Low Countries – River Lands

The pagi of Teisterbant

In the pre-history chapters we come across Swifterbant, Teisterbant might be related to this and could be a Celtic word meaning situated to the left, with Swifterbant meaning ‘situated to the right’ (of the river bend).

Teisterbant became a Carolingian pagi with most probably Tiel as its capital. It included: Vianen, Buren, Culemborg, Batenburg and at its earlier stage also Arkel, Heusden and Altena; its largest part being the Betuwe, which has strong historic links to the Roman period and the Germanic tribe of the Batavi. After the collapse of the Roman Empire the region was ruled by the Frisian Geruifingen family with counts such as Waldger and Radbod.

As the neighbouring bishops and counts started to increase their powers the pagi started to disintegrate.The split of the old Carolingian pagi of Teisterbant led to an enormous complex range of arrangements between half a dozen ancient nobility families and dozens of new knights and lords that grew out of their administrative and military systems.

By the end of the 10^th century we see the following – so called ancient nobility – listed as owners of parts of Teisterbant ¹ and ².

• The Duke of Brabant had a stronghold in Tiel (stone building) and had a range of feudal rights in neighbouring region.
• The Count of Gelre has property and allodial and  feudal rights in the Bommelerwaard and Tielerwaard (the fertile river plains).
• Count of Kleve owns the town of Woudrichem with allodial title rights in this area.
• The Lord of Cuijk (Kuyc) also had allodial rights in: Enspijk, Beesd, Geldermalsen, Buurmalsen, Tricht, Paveien, Meteren and Zenewijnen
• The Counts of Bentheim had similar rights in: Malden, Wadenooyen, Meteren, Tricht and Deil.

Some parts of the former pagus  became part of the Bishopric of Utrecht and other parts followed the transformation of the Counts of Frisia when they became Counts of Holland.

Some other parts had already became part of the City of Kleve in the 8^th century when Count Dietrich of Kleve married the heiress of Teisterbant, Countess Ida.

The carving up of Teisterbant, in particular by the Dukes of Brabant and Gelre would have long lasting effects for the region and in particular for Oss. As the borders were never properly documented both parties claimed – at various times – ownership and waged wars (Gelre Wars) that saw the strategic Brabantine border city Oss sacked seven times between 1350 and 1550.

Further to the west the same uncertainties led to similar troubles in relation to the overlordship of Altena and Heusden who became the playing balls between Brabant and Holland.

Count  Henry II of Leuven was most probably married to Adele the daughter of Count Everard of the Betuwe. It was most probably Adele, who brought in two properties in Orthen on the river Meuse; a century later the city of s’ Hertogenbosch would be founded here by the Duke of Brabant.

County of Heusden

The County of Heusden is a classical example  of feudal complexity, originally most probably part of Teisterbant. After the split, the towns and properties in the upper part of the region had as their overlord by the Count of Gelre, the lower properties fell under the Count of Kleve, while the Duke of Brabant was the overlord of the whole region, however the city itself remained independent under its own Lord.

This situation became even more complicated when also the Count of Holland became involved.  This started when after an attack on the city of Cologne in 1268, Dirk van Heuden was captuerd and his brother Jan II was killed.  Two years later Count Floris V of Holland was able to negotiate a peace treaty that led to the release of Dirk and his promise to not pursue a blood feud.

By this time however, Holland had become a major power in the region and when the pressure increased Lord Jan III of Heusden had – in 1290 – to accept Count Floris V of Holland as his overlord. This certainly was the key reason why Jan III also was involved in the plot to kidnap Floris nine years later. He was the first one after Floris had signed a treaty with the king of France to dismiss Floris as his overlord and instead accepted the Count of Kleve as his overlord. Interestingly there were also direct family ties with some of the other plotters namely Herman van Woerden and Gerard van Velsen – via Jan III’s mother side of the family. [x. Floris V, E.H.P. Cordfunke, 2011]

Furthermore within the county there were also two important clerical landowners. Below the Old River Maas (oude Maas) the St John’s Church of Liège was the main property owner, above the river is was the Abbey of St Truiden. The latter had an important Deanery in Aalburg from where its properties were managed. In 1150 Emperor Conrad III claimed the overlordship’s of all monasteries in his Empire and as a consequence of that the Deanery of Aalburg was given in fief to the Duke of Brabant, Holland claimed older rights to the property, but had to accept the overlordship of Brabant. In turn the Count of Holland had given the guardianship of his rights to the Deanery to the Count of Bentheim.

