John I, Duke of Cleves

John I (* January 14, 1419, † September 5, 1481 ) was from 1448 to 1481 Duke of Cleves, Count von der Mark and von Ravenstein. John was the eldest son of Adolf II of Cleves and Mary of Burgundy, daughter of Duke John the Fearless of Burgundy.

Life

His childhood and youth was spent at the Burgundian court in Brussels with his uncle Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. 1444 Johann was founded by his father returned to Kleve to support this in the Feud of Soest against the Archbishop of Cologne, Dietrich von Moers. In Kleve they named him because of his Burgundian customs as dat Kint van Vlaanderen or Johanneken met de barking. At the same time Johann was equipped with parts of Klever dominion.

After the death of Adolf II on September 23, 1448 John joined the succession in Kleve. In 1450 he entered the dominions Ravenstein and Wijnendale to his younger brother Adolf of Cleves from as appanage. About the County of Mark, he could have freely Mark in 1461 after the death of his uncle, Count Gerhard. The Feud of Soest was settled in 1449 after the victory of Cleves page. From 1450 to 1457 John was again involved in a war with the Archbishop of Cologne, again in the second Feud of Soest 1462/63 and the war with Archbishop Ruprecht of the Palatinate.

Thanks to the support of his uncle Philip III. of Burgundy, Johann was able to prevail against the Electorate of Cologne and maintain the newly acquired cities Xanten and Soest. However, the Duchy of Cleves got into a dangerous dependence of Burgundy, the threatened independence of Kleve.

A painting of an original by Rogier van der Weyden presents Johann in Burgundian court dress with the collar of the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece represents, in which he was admitted in 1451 after a pilgrimage to Palestine and knighted a Knight of the Holy grave in Mons. The connection between Burgundy and Cleves was finally still further strengthened on April 22, 1455 by the marriage of John and Elisabeth of Burgundy, who was born into a side branch of the House of Valois - Burgundy.

In the battle of Straelen John I suffered on June 23, 1468 against his nephews and opponents of Adolf of Egmond / funds is a defeat, in consequence of which the city of Kleve Wachtendonk fell back to money. Only by luck escaped the Klever Herzog here captivity; by he went into the protection of the Duchess Sophia of Jülich -Berg.

1473, the tide turned again in favor of the Klevers, the Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy during the acquisition of the Duchy of Geldern supported and so could gain further areas for Kleve: Weeze, Goch, Asperden, Nergena, Mook and Lobith well as the country duffel and the jurisdiction on the imperial abbey Elten. In addition, he won so lost in the Battle of Straelen city Wachtendonk again for Kleve back.

After his death, his eldest son John II inherited the Duchy of Cleves and the County of Mark. His younger son Engelbert finally inherited in 1491 by his maternal grandfather, John II (Burgundy - Nevers ), the counties of Nevers and Eu and founded the house of Cleves - Nevers.

Progeny

The marriage between Johann and Elisabeth of Burgundy came from six offspring:

  • John II (* 1458, † 1521), Duke of Cleves, married on November 3, 1489 Mathilda of Hesse
  • Adolf (1461-1498), canon of Liege
  • Dietrich (* 1464, † young)
  • Maria ( * 1465, † 1513)
  • Philip (* 1467, † 1505), Bishop of Nevers ( 1500-1505 ), Amiens ( 1501-1503 ) and Autun ( 1505)
Adolph I, Duke of Cleves Kasteel van Wijnendale Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein Elizabeth of Nevers Adolf, Duke of Guelders Rijnwaarden John II, Duke of Cleves Engelbert, Count of Nevers John II, Count of Nevers Philip of Cleves (bishop) Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Neue Deutsche Biographie Gerhard, Count of Mark Integrated Authority File
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