William IV, Count of Jülich
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William IV, Count of Jülich (c.1210 - 16 March 1278) was the son and heir of William III of Jülich and Mathilde of Limburg, daughter of Waleran III, Duke of Limburg.
William's father joined the Crusades in 1217 and died in the Siege of Damietta
in 1218. William succeeded his father as Count of Jülich under the guardianship of his uncle, Eberhard of Hengenbach. In the 1220s and early 1230s William greatly expanded his territory. In 1234 he fought in the battle of Altenesch against the Friesians and was made imperial administrator of Conzen and Aachen, guardian of Kornelimünster and over the possessions of the Abbey of Essen on the left bank of the Rhine river. He also won the imperial fiefdoms of Sinzig, Hengebach-Heimbach, Merzenich, Thürnich, Düren und Bardenberg, thus doubling the possessions of the Counts of Jülich.
By 1240 William's territorial expansion created conflict on the eastern side of his territory with the Archbishop of Cologne. William was a loyal supporter of the House of Hohenstaufen which made him a rugged opponent of Cologne Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden
, under whose rule more disputes with William broke out. As a result of the Hochstander inheritance, William gained parts of Münstereifel, which moved him even closer to his opponent. In 1242 in the battle of Lövenich, William captured Konrad and forced him to renew all of William's Cologne fiefs. Later, in the battle of Zülpich in 1267, William capured Cologne Archbishop Engelbert II and held him captive in the castle of Nideggen
until 1270/71, again forcing the Archbishop to recognize all of William's Cologne fiefs. As a result of this action, William was excommunicated by Pope Clement IV
from 1268-1270.
William supported Richard of Cornwall
as King of the Romans and Richard confirmed all of William's imperial fiefs. William also supported France against King Alfonso X of Castile
in 1267/77. He stood against Guelders, Cleves and Heinsberg because of their similar interests.
On the night of 16 March 1278, which has become known as Gertrudisnacht (Night of St. Gertrude), William, along with his sons William and Roland (and according to some sources, a third son), entered the town of Aachen to collect taxes for King Rudolph I of Germany
. There was a riot and William and his sons were killed. The city of Aachen was later ordered to pay a high compensation to William's widow Richardis on account of his murder.
and Margaret of Brabant. Most sources accept Margaret as the mother of William's elder children but there is no evidence that this marriage was ever consummated. Further, William is known to have married Margaret's sister, Richardis of Guelders (c.1215 - 1293/98), prior to January 1250 but there is no evidence of a papal dispensation which would have been required for William to marry the sister of his first wife. Thus, it's possible that Richardis was the mother of all of William's children. William had eleven children, as well as a natural son Roland (and possibly a second natural son) who died with him in the riot at Aachen.
William's father joined the Crusades in 1217 and died in the Siege of Damietta
Siege of Damietta
The Siege of Damietta of 1218 was part of the Fifth Crusade. The city, under the control of the Ayyubid Al-Kamil, was besieged by and taken by the Crusaders in 1219....
in 1218. William succeeded his father as Count of Jülich under the guardianship of his uncle, Eberhard of Hengenbach. In the 1220s and early 1230s William greatly expanded his territory. In 1234 he fought in the battle of Altenesch against the Friesians and was made imperial administrator of Conzen and Aachen, guardian of Kornelimünster and over the possessions of the Abbey of Essen on the left bank of the Rhine river. He also won the imperial fiefdoms of Sinzig, Hengebach-Heimbach, Merzenich, Thürnich, Düren und Bardenberg, thus doubling the possessions of the Counts of Jülich.
By 1240 William's territorial expansion created conflict on the eastern side of his territory with the Archbishop of Cologne. William was a loyal supporter of the House of Hohenstaufen which made him a rugged opponent of Cologne Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden
Konrad von Hochstaden
Konrad von Hochstaden was Archbishop of Cologne from 1238 to 1261.-Life:Konrad was a son of Count Lothar of Hochstadt, canon of St. Maria ad Gradus and of the old Cologne Cathedral, and Mathilde of Vianden. His date of birth is unknown, and nothing is known of his early youth...
