William I of Guelders
| William I of Guelders and Jülich | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Guelders | |
| Reign | 1377–1402 |
| Predecessor | Disputed between sisters: Maria of Guelders with her husband William II, Duke of Jülich and Matilde of Guelders with her husband John II, Count of Blois |
| Successor | Reinald IV |
| Duke of Jülich | |
| Reign | 1393–1402 |
| Predecessor | William II, Duke of Jülich |
| Successor | Reinald IV |
| Born | 5 March 1364 |
| Died | 16 February 1402 (aged 37) Arnhem, The Netherlands |
| Spouse | Katherine of Bavaria |
| Issue | No legitimate heirs |
| Father | William II, Duke of Jülich |
| Mother | Maria of Guelders |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
William I of Guelders and Jülich KG (5 March 1364 – 16 February 1402, Arnhem) was Duke of Guelders, as William I, from 1377 and Duke of Jülich, as William III, from 1393. William was known for his military activities, participating in the Prussian crusade five times and battling with neighbors in France and Brabant throughout his rule. His allies included Holy Roman Emperors, Charles IV and Wenceslaus, Richard II of England, and Conrad Zöllner von Rothenstein, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. During his reign the duchies of Guelders and Jülich were temporarily unified.
William was the eldest son of William II, Duke of Jülich and Maria of Guelders, half-sister of Reginald III, Duke of Guelders and Edward, Duke of Guelders. The brothers Edward and Reginald disputed the Duchy, with Edward taking control in 1361, imprisoning his brother. In 1366, Edward violated a peace made with Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg (who was Duke of Brabant by marriage to Joanna, Duchess of Brabant) by not protecting Brabant merchants in the land between the Rhine and the Meuse who were under threat by armed men involved in the English-French wars. Wenceslaus's army then invaded and engaged in the Battle of Baesweiler in August 1371. Duke Edward, who was about to marry Katherine of Bavaria, daughter of Albert I, Duke of Bavaria, joined the battle and captured Duke Wenceslaus, but was wounded by an arrow and died. Reginald was immediately released, but died of ill health in three months, neither leaving heirs. This led to internal dissent over succession. Edward and Reginald were the only children of Reginald II, Duke of Guelders and , daughter of Edward II of England, and Reginald's only male heirs. Reginald II's first marriage was to Sophia Berthout, Lady of Mechelen, which led to four daughters. Two daughters, Maria and Mathilde, then made claim to the title. Mathilde's claim was based on her position as eldest daughter. Maria based her claim on William, who was seven at the time, being the only male representative of the blood of Guelders. Maria quickly married John II, Count of Blois, and this grievance precipitated into the War of the Succession of Guelders. William's father, William II, Duke of Jülich, was granted the right to administer the duchy by Emperor Charles IV during his son's minority. At this time a marriage was arranged between the young William and Catharina of Bavaria, who had been betrothed to his uncle Edward. However, as part of the reconciliation between the houses of Blois and Jülich, some of Guelders remained under the control of Mathilde, and the upper district was under control of Jülich.
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