This of course was an ideal situation for ongoing conflicts, intrigues and wars. Especially when these overlords started to war with each other, which in our region happened frequently between Brabant, Gelre and  Holland, often dragging in even the larger powers such as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kings of France and England

County of Kuyc (Cuijk)

Cuijk (Ceuclum) was already known in Roman times, where they had a bridge over the river Maas. Keukja was the Celtic description of this place, meaning river bend. After the departure of the Romans the river flats most likely kept a local population going.

After the Treaty of Verdun the area became part of what would become the Holy Roman Empire.

In the 9^th century, another ancient noble family that rose from ashes of  Carolingian Teisterbant pagus was Van Kuyc. This family can trace their roots back to Ehrenfried van Bliesgau (870 – 904) they held properties in Teisterbant (Geldermalsen and Meteren). Bliesgau itself was situated in modern day Saarland in Germany. They also most likely through marriage or exchange had received properties in the same are from the Counts of Bentheim. Most of these properties (along the river Linge) ended up in the hands of the van Arkel family. The van Kuycs held the territory in fief for the German Emperor.

Between 1050 and 1400 the family played a key role in the history of the Low Countries, where the dominated the region along the river Maas, from Oijen in the west to Cuijk in the east – an area that became increasingly wedged between Gelre and Brabant. However, they were never able to rise to the top of power and by 1400 the family had lost all of their once extensive properties.

The center of their power shifted southwards when they received the Land of Cuijk in as well as the castle of Cuijk in fief possibly from Emperor Hendrik IV, this included the following towns and villages: Oeffelt, Boxmeer, St Anthonis, Vierlingsbeek, Maashees, Overloon, Beugen, Cuijk, Wanroy, Mill, Escharen, Grave en Neerloon. They were powerful enough to rule their region within their own right, independent from their overlord.

 

As such they also were able to become important power brokers in relation to the developments of the emerging new regional powers Utrecht and Holland. Their rise to power can also be seen in the various marriage arrangements.

However, eventually the rise of those two regional powers also resulted in the demise of the van Kuyc family.

The first know Lord of Cuijk was Herman van Malsen (1040 – 1080) – Malsen is perhaps Geldermalsen.  He also received the title of Viscount of Utrecht, this as we will see later also resulted in the influence of the Lords of Kuyc in the appointments of the Bishops of Utrecht. He was involved in the murder of the Count Floris I of Holland (1061). Most probably it was him who received in fief – perhaps for his assistance in the actions against Holland – from  the Roman Emperor Henry IV, the Land of Cuijk.

It was under Herman that we receive more visibility of this family. They rapidly extended their influence across East Brabant and also held properties in Neerloon, Rosmalen, Haren (near Megen) and Oss.

Herman married in 1067 Irmgard the daughter of Albert II, Count of Namen/Namur. His second marriage was with Ida van Boulogne, through her mother’s family (Ida of Lorraine) the van Kuyc’s were linked to the Dukes of Lotharingia, the ancestors of Charlemagne. This was one of the most thought after claims of any European nobility. Through this family link the van Cuijk also became related to the emerging Dukes of Brabant.

Herman and Ida had four children:
·         Hendrik I (ca 1070 – 1108) he married ca 1100 to Alveradis van Hochstaden
·         Andries (ca 1070 – 1139) he became Bishop Andreas of Utrecht
·         Godfried van Kuyc van Malsen (ca 1070 – 1134)
·         Heilwig  (ca 1075 –  after 1128) married in 1096 Arnold I van Rode(1060 – 1119) a nephew of the legendary crusader Godfried of Bouillon (See: Emergence of Lotharingia). It was most likely Arnold’s  second marriage.