, under whose rule more disputes with William broke out. As a result of the Hochstander inheritance, William gained parts of Münstereifel, which moved him even closer to his opponent. In 1242 in the battle of Lövenich, William captured Konrad and forced him to renew all of William's Cologne fiefs. Later, in the battle of Zülpich in 1267, William capured Cologne Archbishop Engelbert II and held him captive in the castle of Nideggen
Nideggen
Nideggen is a town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Rur, in the Eifel hills, approx. 15 km south of Düren....
until 1270/71, again forcing the Archbishop to recognize all of William's Cologne fiefs. As a result of this action, William was excommunicated by Pope Clement IV
Pope Clement IV
Pope Clement IV , born Gui Faucoi called in later life le Gros , was elected Pope February 5, 1265, in a conclave held at Perugia that took four months, while cardinals argued over whether to call in Charles of Anjou, the youngest brother of Louis IX of France...
from 1268-1270.
William supported Richard of Cornwall
Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
Richard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King...
as King of the Romans and Richard confirmed all of William's imperial fiefs. William also supported France against King Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
in 1267/77. He stood against Guelders, Cleves and Heinsberg because of their similar interests.
On the night of 16 March 1278, which has become known as Gertrudisnacht (Night of St. Gertrude), William, along with his sons William and Roland (and according to some sources, a third son), entered the town of Aachen to collect taxes for King Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties...
. There was a riot and William and his sons were killed. The city of Aachen was later ordered to pay a high compensation to William's widow Richardis on account of his murder.
Family and children
By contract on 12 March 1237, William was betrothed to Margaret of Guelders, daughter of Gerard III, Count of GueldersGerard III, Count of Guelders
Gerard III of Guelders was the Count of Guelders and Zutphen from 1207 until his death in 1229. He was a son of Count Otto I of Guelders, and is sometimes called Gerard IV or Gerard V...
and Margaret of Brabant. Most sources accept Margaret as the mother of William's elder children but there is no evidence that this marriage was ever consummated. Further, William is known to have married Margaret's sister, Richardis of Guelders (c.1215 - 1293/98), prior to January 1250 but there is no evidence of a papal dispensation which would have been required for William to marry the sister of his first wife. Thus, it's possible that Richardis was the mother of all of William's children. William had eleven children, as well as a natural son Roland (and possibly a second natural son) who died with him in the riot at Aachen.
- Matilda (c.1238 - bef 1279), married 1258 John, Count of Looz
- Margaret (c.1240 - 12 October 1292/93), married 1261 Dieter III, Count of Katzenelnbogen
- William (c.1240 - 16 March 1278), died with his father in the riot at Aachen. Married Marie of Flanders, daughter of Guy, Count of Flanders and Matilda of Bethune. They had one son, William the youngerWilliam of JülichWilliam of Jülich was one of the Flemish noblemen that opposed the annexation policies of the French king Philip IV - together with Pieter de Coninck....
. - Richardis (c.1243 - after 1291), married before 1265 William, Count of Salm
- WalramWalram, Count of JülichWalram, Count of Jülich was the second son of William IV, Count of Jülich and Richardis of Guelders, daughter of Gerard III, Count of Guelders....
(1240/45 - 1297) - Otto (c.1245 - after 1283), Archdeacon at Liege from 1282
- GerhardGerhard V of JülichGerhard V of Jülich , Count of Jülich , was the youngest son of William IV, Count of Jülich and Richardis of Guelders, daughter of Gerard III, Count of Guelders....
(before 1250 - 1328) - Catharine (c.1250 - after 1287), married before 1273 John of Arberg
- Petronilla (c.1255 - after 1300), married before 1276 Ludwig, Count of Arnsberg
- Blancheflor (c.1255 - after 1330), married before 1277 Henry, Count of Sponheim
- Mechtild (c.1255 - aft 1287)