John V, Lord of Arkel

John V, Lord of Arkel (11 September 1362 in Gorinchem – 25 August 1428 in Leerdam) was Lord of Arkel, Haastrecht and Hagestein and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and West Frisia. He was a son of Lord Otto of Arkel and his wife, Elisabeth of Bar-Pierrepont.

John V, Count of Arkel
Coat of arms of the House of Arkel
Born	11 September 1362 Gorinchem
Died	25 August 1428 (aged 65) Leerdam
Noble family	House of Arkel
Spouse(s)	Joanna of Jülich
Father	Otto, Lord of Arkel
Mother	Elisabeth of Bar-Pierrepont

He acquired the Lordship of Haastrecht in 1380 and Hagestein in 1382. When he inherited Arkel from his father in 1396, he became a member of the court council of the Count of Holland.

During the reign of Albert I, the county suffered from a series of conflicts known as the Hook and Cod wars. John V sided with Albert I and the Cods. However, during a campaign in West Frisia, John V came into conflict with Albert's son, William VI, who sided with the Hooks. The murder of Aleid van Poelgeest may also have played a role in their animosity. Albert informed his father that John was no longer a faithful ally and John declared himself independent and refused to participate in further campaigns against the Frisians. This triggered the Arkel War, in which William VI conquered Arkel. John V lost his land and spent the years 1415-1426 in captivity.

John V died in Leerdam in 1428. His son William inherited his claim on the Land of Arkel.

Marriage and issue

On 18 October 1376, John married Joanna of Jülich, a daughter of Duke William II of Jülich and heiress to the Duchy of Guelders. She died in 1394. John and Joanna had two children:

• William (d. 1 December 1417 in Gorinchem)
• Maria (d. 1415, in IJsselstein), married John II, Count of Egmond

John had four illegitimate children:

• Otto (d. 1475, in Utrecht) married Jacobje of Arkel and had issue.
• Henneke, (d. 1420) married John of Egmond, Lord of Wateringen
• Dirk
• Wynand, (b. 1426) goldsmith

William died when he tried to reconquer Gorinchem, which had been a possession of Arkel for many years. He was between 30 and 34 years old and had no male heir. The Land of Arkel was divided between Holland and Guelders.

References

• (in Dutch) J.W. Groesbeek: De heren van Arkel, in: De Nederlandsche Leeuw 1954, 1954, col. 216.
• (in Dutch) M.J. Waale: De Arkelse Oorlog, 1401-1412, Verloren, Hilversum, 1990

External links

• (in Dutch) Entry at genealogieonline.nl