Career
Jean I de Croÿ was responsible for the ascendancy of his family to a position of supreme power in medieval Burgundy. In 1397, Jean acquired the lordship of Chimay, which was to become a core dominion of the Croÿ family. Four years later, he was appointed Governor of Artois and led the ducal armies against the rebellious citizens of Liege.
He was recorded as the Grand-Bouteiller of King Charles VI of France in 1412, when he laid siege to Bourges.
The following year, Isabeau of Bavaria had him apprehended and incarcerated in the castle of Montlhéry, whence he escaped. He had seventeen children, including:
Antoine I de Croy, Comte de Porcéan (1385–1475)
Archambaud (1386 – 1415 at Agincourt)
Jean (1387 – 1415 at Agincourt)
Jean II de Croÿ (1395 – 1473), Prince of Chimay, progenitor of the line of Croÿ-Solre.
Agnès de Croÿ (1386 ?), mistress of John the Fearless Duke of Burgundy, by whom she had a natural son, John of Burgundy (Jean de Bourgogne), the future Bishop of Cambrai. Jeanne (1390–?), married Jean de Lannoy (c 1370–1415) also killed at Agincourt, mother of January van Lannoy, Stadtholder of Holland.
