Background
He was the second surviving son of Jean I de Croÿ and Marie de Craon.
He was the second surviving son of Jean I de Croÿ and Marie de Craon.
Jean II belonged to the powerful House of Croÿ. He governed Hainaut and Namur in the name of the Dukes of Burgundy as grand bailli de Hainaut. His dominions were centred on the town of Chimay, of which he became the first count.
He had been godfather to Charles the Bold in 1433 and to the Dauphin in 1459.
In 1435 he played an important part in the formation of the Congress of Arras. He was subsequently charged with bringing the city of Amiens under Burgundian control.
In 1436 he commanded the Burgundian-Flemish army that besieged Calais and was blamed for the complete failure of the expedition. During the Revolt of Ghent (1449–1453), he lifted the siege of Oudenaarde and in 1453, he defeated William I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel at Thionville, securing the Duchy of Luxembourg for Burgundy.
He was also amongst those who took the Vow of the Pheasant in 1454.
Jean had a great influence on Philip the Good, for which he was hated by Charles the Bold. Jean only reconciled with Charles in 1473, the year of his death.
Jean II de Croÿ was a prominent member of the Burgundian court.