First War of the Guelderian Succession | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Duchy of Jülich Bronckhorst faction |
Blois Heeckeren faction |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||
William III Mary of Guelders |
John II of Blois Machteld of Guelders |
The First War of the Guelderian Succession was a battle for the throne of the Duchy of Guelders that raged between 1371 and 1379.
The war originated when Duke Rainald III died without issue in 1371. His brother, Edward, who had been killed in the Battle of Baesweiler earlier that same year also left no offspring. The pretenders to the ducal throne were the two daughters of Duke Rainald II: Machteld, who was married to John II, Count of Blois, and Mary, wife of William II of Jülich and mother to William I of Guelders and Jülich, on whose behalf she claimed the throne of Guelders.
14th-century Guelders was divided in two factions:
The war lasted eight years, with Mary and her supporters emerging victorious, and Mary's son William becoming Duke of Guelders.