Andreas was the first Bishop of Utrecht who was not appointed by the Holy Roman Emperor, but by the clergy of Utrecht. This made him also the Overlord of Egbert van Amstel. In 1129 he founded the Norbetine Abbey Mariënweerd near Beesd- financed by the widow of Hendrik I, in the allodial heartland of the family. Legend has it that this was a peace offering for the death of Floris I. Instigated by Petronilla von Saxen, widow of Floris II, Count of Holland, Andreas also founded in 1133 an abbey for noble ladies at Rijnsburg near Egmond.

Hendrik and Alveradis had three children:

• Herman II Hendriksz van Kuyc (1103 – 1170) he married Otto Chiney’s daughter in 1125
• Godfried I van Kuyc (1100- 1167)
• Aleidis, Lady of Osning, she married in 1120 Arnold II of Rode – son of  the powerful regional ruler Arnold I –  (1090 – 1125) – Rode = St Oedenrode.

After the death of Hendrik, Alverdis marries Dirk van Voorne, a relationship that remained important in later times.

We also come across Wolfger van Amstel (see: Lords of Amstel) together with Godfried van Kuyc and Dirk IV Count of Holland, in 1126  they were witnesses in a conflict regarding property in the Betuwe. A year later Godfried van Amstel is a witness in a matter concerning Bishop Andreas van Kuyc ³. The van Amstels were wardens (minesterialen)  of the Bishop of Utrecht. Egmond van Amstel also became involved in a serious conflict between the Lords of Kuyc and the Counts of Holland.

During this conflict between brothers Count Dirk VI and Floris the Black of Holland, (see also Holland). Floris the Black wanted to marry the well to do Helwig van Rode (nee Kuyc), at that stage the widow Arnold I van Rode.  of Herman II as her male regent refused this. However, with this prospect in mind and defiant of Herman,   Floris went on a rampage in the Land of Cuijk plundering the goods that he claimed were part of his bride to be. During this upheaval also the wooden church of Cuijk standing next to the castle was burnt down Herman undid the usurpation and Floris than turned to Herman’s properties.

Bishop Andreas van Kuyc, because of the family relationship, also became involved in the conflict. This was used by his vassals- for political reasons –  to revolt against him. The conflict further escalated and ended in 1133, in the murder of Floris in Abstede (near a monastery in Utrecht) by Hendrik and Godfried.

Most likely also for political reasons – perhaps because he no longer had the power to appoint bishops – the Emperor Lothair III supported the case of Floris and he mounted  a punitive expedition against the brothers, they were consequently extradited and their caste in Cuijk destroyed. This ended the leading position of the van Cuijks and started a period of slow decline that ended around 1400.

However, there were first  still good times ahead. After the death of the Emperor in 1137 however, they could  return and built a new castle this time on a sand hill on the river Maas in Grave – 20 kms north of Cuijk, -and this became the new capital of the Land of Cuijk.

Grave
The town was founded by Herman II around 1140. The town started to take off after the castle was build. The Lord of Cuijk was from now on also known as the Duke of Grave; it received its city privileges from Jan I van Cuijk in 1279. Grave is still in dialect known as de Graaf (the duke), however the name most probably is more related to the moat (gracht).
The city flourished under Jan van Cuijk he founded a chapter at the St Elisabeth church of Grave. There are some interesting family links between St Elisabeth and the Duke of Brabant, the Lords van Cuijk and the House of Nassau. For more info see: Duchy of Brabant. Jan also established in 1290 the St Catherine Hospital (Gasthuis) this remained in operation till 1970! He also arranged toll freedom for the citizens in both Holland and Zeeland.

Grave played a key role in the wars between Brabant and Gelre, than again during the 80 year old war between the emerging Dutch Republic and Spain, and than between the Republic and France, Habsburg and or England. The city was often right in the middle of these war theatres.
In 1435 Grave, under Arnoud van Egmond, Count of Gelre it became part of this Country. From 1568 till 1602 it was occupied by the Spaniards. Arnoud is buried in the St Elizabeth church.
French troops destroyed took the city 1672. When it was finally liberated by the Prince of Orange in 1674 large parts of the city were destroyed. This included the caste, which was never rebuilt however, the site is still very visible as an earth wall was put over the remnants which become a city defence wall, locally know as the Kat (cat) bastion.
As a garrison city it was amongst the first to have official military barracks. It remained a garrison city till 2000. In 1786 the number of inhabitants was 1730 but the number of military was 5 times higher. Despite this the city was taken by the troops of Napoleon in 1794.
My great grandfather from my mothers side Herman Velthuis was a conscript here around 1870, in the barracks known as Noorderblok which in its origin dated back to 1675. Hundred year later I was a conscript in the new barracks which were built just outside the old city. I visited the city (again) in 2009.

