Background
January was the son of Reinoud I van Brederode and Jolanda van Gennep. In 1390 he succeeded his father as the 7th lord of Brederode.
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January Van Brederode
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January had an elder brother named Dirk or Diederik, who had chosen for a life in a monastery, causing all inheritance to go to January instead. In 1396 he campaigned against the rebellious West-Frisians together with Albert I, Duke of Bavaria, and in 1398 he made a pilgrimage to Ireland to visit the Saint Patricks Fire. After his pilgrimage January invested a lot of money in founding new chapels and monasteries.
After a childless marriage, they both decided to enter a monastery in 1402.
The heritage of Brederode, which included large debts, was given to January"s younger brother Walraven I van Brederode. January entered the monastery Zeelheim in Diest as brother-abbot with the intention of putting his remaining life in the service of god.
In May 1407 William van Abcoude, father of Johanna van Abcoude, died. William"s brother Gijsbrecht having died two years before that, the title and domains of Abcoude fell to Jacob van Gaasbeek, a nephew of the family.
Bishop Frederik van Blankenheim led the army of the Sticht against him and took him prisoner, after which he was handed over to Jacob van Gaasbeek.
Van Brederode remained in captivity until 1412, when he travelled to France with the intention of joining the army. Unfortunately the French commanders were aware of his past and refused his entry, after which he travelled to England and joined their army. January I van Brederode participated in the Battle of Agincourt, where he died at the age of 44.
