Margaret II, Countess of Hainaut

Margaret II of Avesnes (1311 – 23 June 1356) was Countess of Hainaut and Countess of Holland (as Margaret I) from 1345 to 1356. She was Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Germany by marriage to Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian.

Margaret II
Seal of Empress Margaret
Countess of Hainaut and Holland
Tenure	1345–1356
Queen consort of Germany
Tenure	1324–1347
Holy Roman Empress
Tenure	1328–1347
Born	1311
Died	23 June 1356 (aged 44–45) Le Quesnoy
Burial	Valenciennes
Spouse	Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Issue more...	Margaret, Duchess of Slavonia Louis VI the Roman William V, Count of Holland Agnes of Bavaria Albert of Holland Otto V the Bavarian Beatrice, Queen of Sweden
House	Avesnes
Father	William I, Count of Hainaut
Mother	Joan of Valois
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Life

Margaret was the daughter of William I, Count of Hainaut, and Joan of Valois. She spent her childhood in Henegouwen and also frequently visited France with her French mother.[1]

On 26 February 1324 in Cologne she married Louis IV, thereby becoming queen of Germany. On 17 January 1328, she was crowned empress alongside her spouse in Rome.

First reign

She succeeded in 1345 her brother William II of Hainaut (William IV) following his death in battle with later Louis IV the Bavarian designating that Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland and Friesland were his wife's possessions.[2] Louis gave his support to Margaret because he was reportedly worried that the domains of her late brother would otherwise be lost to the empire.[3] Due to the dangerous hostility of the House of Luxemburg Louis increased his power base ruthlessly.

Margaret traveled to Hainault (Henegouwen) and was recognized there in her new position as ruler, and on 26 March, she left Hainault to visit her Northern domains of Holland and Zeeland. There were different difficulties in securing the position of Margaret in her three domains. In Holland and Zeeland, there were doubts as to whether female succession was legal, and while her gender was not a problem in Hainault, there where still the question of her sister's claims upon the domain.[4] Margaret granted the cities and citizens in Holland and Zeeland several economic privileges to secure her position.[5] The claims of her sisters were also addressed.

A parchment dated 7 September 1346 in Frankfurt, of which the seal is destroyed, announces that Louis IV of Bavaria, Emperor of the Holy Germanic Empire bestows for himself and his heirs, in the name of his spouse, the empress Margaret, to never cede, divide or bestow the counties of Hainault, Holland, Zeeland and the palatine of Frisia, which belong to his wife, Margaret II (of Avesnes), Countess of Hainault and to her heirs, excepting the rights of her sisters and after her death, to William (future William III, Count of Hainault) Duke (I) of Bavaria, and after his decease to Albert (future Albert I, Count of Hainaut) [6] and later these passed to their son William V. Margaret's sisters, including Philippa of Hainault who was Queen consort of Edward III of England disavowed their hereditary claims.[7]

Margaret ruled her three domains directly for seven months, after which she was called back to Germany by her spouse, and appointed her second son William to rule in her absence.[8][9]

When Louis IV died on 11 October 1347, he was succeeded by his six sons, and in connection to this, Margaret resigned her sovereignty in favor of her son William in exchange for an allowance.[10] In 1349 the brothers decided to partition their possessions; Louis V, Duke of Bavaria kept Brandenburg and Tyrol, he and his younger brothers Louis VI the Roman and Otto V the Bavarian received Upper Bavaria. Stephen II, William and Albert received Lower Bavaria, Holland and Hainaut. Louis V and Stephen were not sons of Margaret, and her youngest sons Albert and Otto were still minors. Louis VI released Holland and Hainault for his brothers William and Albert in 1349 since he expected the Polish crown by his marriage with Cunigunde of Poland. In 1353 also Stephen released Holland and Hainault to his brother William.

The Hook and Cod wars

However, a conflict soon arose between Margaret and her son William, as he refused to honor the terms in her abdication document by withholding the allowance she had demanded in turn for abdicating in his favor.[11] Willem's opposition among the nobles of Holland asked Margaret to return to run Holland again, and in March 1350, Margaret had returned to Henegouwen, where she retracted her abdication in 1 June.[12] The Cod League was formed on 23 May 1350 by a number of supporters of William, and on 5 September of the same year, the Hook League was formed in support of Margaret.[13] Soon afterward these factions clashed and a civil war began, known as the Hook and Cod wars.