Herman II and his wife had two children:

• Hendrick II
• Albert (1140 -1200)

Hendrick II van Kuyc (1140 – 1204) was married to Sophia van Rhenen, niece of Godfried van Rhenen, Bishop of Utrecht. Hendrick was also viscount (burggraaf) of Leiden.

Sophia was the heir to the Land of Herpen (near Oss) which was added on to the Land of Kuyc (and this later became the Land of Ravenstein).

Hendrik participated in the 3rd crusade, which was largely abandoned after its leader Emperor Barbarossa drowned  shortly after the start.

Hendrik II and Sophia had four children:

• Lutgardis (1162 – after 1217). She married Godfried II van Breda.
• Alveradis (1165 – after 1226. She married Dirk van Voorne in 1197.
• Lutgard van Perk – Vilvoorde, She married Godevaert van Breda en Scoten.
• Albert van Kuyc

Their son Albert van Kuyc (1160- 1233) was married to a daughter van Meerheim. He was Lord of Cuijk, Grave, Herpen, Escharen, Asten and Merum (Roermond) plus viscount of Leiden.

The couple had several children:

• Hendrick III,
• Rutger,
• Willem
• Aleidis married Gijsbrecht III van Aemstel (see below). And after his death in 1233 the various properties were dived over his children.

Willem received Escharen and Rutger (Rogier 1200-1267) received Herpen. Around 1230 Ruther marries Maria van Diest (Antwerp). His daughter Aleid van Kuyc (Herpen) was married to Lodewijk II van Leefdael whose lands were in Tielen, Flanders. And to provide a full picture of the extensive family relations, Lodewijk’s son Rutger (Rogier) was married to Agnes van Kleef. ⁴

It is interesting to follow the various relationships that existed between the various families. Rogier van Leefdael was viscount of Brussels and also Lord of Oirschot, Perk, Hilvarenbeek and Eckart. He was born around 1270 and in 1306 he is mentioned as a bailiff of the Duke of Brabant, he is also mentioned a s a knight and is involved in many of the charters signed by the Duke, including personal ones such marriage arrangements. There are several charters signed by Rogier as well as by Otto van Kuyc, both seen as the most important councillors to the Duke –  Otto is mentioned first, this shows also something about the ranking order within the Duchy at that time.

Rogier dies in 1333 and was buried in the St Gudele church in Brussels. While his son followed in his father’s footsteps thee fortunes of the family turned sour, both his widow Agnes and son Jan had to pay of debts and loans and for that had to sell many of its rights and properties. In of these arrangements Otto van Kuyc had to arbiter a dispute between Jan van Leefdael and Jan van Amstel.

Rogier’s daughter Catherina married Gijsbert van Bronckhorst, knight and Lord of Bronckhorst and Batenburg, in 1344.  She died in 1361.  Going forwards this family would also branch into Overijssel and Twente (family ties with the Lords of Goor and Saesveld).

Hendrick III, inherited the Land of Cuijk and he was first married to daughter of Van Perweis. In his 2^nd marriage Hendrick III was married to Elizabeth heiress of the Lord Willem van Boxtel. The County of Boxtel was now owned by the Lords van Kuyc. Hendrick’s son Willem became Lord of Boxtel.

Under Hendrick III’s other son Jan I van Kuyc the family reached the summit of its power.

Jan I van Kuyc (Lord from 1254 – 1308)

Around 1260 Jan married Jutta van Nassau this also provided the family with strong ties to the Holy Roman Emperor of that period Adolf van Nassau. Jutta was also the cousin of Margaretha van Holland who was the wife of Dirk III of Kleve. Jan was also the first councillor to the Duke of Brabant ⁵

The pivitol position of Jan van Cuijk in the interregional and international politics of the 13th century made him one of the most powerful nobles in the Low Country, however squeezed between Brabant, Gelre and Holland this also became the downfal of the family.

