January John III, Duke of Bavaria

1374 (age 51)

Le Quesnoy, canton of Le Quesnoy-Est, France

At the age of 15, he became Prince-Bishop of Liège, with the support of Pope Boniface IX. John"s rule was a disaster. His authoritarian style clashed with the nobles and burghers of the Prince-Bishopric. He was expelled several times and saw even a counter-bishop being elected. On the field of Othée, on 12 September 1408, the men of Liège were decisively defeated, and Burgundian influence was extended over the city and over the bishopric of Liège. The ensuing executions of leading insurgents led to John"s nickname "the Pitiless". In 1418, John III married Elisabeth, Duchess of Luxembourg, who was then the widow of Antoine, Duke of Brabant. Number children came from this marriage. John the Pitiless supported the city of Dordrecht and Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. A siege of Dordrecht in 1419 was unsuccessful, so John IV of Brabant agreed to start a joint administration with John III. Jacqueline herself as a woman, did not get a share in the political responsibility. John IV of Brabant finally gave up Holland and Hainaut and left the rule to John the Pitiless. She was unable to retain control over Holland and Hainaut much longer after John"s death. Bavaria-Straubing was divided between the dukes of Bavaria, the major portion of which went to Bavaria-Munich. John the Pitiless was known for the rich culture of his court. January van Eyck was among the artists he engaged, from at least 1422 until 1424. John the Pitiless was poisoned in 1425 in The Hague.

January John III, Duke of Bavaria

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priest

Background

John was born in Le Quesnoy. He was the youngest son of Duke Albert I and Margaret of Brieg. As the youngest son of three, John was destined for a career in the church.

Career

At the age of 15, he became Prince-Bishop of Liège, with the support of Pope Boniface IX. John"s rule was a disaster. His authoritarian style clashed with the nobles and burghers of the Prince-Bishopric. He was expelled several times and saw even a counter-bishop being elected.

On the field of Othée, on 12 September 1408, the men of Liège were decisively defeated, and Burgundian influence was extended over the city and over the bishopric of Liège.

The ensuing executions of leading insurgents led to John"s nickname "the Pitiless". In 1418, John III married Elisabeth, Duchess of Luxembourg, who was then the widow of Antoine, Duke of Brabant.

Number children came from this marriage. John the Pitiless supported the city of Dordrecht and Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy.

A siege of Dordrecht in 1419 was unsuccessful, so John IV of Brabant agreed to start a joint administration with John III. Jacqueline herself as a woman, did not get a share in the political responsibility.

John IV of Brabant finally gave up Holland and Hainaut and left the rule to John the Pitiless. She was unable to retain control over Holland and Hainaut much longer after John"s death. Bavaria-Straubing was divided between the dukes of Bavaria, the major portion of which went to Bavaria-Munich.

John the Pitiless was known for the rich culture of his court.

January van Eyck was among the artists he engaged, from at least 1422 until 1424. John the Pitiless was poisoned in 1425 in The Hague.

Connections

brother-in-law:: John the Fearless

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