Margaret and the war between mother and son was controversial, and her right to Holland was always considered to be of dubious legality, as this domain was at that time regarded as reserved for men, though the same thing was not raised when it came to her right to Hainaut.[14]

After the destruction of several strongholds of Margaret and a defeat of her forces at two sea battles in 1351, Edward III of England, Margaret's brother-in-law through her sister Philippa of Hainault, came to her aid, winning a naval engagement off Veere in 1351; a few weeks later the Hooks and their English allies were defeated by William and the Cods at Vlaardingen, a defeat which ruined Margaret's cause. Edward III shortly afterwards changed sides and in 1354, Margaret saw herself compelled to come to an understanding with her son: he being recognized as count of Holland and Zeeland, and she being secured as ruling countess of Hainault in her lifetime.[15]

Margaret ruled Hainault for two more years, and died at Le Quesnoy Castle of infectious tuberculosis 23 June 1356, leaving William in possession of the entire Holland-Hainault inheritance. She was buried in the Minderbroeders Abbey in Valenciennes.

Issue

Coats of Arms of the Counts of Hainaut and Holland.

In 1324 she married Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Their children were:

1. Margaret (1325–1374), married:
   1. in 1351 in Buda Stephen, Duke of Slavonia (d. 1354), son of the King Charles I of Hungary, and had issue;
   2. 1357/58 Gerlach von Hohenlohe.
2. Anna (c. 1326 – 3 June 1361, Fontenelles) married John I of Lower Bavaria (d. 1340)
3. Louis VI the Roman (1328–1365), duke of Upper Bavaria, elector of Brandenburg. No issue.
4. Elisabeth (1329 – 2 August 1402, Stuttgart), married:
   1. Cangrande II della Scala, Lord of Verona (d. 1359) in Verona on 22 November 1350. No issue
   2. Count Ulrich of Württemberg (d. 1388) in 1362. Parents of Eberhard III of Württemberg 1364-1417
5. William V of Holland (1330–1389), as William I duke of Lower Bavaria, as Wiliam V count of Hainaut and Holland. He married Maud of Lancaster but their only daughter died young
6. Agnes (Munich, 1335 – 11 November 1352, Munich). She became a nun, due to ill health and died young
7. Albert I of Holland (1336–1404), duke of Lower Bavaria, count of Hainaut and Holland
8. Otto V the Bavarian (1340–1379), duke of Upper Bavaria, elector of Brandenburg
9. Beatrice of Bavaria (1344 – 25 December 1359), married bef. 25 October 1356 Eric XII of Sweden
10. Louis (October 1347 – 1348)

