposed by her uncle but retained the support of the Hook faction in Holland. A year later, she married her cousin, John IV of Brabant, but the union was not a happy one; John was two years her junior, tempestuous, and weak. At the same time, her uncle seized her counties for himself and fueled tensions between the separate political factions. Abandoned by her husband and mother, Jacqueline fled to England, where she met Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the younger brother of British monarch Henry V. She obtained a divorce from her husband and wed Humphrey in secret following the death of Henry V. She hoped that he might assist her in her troubles back home, but even after moving to the Netherlands, he remained occupied with English affairs and soon distanced himself from her troubles. By this time, her uncle had passed away, but her cousin now took up his relative’s cause. After Humphrey deserted his wife, she was captured by her cousin, Philip of Burgundy, and placed under house arrest. Luckily, two knights came to her rescue, and, disguised as a man, she escaped unnoticed.
Despite her freedom, however, she found herself without army, and Philip easily took Zeeland for himself. Furthermore, a new pope declared her old marriage still valid, freeing Humphrey from any obligation to aid her cause. Still, Jacqueline gallantly fought against the combined forces of her cousin and husband. In the end, she was forced to sign a treaty with Philip. The countess would keep her titles, but her cousin would be the true ruler of Holland and Hainaut. Jacqueline married her old rival, Francis of Borselen, taking upon herself the title of Countess of Oostervant. The marriage was a happy one, but Jacqueline soon fell gravely ill, and she passed away in 1436, possibly from tuberculosis.
Key events during the life of Jacqueline of Holland:
| Born | |
| Betrothed to John, Duke of Touraine | |
| Married John in the Hague | |
| John became heir to the French throne | |
| John passed away | |
| Jaqueline's father passed away | |
| Married her cousin, John IV of Brabant | |
| Married Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester | |
| Death of Jacqueline's uncle | |
| Humphrey deserted his wife and returned to England | |
| Signed a treaty that gave rule of her counties to her cousin | |
| Married Francis of Borselen | |
| Died |
Other Resources
| Jacqueline of Holland in | Historic Girls by E. S. Brooks |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
Jacqueline led the charge in Historic Girls |
 Ajax slowly rose and looked up into the girl's calm face in Historic Girls |
 Philip of Burgundy and the Countess Jacqueline in Greatest Nations - Netherlands |
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