In 1282 FlorisV of Holland  had forced Jan to accept him as his overlord and to offer him access to his castle Tongelaar in Mill (in the town where my wife Louise was born) he had to establish this as an ‘open house’ allowing Floris to station troops here at will to monitor activities here and/or to undertake activities from here. There was another dispute between FlorisV and Jan van Cuijk in relation to toll on the river Maas at Lith, which Jan van Cuijk held in fief. In order to enforce his viewpoints it is possible that Floris undertook a fyrd (heervaart) to Boxmeer in 1285 . It looks like the threat of the fyrd was enough to get Jan to agreed to mediation that led to arrangements signed off in June that year.Perhaps also the participation of Jan in a fyrd to Tiel which took place in 1286 was part of this outcome. The expedition was organised from Dordrecht and during that same mission most likely also the Gelre castle in Rhenoy was conquered by Floris.  [6. Landsheerlijke macht en stedelijk prestige: heervaarten van Dordrecht 1284-1286. Jan van Herwaarden. Stedelijk verleden in veelvoud. 2011]  Count Reinoud I of Gelre than tried and capture Tiel , but with the assistance of the Ciut of Holland and the Duke of Brabant, Reinoud was defeated in the battle of Driel in 1286.

Obviously this further annoyed Gelre and they startedt to look more closely at Cuijk and the families possessions in the Betuwe, if he could control them he would have full control over the Maas region, an important trading route with lucrative tolls. Count Reinoud I of Gelre attacks Grave around 1284, but was defeated.

The mediation between Floris and Jan also possibly included the arrangement that Floris would give the castle Tongelaar back to Jan in fief.

As a strong ally of the King of England, Jan was – since 1295 – the diplomat of the King on the continent, the main middleman between the King and the Duke of Brabant and the Count of Flanders. In 1296 Count Floris V switched alliances from England to France and under that agreement King Philip of France allowed Floris to fight Jan van Cuijk and Walram van Woerden, Lord of Herpen and a family member because of their alliance with England.

Once Floris had switched alliances to France, Jan send a messenger to Floris notifying him that he had annulled the fief bond.

The next step was that Jan, as an ally of the King of  England either plotted a plan or was involved in the plotting that lead to the kidnapping and the unfortunate and gruesome murder of Count Floris V of Holland and he was also instrumental in the escape of some of the other plotters – Gijsbrecht and Jan van Amstel – to Brabant, where they were able, thanks to their intervention, to settle in Oss.

Two years later Jan I took part in the famous Battle of Woeringen (see: Brabant), where the Duke of Brabant triumphed over the Bishop of Cologne and the Count of Gelre. Interestingly Jan was also a vassal of the bishop, when he was later questioned by the bishop his excuse was that the soldiers of the bishop had stolen a load of wine from him ⁶

A few years later the 70 year old went to yet another battle. Together with 50 troops he supported, in 1302, the side of Flanders at the famous Battle of the Golden Spurs (see Guldensporenslag). However, apparently he arrived when the battle was over.

Two years later he went to battle in Maastricht to assist the Duke against those from Liege. It was here that his oldest son Hendrik was killed.

He is also mentioned in one of the most well known pieces of Dutch literature, Gijsbrecht van Amstel, written by Joost van den Vondel. Here is is said that he assisted Gijsbrecht during the defence of Amsterdam. As mentioned above there were strong ties between the tow families. See also: How the Lords van Aemstel ended up in Oss

In 1305 in yet another battle, Jan suffered a rare defeat, again in aid of the Duke he went towards Den Bosch but his troops were defeated by the Guilds of that town just outside the capital of Brabant at Hintham. However, he saved the day through skillful diplomacy - as the leader of the peace negotiations – he arranged  to the release of his troops and a reinstatement of the rights of the Duke by the citizens of Den Bosch.  ⁷

Of course inconceivable to Jan I at the time of his death in 1308, Gelre would before the end of that century take full control over his beloved lands. How he died is uncertain, some chronicles mentioned that he died in a battle between Flanders and France but at that time there was not such a battle. Others suggest he perhaps died at the castle of one of his allies in Dalhem, Belgium. For certain, he didn’t die in the Land of Cuijk, however, was with great ceremony, he was brought to here and he was buried  in the St Elisabeth Church in Grave.

