Counts and dukes of Guelders

Guelders is a historical duchy, previously county, of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.

Original coat of arms of the County and Duchy of Guelders (House of Wassenberg)

Coat of arms after 1379 (House of Jülich-Hengebach)

Counts

House of Wassenberg

For a complete table of rulers, see House of Wassenberg § Rulers.

• before 1096–about 1129: Gerard I
• about 1129–about 1131: Gerard II, son of Gerard I
• about 1131–1182: Henry I, son of Gerard II
• 1182–1207: Otto I, son of Henry I
• 1207–1229: Gerard III, son of Otto I
• 1229–1271: Otto II, son of Gerard III
• 1271–1318: Reginald I, son of Otto II
• 1318–1343: Reginald II, son of Reginald I

Dukes

House of Wassenberg

During Reinoud II's reign, the county of Guelders was elevated to a duchy with the Wessenberg-Maccan.

• 1318–1343: Reginald II
  • 1343–1344: Eleanor, wife of Reginald II, regent of Reginald III
• 1343–1361: Reginald III, son of Reginald II and Eleanor
• 1361–1371: Edward, son of Reginald II and Eleanor
• 1371: Reginald III, second time

After the death of Reginald III without issue, two of his half-sisters disputed the succession of the Duchy of Guelders:

• 1371–1379 Matilde (d. 1384) and her husband, John II, Count of Blois (d. 1381)
• 1371–1379 Maria (d. 1397) and her husband, William II, Duke of Jülich (d. 1393)

House of Jülich-Hengebach

• 1379–1402: William I, son of Maria and William II
• 1402–1423: Reginald IV, son of Maria and William II

House of Egmond

• • 1423–1436: John II, father and regent of Arnold
• 1423–1465: Arnold, grandnephew of Reginald IV, son of John II
• 1465–1471: Adolf, son of Arnold
• 1471–1473: Arnold, second time

Arnold sold the Duchy of Guelders to Charles I, Duke of Burgundy, who was recognized by the Holy Roman Emperor as Duke of Guelders.

House of Burgundy

• 1473–1477: Charles I
• 1477–1482: Mary, daughter of Charles I, wife of Maximillian

House of Habsburg

• 1477–1482: Maximillian I, ruler jure uxoris
• 1482–1492: Philip I, son of Mary and Maximilian I

House of Egmond

The Egmond family did not abandon their claims to Guelders and Charles II, Duke of Guelders conquered the Duchy in 1492. As Duke his regent was his aunt Catherine of Guelders. Charles remained in power with support of the French king.

• 1492–1538: Charles II, son of Adolf

House of La Marck

• 1538–1543: William II, distant relative and successor of the House of Egmond

House of Habsburg

• 1543–1555: Charles III, son of Philip I
• 1555–1598: Philip II, son of Charles III

Guelders in popular culture

William Thatcher, the lead character in the 2001 film A Knight's Tale played by Heath Ledger claimed to be Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein from Gelderland so as to appear to be of noble birth and thus qualify to participate in jousting.

External links

• Marek, Miroslav. "Geldern-Heinsberg". Genealogy EU.
• Marek, Miroslav. "House of Egmont". Genealogy EU.
• Map of Upper Guelders in 1789 – Northern Part
• Map of Upper Guelders in 1789 – Southern Part