Count of Hainaut Albert I Duke Of BAVARIA

Male 1336 - 1404  (68 years)


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  • Name Albert I Duke Of BAVARIA  [1, 2
    Title Count of Hainaut 
    Birth 25 Jul 1336  Munich Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Gender Male 
    Death Between 1403 and 1404  [1
    Fact Regent of Hainault, Holland and Zeeland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Name Albert Count Of Holland  [1
    Name Albert I Of Holland Duke Of Lower Bavaria  [2
    Death 13 Dec 1404  The Hague Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Notes 
    • Duke Albert I or Albrecht (July 25, 1336, Munich ? December 13, 1404, The Hague) was a feudal ruler of the counties of Holland, Hainaut, and Zeeland in the Low Countries. Additionally he held a portion of the Bavarian province of Straubing, it being his Bavarian ducal line's appanage and seat.

      He was the third son of Empress Margaret, daughter of William III, Count of Holland and Hainaut, from her marriage with Ludwig of Bavaria. Ludwig also had sons from his first marriage. Albert was originally a younger son, apportioned at best an appanage. He was only 10 years old when his father the Emperor died, leaving most of his Bavarian inheritance to the eldest half-brother, but also some appanages to the younger sons.

      His elder brother, William V, Count of Hainaut, had engaged in a long struggle with their mother, obtaining Holland and Zeeland from her in 1354, and Hainaut on her death in 1356. William V was supported by the party of burghers of cities. They were opposed to by Hooks, the party of disaffected nobles who were supporters of Willem's mother Empress Margaret (who had been Countess of Holland, Zeeland and Hainault in succession to her brother Willem IV, who was killed in battle). Margaret had resigned her sovereignty in favour of her son William V, but the result was a period of great upheavals and chaos that gave rise to the formation of these two opposing parties.

      However, William's insanity resulted in the appointment of the 22-year-old Albert as governor (regent, ruwaard) of his brother's territories from 1358 onwards. During Albert's regency, affairs ran smoothly and trade improved. Troubles between the two political parties, the Hooks (Hoeks) and Cods (Kabeljauws), remained barely beneath the surface. William lived for another thirty years; Albert did not formally succeed him until his death in 1388, by which time he had already married his daughters to a number of Imperial princes and other nobles. The eldest daughter to have issue was Margaret; her son Philip III, Duke of Burgundy would ultimately inherit Albert's territories.

      In Albert's own reign, real troubles erupted between the parties because of a woman: Albrecht always had mistresses, but this time his attentions were drawn to Aleid van Poelgeest, a Cod, very beautiful, who gained political influence which was resented. A plot was hatched among the Hooks as well as members of Albrecht's household; and one September night in 1392 Aleid was murdered in The Hague.

      In his rage Albrecht persecuted the Hoeks, by sword and fire, conquering one castle after the other. Even his own son and heir did not feel safe and went to live in Hainault. During his last years, Albrecht fought the Frisians. They were beaten time and time again, but were never completely conquered.

      On Albert's death in 1404, he was succeeded by his eldest son, William. A younger son, John III, became Bishop of LiËge. However, on William's death in 1417, a war of succession broke out between John and William's daughter Jacqueline of Hainaut. This would be the last episode of the Hook and Cod wars and finally place the counties into Burgundian hands.

      He had several illegitimate children.

      Albert contracted a second marriage in 1394 in Heusden with Margaret of Cleves (c. 1375-1412), sister of Adolf I, Duke of Cleves, but they had no children.
    Person ID I04379  Main Tree

    Father Louis IV,   b. 1282   d. 11 Oct 1347 (Age 65 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Margarete Countess Of HOLLAND,   b. 1311, Le Quesnoy, Nord, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Jun 1356, Le Quesnoy, Nord, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 45 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Marriage 1324  [2
    Family ID F17659  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Of BRIEG,   b. 1342   d. 1386 (Age 44 years) 
    Children 
     1. Margaret Of BAVARIA,   b. 1363   d. 23 Jan 1423, Dijon Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 60 years)  [Natural]
     2. Bishop of Liege John Count Of HOLLAND,   b. 1374   d. 1425 (Age 51 years)  [Natural]
     3. William VI Count Of HOLLAND,   b. 1365   d. 1417 (Age 52 years)  [Natural]
     4. Catherine Of HOLLAND,   b. Bef 1361   d. 1400 (Age > 39 years)  [Natural]
     5. Johanna Of BAVARIA,   b. Between 1356 and 1361   d. 31 Dec 1386, Karlstein Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 30 years)  [Natural]
     6. Albert II Duke Of BAVARIA,   b. 1369   d. 21 Jan 1397, Kelheim Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 28 years)  [Natural]
     7. Johanna Of BAVARIA,   b. 1373, Munich Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Oct 1410, Vienna Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F06793  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S01910] Blood Royal, Issue of the Kings and Queens of Medieval England 1066-1399 by. T. Anna Leese.

    2. [S03581] Wikipedia Encyclopedia.