As indicated above Jan has made significant donations in Grave to the benefit of his subject. It is also likely that he has been involved in the foundation of the St Agatha Monastery by the Crosiers of the Order of the Holy Cross (Kruisheren)  in Kuyckbrockele (now St Agatha). See videoclip.

With Jan’s son Hedrik died in Maastricht it was his son who as Jan II took over the reigns of the county. He died childless and in this way hit uncle Otto ( a son of Jan I) became the next Lord.

 

Otto van Cuijk

Otto was Lord of Cuijk, Merum, Neerloon, Mierlo and though three marriages also of Zelem and Heverlee. He also held senior positions in the Duchy of Brabant and was until 1350 a member of the Council of Brabant. He was even mentioned as the highest advisor to the Duke. In 1338 he reprents the Duke at the Reichstag at Koblenz.

He also was a diplomat and in 1307 he negotiated on behalf of the Duke with the city of Mechelen. He travelled to France, Namur, Gelre, England and Holland to arrange marriages, contracts, business deals, financial and military affairs and truce. King Edward III had made him a permanent advisor and ambassador of his court. When Count (later Duke) Reinoud II of Gelre married the sister of the English King it was Otto who represented both England and Gelre in the formulation of the marriage contract. This shows the complex relationships that existed in the Middle Ages. But all of this international work had a negative effect on the Land of Cuijk, slowly but surely it was loosing its independent postion between the rising regional powers.

For example, because of increased hostilities between Brabant and Gelre, Grave had become an even more strategic position for Brabant. As a result and, because Otto – thanks to his high profile work – was in permanent need of money he, in 1323, handed over Grave, for 5000 pounds,  to the Duke of Brabant to receive it back from him in fief. This was a reason for Emperor Louis of Bavaria to confirm his rights over the Land of Cuijk.

At the same time he was happy to lend King Edward a hand in his 100 year war with France and amongst others he participated in the Battle of Crecy in1346.

Otto died in 1350 without leaving a male heir behind.

⁸

Jan III, Jan IV and Jan V

Another grandson of Jan I van Cuijk became the next Lord. He als was Lord of Hoogstrate, Asten (half of it), Mierlo and Nieuwkuijc. However, he also inherited the debt of his uncle and most probably for that reason he sells the Land of Cuijk and the fief of Grave to Jan van Wytvliet, an illegitimate son of Duke John II of Brabant. However, as Jan never received his payment he took, in 1356, Grave back by force. Jan van Wytvliet dies in the battle. As punishment the Emperor took back the Land of Cuijk and gave it in fief to the Duke of Brabant. Jan III did receive it back in fief, but his power and reputation were severely damaged.

Months before his death in 1357 he also sells his lands at  Mierlo.

His son Jan IV follows him Lord of Cuijk, Hoogstraten, Asten (half) and Nieuwkuijc. However, he was no longer seen as a knignh and was refered to a Page. He was murdered in Cleve in 1363.

At that time his son had not come to age yet and a family member, linked to his grandmother,  Diederik van Horne. In 1371, he donated the above mentioned St Agatha monastery, which was founded by Jan I around 1300, to the Crosiers. There are no known heirs of Jan, who died in 1382

Wenemar van Cuijk and Jan VI

After the death of Jan V there is a succession argument between his nephew Jan VI of Hoogstraten and his uncle Wenemar van Cuijk. It was Wenemar he won the battle and became the next Lord. He was married to Aleyd de Cocq van Opijnen in Gelre and he has also properties in Gelre. This increased the involvement of the Duke of Gelre and Cuijk became the target of the next battle between Gelre and Brabant (Gelre Wars). Gelre’s influence is further boosted when Wenemar’s son Jan marries the 5 year old bastard daughter of the Duke of Gelre. As a result Wenemar allows Gelre to station its troops in Grave. This enrages Brabant who laid siege to Grave in 1386. This only ends two years later after the King of France (an ally of Gelre) negotiates peace, Grave returns to Brabant. Wenemar and his son Jan,  in return, receive it back in fief.

