First War of the Guelderian Succession

The First War of the Guelderian Succession was a battle for the throne of the Duchy of Guelders that raged between 1371 and 1379.

First War of the Guelderian Succession
Date 1371-1379 Location Duchy of Guelders Result Victory of William of Jülich
Belligerents
Duchy of Jülich Bronckhorst faction	Blois Heeckeren faction
Commanders and leaders
William III Mary of Guelders	John II of Blois Machteld of Guelders

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 Heeckerens supported Machteld of Guelders, and were led by Frederik van Heeckeren van der Eze (1320-1386).
• The Bronckhorsters supported William of Guelders, and were led by Gijsbert V van Bronckhorst (1328-1356).

The war lasted eight years, with Mary and her supporters emerging victorious, and Mary's son William becoming Duke of Guelders.

Timeline

• 1372 The Bronckhorst faction carries out raids in the Sticht Utrecht, presumably because the bishop of Utrecht Arnold II of Horne had joined their enemies. In the Battle near Heerewaarden, the Bronckhorst faction is defeated.
• 1372, Gozewijn van Varik, cousin of Machteld of Guelders, conquers Tiell in the spring of this year. Throughout the year, struggles continue within the city.
• 1372/73, troops of Arnold II of Horne conquer Harderwijk on behalf of Machteld of Guelders.
• 1373, John II, Count of Blois begins his Siege of Venlo.
• 1374, Reinoud I van Brederode conquer Tiel on behalf of Machteld of Guelders.
• 1376, the leaders of the Bronckhorst faction are ambushed and taken as prisoners near Oosterbeek.
• 1377, Charles IV gives the Dukedom of Guelders to the son of Mary and William III.
• 1378, Battle of Tiel.
• 1378, In the Battle near Gennep the Heeckeren and Bronckhorst factions confront each other.
• 1379, The village of Zennuwijnen with its church and abbey are destroyed by the Bronckhorst faction.
• 1379, On March 24 the last battle was fought near Hönnepel . Machteld of Guelders was defeated by the troops of Julich and resigned from her rights to the dukedom of Guelders.