William V, Duke of Jülich
Encyclopedia
William V, Duke of Jülich (c.1299 - 25/26 February 1361), the first Duke of Jülich, was the eldest son of Gerhard V of Jülich
and Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot, daughter of Godfrey of Brabant
.
William V was a key political figure of his time, being a brother-in-law to both Edward III of England
and Emperor Ludwig IV
. He spent enormous sons of money to have his brother Walram of Jülich
appointed as Archbishop of Cologne over Adolf II of the Mark. In 1337 he was crucially involved in the German-English alliance which caused the start of the Hundred Years' War
. William was an important supporter of Emperor Ludwig and for a time, he supported the Hapsburgs against the house of Luxembourg in the Carinthian war of succession. Upon the collapse of the German-English alliance and the death of his brother-in-law, William switched his allegiance to Emperor Charles IV
. In 1352 he initiated an inheritance tax on Heinsberg-Valkenburg/Monschau. William won important positions through his Archbishop brother and also served for a time as a field captain for Flanders in the Hundred Years' War. His sons fought against him during an uprising of part of the Jülich knighhood which opposed inclusion in the increasing territorial state, and he was imprisoned by them in 1349, but released in 1351 due to public pressure.
Upon his father's death in 1328, William became Count of Jülich. In 1336 William was appointed Margrave by his brother-in-law, Emperor Ludwig IV, and in 1356/57 he was raised to the level of Duke by Emperor Charles IV, thus becoming the first Duke of Jülich. His skillful marriage policy, especially the marriage of his son Gerhard
to Margaret of Ravensberg
, heiress of Berg and Ravensberg, enabled him to add territory to the house of Jülich. Upon William's death in 1361, the Duchy of Jülich passed to his second son, William
, his eldest son having predeceased. William and his wife are buried in Nideggen.
(1311/13 - 1374). They had the following children:
Gerhard V of Jülich
Gerhard 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....
and Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot, daughter of Godfrey of Brabant
Godfrey of Brabant
Godfrey of Brabant, , was Lord of Aarschot between 1284 and 1302 and Lord of Vierzon between 1277 and 1302.-Biography:...
.
William V was a key political figure of his time, being a brother-in-law to both Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
and Emperor Ludwig IV
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
. He spent enormous sons of money to have his brother Walram of Jülich
Walram of Jülich
Walram of Jülich was Archbishop of Cologne from 1332 to his death in 1349.-Life:Walram was one of the younger sons of Count Gerhard V of Jülich and his wife Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot. From 1316 to 1330 he studied in Orléans and Paris. From 1327 he was a canon in Cologne, as well as a provost...
appointed as Archbishop of Cologne over Adolf II of the Mark. In 1337 he was crucially involved in the German-English alliance which caused the start of the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
. William was an important supporter of Emperor Ludwig and for a time, he supported the Hapsburgs against the house of Luxembourg in the Carinthian war of succession. Upon the collapse of the German-English alliance and the death of his brother-in-law, William switched his allegiance to Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
. In 1352 he initiated an inheritance tax on Heinsberg-Valkenburg/Monschau. William won important positions through his Archbishop brother and also served for a time as a field captain for Flanders in the Hundred Years' War. His sons fought against him during an uprising of part of the Jülich knighhood which opposed inclusion in the increasing territorial state, and he was imprisoned by them in 1349, but released in 1351 due to public pressure.
Upon his father's death in 1328, William became Count of Jülich. In 1336 William was appointed Margrave by his brother-in-law, Emperor Ludwig IV, and in 1356/57 he was raised to the level of Duke by Emperor Charles IV, thus becoming the first Duke of Jülich. His skillful marriage policy, especially the marriage of his son Gerhard
Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg
Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg was the son of William V, Duke of Jülich and Joanna of Hainaut.Gerhard was betrothed in 1333 to Margaret of Guelders, daughter of Rainald II of Guelders and Sophia Betrout. However, this marriage was never consummated, likely due either to...
to Margaret of Ravensberg
Margaret of Ravensberg
Margaret of Ravensberg was the daughter and heiress of Otto IV, Count of Ravensberg and Margaret of Berg.Margaret's father Otto had no sons so at his death in 1328, the County of Ravensberg went to his younger brother Bernhard...
, heiress of Berg and Ravensberg, enabled him to add territory to the house of Jülich. Upon William's death in 1361, the Duchy of Jülich passed to his second son, William
William II, Duke of Jülich
William II, Duke of Jülich was the second Duke of Jülich and the sixth William in the House of Jülich. He was the second son of William I of Jülich and Joanna of Hainaut....
, his eldest son having predeceased. William and his wife are buried in Nideggen.
Family and children
On 26 February 1324 in Cologne, William married Joanna of HainautJoanna of Hainaut
Joanna of Hainault was the third daughter of William I, Count of Hainaut and Joanna of Valois. She was a younger sister of Philippa of Hainault, Queen of England, and Margaret II of Hainault...
(1311/13 - 1374). They had the following children:
- GerhardGerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and RavensbergGerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg was the son of William V, Duke of Jülich and Joanna of Hainaut.Gerhard was betrothed in 1333 to Margaret of Guelders, daughter of Rainald II of Guelders and Sophia Betrout. However, this marriage was never consummated, likely due either to...
, Count of Berg and Ravensberg (c.1325 - 1360), had issue - WilliamWilliam II, Duke of JülichWilliam II, Duke of Jülich was the second Duke of Jülich and the sixth William in the House of Jülich. He was the second son of William I of Jülich and Joanna of Hainaut....
, Duke of Jülich (c.1327 - 1393) - Richardis, married Engelbert III of the Marck
- Philippa, married Godfrey II of Heinsberg
- Reinold
- Joanna, married William I, Count of Isenburg-Wied
- Isabella, married John Plantagenet, 3rd Earl of Kent and Sir Eustache of Aubrechicourt