Wenemar dies in 1390 and his son Jan becomes the next Lord.However, he dies four yeras later, aged 34 without any children from his 15 year old wife/ His sister Johanna inherits the Land of Cuijk. It was cleverly arranged that in that same year she should marry Willem a bastard son of Reinoud van Gelre. After yet another bloody war between Gelre and Brabant that lasted from 1387 till 1399 Brabant had to accept the Grave was given in fied to Willem. This city now was under permanent control of Gelre. In name Johanna was still the Lady of the Land of Cuijk. This ended in 1400 when the marriage was annulled and the Land of Cuijk was now fully controlled by Gelre.

⁹

Links with other families

During the height of their power the Lords of Cuijk had widespread family ties with the other nobility in the region.

Above mentioned Rogier van Leefdaal was also a Councillor of the Duke van Brabant and often worked closely with his nephew Otto van Kuyc. Rogier became Balliff of ‘s Hertogenbosch and eventually lord of the caste  in Brussels, where he died in 1333.

Jan I ‘s other son Willem had a daughter who probably married Jan II van Megen (1290 – 1347). The Lords of Megen (see below) where also the Lords of Heeswijk and Dinther. The in Holland outlawed van Aemstels, who received the support of the Duke of Brabant and the Lords of Kuyc, also had income from properties in Heeswijk and Dinther.

There were also strong family links (through marriage) with several members of the van Arkel family a powerful vassal of the Count of Holland. Around 1345 Elizabeth of Cuijk married Gerrit van Asperene, Lord of Tull and ‘t Waal and around 1400 Catherina van Cuijk marries Herbaren van Heukelom, Lord of Acquoy.

This brought allodial properties from the Lords of Cuijk along the river Linge into the hands of the van Arkel family.

There is also evidence that properties from the van Cuijk family in that same area had also been sold (?) to the Counts of Bentheim perhaps already as early as before 1200. It could well be that those properties later on also ended up in the hands of the van Arkels ¹⁰.

Furthermore the van Cuijks  supplied bishops to both Utrecht (Andreas 1128-1139) and Liege (Albert II 1195 -1200). They also supplied deans, Jan was the dean of St Servaas in Maastricht (1303-1326) and his older brother was dean at St Peters in Leuven (1296 – 1326).

 

Lords and Counts of Megen

 

Statue of Charles de Brimeu (1572) in Megen

County of Megen

Megen just 5 kms north of Oss is situated on the river Maas and its history might go back to Roman times (magus could mean place or field). Perhaps growing from a pagus the county of Megen evolved. Meginum is mentioned for the first time in 721 and also included the villages of Haren, Macharen and Teeffelen. Around 800, the place had already a castle a monastery and 44 houses, with an estimated population of 390 people.

It is for the first time  mentioned as a county in 1145, when Count Alard was the local ruler. Until that time it’s believed that Megen was part of the County of Kuyc. The Monastery of Haren is built on what was the Mansion of Kuyc ¹¹.

While part of Brabant, the county was under regular attack from Gelre during the 14^th and 15^th centuries. The Duke of Brabant provided the township its city privileges in 1357.

In 1335 Willem van Megen took procession of the above mentioned properties the family van Kuyc held in Haren, which led to a long-lasting dispute.

In 1420, Megen came in the procession of a merchant from Den Bosch who sold the county in 1469 to Guy de Brimeu and in 1610 it passed over the Croÿ family. The county ceased to exist after the French Revolution.

Video clip Megen

County of Herpen (later Ravenstein) 

County of Ravenstein

In the early history, Herpen was the home of Alard van Herpen, a medieval lord. The region was then called “Herpina” or “Het land van Herpen” (Land of Herpen), Uden, Volkel and Boekel were also part of the County of Herpen, what would later be known as the Land of Ravenstein. It was wedged between the river Maas in the north and the large swamp area of the Peel in the south.  Herpen was a central hub, but with the coming of river trade in a later stage, the city of Ravenstein became due to its location at the Maas the main trading hub.

 

In 1179 Dirk van Rhenen was the local Lord in Herpen, he was a brother of Bishop Godfried van Rhenen. Dirk’s only heir his daughter Sophia van Herpen was married to Hendrik II van Kuyc and after the death of his wife Hendrik put Herpen under suzerainty of the Duke of Brabant.