See also

• Counts of Hainaut family tree

References

1. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
2. Sury, Geoffroy G., Bayern Straubing Hennegau : la Maison de Bavière en Hainaut, XIVe-XVe s., Brussels, © 2010 (2nd ed.), p. 66. - French: Un parchemin daté du 7/09/1346 à Francfort, dont le sceau est détruit, énonce que Louis IV de Bavière empereur du St.-Empire Romain Germanique s’engage pour lui-même et ses héritiers, et au nom de son épouse, l’impératrice Marguerite, à ne jamais céder, diviser ni engager les comtés de Hainaut, de Hollande, de Zélande et de la seigneurie de Frise, qui appartiennent à la dite Marguerite (Marguerite II (d’Avesnes) comtesse de Hainaut) et à ses héritiers, sauf les droits de ses soeurs, et, après le décès de cette dernière, à leur deuxième fils, Guillaume (futur Guillaume III comte de Hainaut) duc (I) de Bavière, et, celui-ci décédé, à Albert (futur Albert Ier comte de Hainaut), duc (I) de Bavière, leur troisième fils.
3. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
4. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
5. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
6. G. Wymans, Inventaire analytique du chartrier de la Trésorerie des comtes de Hainaut , the State Archives, Palais des Expos, Aux Grands Près, Mons tél. [phone] order number (slide) 868, Editions A.G.R., Brussels, 1985, p. 190. (Or. sur pch. ; dét. (Francfort, 7/09/1346.)
7. Sury, Geoffroy G., Bayern Straubing Hennegau : la Maison de Bavière en Hainault, XIVe-XVe s., Brussels, © 2010 (2nd ed.), p. 66. -<(French: Un chirographe sur parchemin daté du 17/10/1346 à Ypres (Ieper), dont le sceau est détruit, énonce un accord conclu entre l’impératrice Marguerite II comtesse de Hainaut (épouse de Louis IV de Bavière, empereur germanique) etc., et sa soeur Philippine (Philippa de Hainaut), reine d’Angleterre (épouse du roi Edouard III) touchant la succession de leur défunt frère, Guillaume II comte de Hainaut, etc. Philippa, renonçant à ses prétentions sur le Hainaut, la Hollande, la Zélande et la Frise. A chirograph on parchment dated 17 October 1346 in Ypres, of which the seal is destroyed, announces that an accord reached made between the Empress Margaret II, Countess of Hainault (wife of Louis IV of Bavaria, the Emperor) etc., and her sister Phillippine (Phillipa of Hainault), Queen of England (wife of King Edward III) concerning the succession of their late brother, William II Count of Hainault, etc. Phillipa renouncing her pretensions to Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland and Frisia - G. Wymans, Inventaire analytique du chartrier de la Trésorerie des comtes de Hainaut, the State Archives, Palais des Expos, Aux Grands Près, Mons tél. [phone])order no (slide) 869, Editions A.G.R., Brussels, 1985, p. 190.
8. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
9. (French: Un parchemin daté du 8/09/1346 à Geertruidenberg, d’après une traduction latine de l’allemand, datée du 16/03/1347 (date nouv. st.), énonce que Marguerite II comtesse de Hainaut (épouse de Louis IV de Bavière, empereur germanique) etc., commet son fils Guillaume (le futur Guillaume III comte de Hainaut) au gouvernement des comtés de Hainaut, de Hollande, de Zélande, et de la seigneurie de Frise durant son absence. A parchment dated 8 Sep. 1346 in Geertruidenberg, in a Latin translation from German, dated 16 March 1347 (New Style), announces that Margaret II, Countess of Hainaut (spouse of Louis IV of Bavaria, the Holy Roman Emperor) etc. commits her son William (the future William III, Count of Hainaut) to the government of Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland and Frisia during her absence - G. Wymans, Inventaire analytique du chartrier de la Trésorerie des comtes de Hainaut , the State Archives, Palais des Expos, Aux Grands Près, Mons tél. [phone]), ordre no.(slide)868, Editions A.G.R., Brussels, 1985, p. 190.
10. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
11. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
12. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
13. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
14. DVN, een project van Huygens ING en OGC (UU). Bronvermelding: Lisanne Vleugels, Margaretha van Holland, in: Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. URL: http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/margarethavanholland [13/01/2014]
15. Geoffroy G. Sury, Bayern Straubing – Hennegau : la Maison de Bavière en Hainaut, XIVe – XVe s., Brussels, 2010, 2nd ed., p. 67. - French: Un parchemin en partie détruit et daté du 7/12/1354 à Mons, à 4 sceaux appendus brisés, énonce que Jean de Hainaut et Wallerand de Luxembourg seigneur de Ligny, agissant en qualité de personnes intermédiaires et arbitres, pour rétablir la paix entre Marguerite et son fils, le duc Guillaume de Bavière (le futur Guillaume III comte de Hainaut), font connaître les termes de l’ordonnance d’arbitrage évoquée dans les actes passés, dont ils restituent la teneur : .. En exécution de ladite ordonnance, la comtesse Marguerite (II) de Hainaut, etc. cède à son fils Guillaume duc de Bavière, les comtés de Hainaut, de Hollande, de Zélande, et la seigneurie de Frise, moyennant le paiement d’une somme de 40.000 florins de Florence et d’une pension viagère de 7.000 florins ; de son côté, ledit duc ..renonce à fair valoir ses droits sur le Hainaut tant que vivra sa mère.
    
    A partially destroyed parchment dated 7 December 1354 at Mons, with four broken seals appended, announces that John of Hainaut and Wallerand of Luxemburg, Lord of Ligny, acting as intermediaries and arbitrators, to reestablish the peace between Margaret and her son, the Duke, William of Bavaria (the future William III, Count of Hainaut), make known the terms of the arbitration settlement stated in previous deeds, which they uphold : .. In execution of the said settlement, the Countess Margaret (II) of Hainaut, etc. cedes to her son William, Duke of Bavaria the counties of Hainaut, Holland, Zeeland and the lordship of Frisia, in return taking payment of 40000 Florence Florins and widow's pension of 7000 florins; for his part the said Duke waives his rights over Hainaut so long as his mother is living. - G Wymans, Inventaire analytique du chartrier de la Trésorerie des comtes de Hainaut , the State Archives, Palais des Expos, Aux Grands Près, Mons tél. [phone]) order number(slide) 974, Editions A.G.R., Brussels, 1985, pp. 209-210.