Charles II, Duke of Guelders

Charles II, Duke of Guelders
Charles II, Duke of Guelders
Spouse(s)	Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Noble family	House of Egmond
Father	Adolf of Egmond
Mother	Catharine of Bourbon
Born	(1467-11-09)9 November 1467 Grave, Netherlands
Died	30 June 1538(1538-06-30) (aged 70) Arnhem

Charles II (9 November 1467 – 30 June 1538) was a member of the House of Egmond who ruled as Duke of Guelders and Count of Zutphen from 1492 until his death. He was the son of Adolf of Egmond and Catharine of Bourbon. He had a principal role in the Frisian peasant rebellion and the Guelders Wars.

Life

Charles was born either at Arnhem^[1]^[2] or at Grave, Netherlands^[2] and raised at the Burgundian court of Charles the Bold, who had bought the duchy of Guelders from Adolf of Egmond in 1473. He fought in several battles against the armies of Charles VIII of France, until he was captured in the Battle of Béthune in 1487.

King Maximilian subsequently managed to acquire the Burgundian lands for the Habsburgs by marriage. In 1492, the citizens of Guelders, disenchanted with Maximilian's rule, ransomed Charles and recognized him as their Duke. Charles was supported by the French King, but in 1505, Guelders was regained by King Maximilian's son Philip the Handsome. Charles had to accompany Philip to Spain to attend Philip's coronation as King of Castile but at Antwerp, Charles managed to escape. Shortly afterwards, Philip died in Spain and by July 1513 Charles had regained control over the whole of Guelders. In his conflict with the Habsburgs, Charles also became a major player behind the scenes of the Frisian peasant rebellion and at first financially supported the rebel leader Pier Gerlofs Donia. After the tides turned against the rebels, Charles stopped his support and switched sides together with his military commander Maarten van Rossum. In the Treaty of Gorinchem (1528), Emperor Charles, son of Philip the Handsome, proposed to recognize Charles of Egmond as Duke of Guelders under the condition that he would inherit the Duchy should the Duke die without issue. The Duke, who at the time did not have any children, delayed signing the treaty. Another battle ensued, after which the passage was removed from the treaty. In 1536 there was finally peace between Guelders and Burgundy with the Treaty of Grave.

Charles died at Arnhem, and is buried in the St. Eusebius Church there.^[3]

Family

In 1519, Charles married young Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg (b.1494-d.1572). The marriage remained childless. Charles however fathered several illegitimate children.

His only legitimate (twin) sister, Philippa (1467–1547), survived him and died during the reign of her great-grandson, Charles III, Duke of Lorraine (1543–1608).

Coat of Arms
Tomb

Ancestors

Ancestors of Charles II, Duke of Guelders

16. Arnold I, Lord of Egmond (d. 1409)

8. John II, Count of Egmond (c.1385–1451)

17. Jolanthe of Leiningen (d. 1434)

4. Arnold, Duke of Guelders (1410–1473)

18. John V, Lord of Arkel (1352–1428)

9. Maria van Arkel (c.1385–1415)

19. Joanna of Jülich (d. 1395)

2. Adolf, Duke of Guelders (1438–1477)

20. Adolf III of the Marck (1334–1394)

10. Adolph I, Duke of Cleves (1373–1448)

21. Margaret of Jülich (d. 1425)

5. Catherine of Cleves (1417-1479)

22. John the Fearless (1371–1419) (= 14)

11. Marie of Burgundy (1393–1463)

23. Margaret of Bavaria (1363–1423)) (= 15)

1. Charles II of Guelders

24. Louis II, Duke of Bourbon (1337–1410)

12. John I, Duke of Bourbon (1381–1434)

25. Anne of Auvergne (1358–1417)

6. Charles I, Duke of Bourbon (1401–1456)

26. John, Duke of Berry (1340–1416)

13. Marie, Duchess of Auvergne (1370–1434)

27. Joan of Armagnac (1346–1387)

3. Catharine of Bourbon (1440–1469)

28. Philip the Bold (1342–1404)

14. John the Fearless (1371–1419) (= 22)

29. Margaret III, Countess of Flanders 1350–1405)

7. Agnes of Burgundy (1407–1476)

30. Albert I, Duke of Bavaria ((1336–1404)

15. Margaret of Bavaria (1363–1423)) (= 23)

31. Margaret of Brieg (1342–1386)

Regnal titles
Charles II, Duke of Guelders House of Egmond Born: 9 November 1467 Died: 30 June 1538
Preceded by Philip I	Duke of Guelders 1492–1538	Succeeded by William II

Stadtholders of Drenthe

References

↑ P. C. Molhuysen and P. J. Blok, ed. (1937). "Karel (van Egmond)". Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek (in Dutch). 10. pp. 441–447.
1 2 A. J. van der Aa, K. J. R. van Harderwijk and G. D. J. Schotel, ed. (1862). "Karel, hertog van Gelre". Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden (in Dutch). J. J. van Brederode.
↑ Busken Huet, Conrad (1882–84). Het land van Rembrand (in Dutch). H.D. Tjeenk Willink/dbnl.

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 41053220 LCCN: n93067879 GND: 104206527 BPN: 84008154

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