While they resided in their castle of Grave the Lords of Kuyc now also had a castle in Herpen.

The great-granddaughter of Rutger van Kuyc/Rutger I van Herpen was married to Jan I van Valkenburg, Lord of Born and Sittard. Under the reign of his son Walraven the centre of the county moved to Ravenstein, where he built himself a castle. The city received its privileges in 1380 as a direct result of a defence centre needed during the Gelre wars.

Walraven was succeeded by his half brother Reinoud and he was followed by his nephew Simon von Salm, a son of his sister Philippa van Valkenburg. Phillipa had handed the County of Valkenburg over to the Duke of Brabant. In 1371 the Lords of Valkenburg fought with the Duke of Brabant at the battle of Beaswijler against Gelre. They lost that battle and a Henrick van Kuyc died in this battle.

This branch of the family died out in 1397 and the County went to the  Reinoud’s wife, Elisabeth of Cleve (Daughter of Adolf II of Mark and Margaretha of Cleve). She died childless and her brother Adolf IV of Cleve,  in a war with his uncle Willem III of Berg, became the heir of Ravenstein. Under this House, Ravenstein did rise in importance. Adolf was married to Maria of Burgundy, the daughter of John the Fearless. While his eldest son John became the heir of the Duchy Cleve, his younger son Adolf IV inherited the Land of Ravenstein. He also had castles in Wijnendale (near Brugge) and Edinge (in Hainault). In 1470 he marries Anna of Burgundy, an illegitimate daughter of Philip the Good. She took on the name Lady of Ravenstein, she became the Governess of Margaretha of Burgundy and raised the later Charles V at Margaretha’s court in Mechelen. Anna also established a city palace in Brussels under the name ‘Ravenstein’.

Anna had been married to Adriaan van Borssele one of the most influential nobles in Zeeland. After his death Anna inherited significant properties on Walcheren, which made her a wealthy lady. Together with Adriaan, Anna also played a key role in improving the dyke infrastructure on Walcheren. On reclaimed land they founded the villages of Sommelsdijk and Bruinisse.

In 1456 Adolf  had also become a member of the prestigious Knighthood of the Golden Fleece. He was the commander of the Burgundian Army and was the Stadholder-General of the Netherlands from 1475-1477. In 1478 as the highest ranking member of the Order he knights Maximilian of Austria. However, when Maximilian ruthlessly started to suppress the Flemish cities, he turned against the ruler and supports the rebel cities. He dies in 1492.

His heir  Philip of Ravenstein  (the son of his first marriage with Beatrice of Portugal )  becomes the most important official at Maximilian’s Court. But similar to the situation his father became involved in he also rejected Maximilian’s ruthless reign and also supported the cities. He dies in Edinge in 1528. Philip was married to Francisca of Lxembourg daughter of Peter of Luxembourg (Count of St Pol) and Margaretha of Savoy (Italian monarchy). She became the heir of the title ‘van Ravenstein’. After Philip’s death, the title was supposed to go to his nephew Adolf, however he died before that time and  there is an indication that the title ‘van Ravenstein’ went to Francisca’s sister Marie de Luxembourg (Duchess of Vendôme)   ¹²

Gerhard Veltwyk

Born in a Jewish family, in Ravenstein around 1505 he converted to Christianity and became one of the most learned people of his time. He was a scholar in both the Hebrew and Syrian (Old Testament texts) literature and translated these into Latin.

In 1540 he was asked to become an advisor of Emperor Charles V. He participated in the religious ‘goodwill’ discussions which took place in Worms and the following year at the Diet in Regensburg. Later on he became an ambassador for the Emperor in Hungary, he travelled with King Ferdinand to Vienna and Prague. He also went on foreign missions to Venice, Ragusa, Constantinople and Turkey.  A few years later he was deployed for a range of diplomatic services thought-out the German States; including the Netherlands. In 1549 he was appointed treasurer of the Golden Fleece. The last five years of his life were spending advising the Netherlands Government, he died as the President of the Council in Brussels in 1555.

Until 1609 the county remained part of the Duchy of Kleef.

Video clip Ravenstein