Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein

Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein (1425–1492) was the youngest son of Adolph I, Duke of Cleves, and of his wife Marie of Burgundy, a sister of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.

Adolph of Cleves
Lord of Ravenstein
Portrait of Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein.
Born	1425
Died	1492 (aged 66–67)
Noble family	La Marck
Spouse(s)	Beatrice of Coimbra Anne of Burgundy
Issue	Philip of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein Louise of Cleves
Father	Adolph I, Duke of Cleves
Mother	Marie of Burgundy

Arms of Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein.

Marriage and issue

Philip the Good of Burgundy and his wife, Isabel of Portugal, decided to arrange the marriage of their nephew Adolph, who became engaged to infanta Beatrice of Coimbra, daughter of Pedro, Duke of Coimbra.

Beatrice had taken refuge in Burgundy, under her aunt's protection, following the defeat of her father's army in the Battle of Alfarrobeira in Portugal in 1449.

Adolph and Beatrice were married on 13 May 1453 and they subsequently had two children:

• Philip of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein; and
• Louise of Cleves (who died at a young age).

Following Beatrice's death, Adolph married his cousin Anne of Burgundy, a natural daughter of duke Philip the Good and governess of Mary of Burgundy, Duchess of Burgundy.

In 1463, Adolph inherited Wijnendale Castle, where in 1482 Mary of Burgundy would fall from her horse suffering fatal injuries. This accident would have major implications for the history of the Low Countries.

Career

Adolph participated in all the battles that involved the Dukes of Burgundy. He was knighted after the Battle of Gavere, which ended the Revolt of Ghent (1449–1453). In 1454, he participated in the Feast of the Pheasant and became a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1456. In 1467, he played an important role in the Battle of Brustem during the Liège Wars.

In 1475, he was stadtholder-general of the Low Countries during the absence of Charles the Bold who was fighting the Burgundian Wars, a position confirmed by Mary of Burgundy after Charles' death in the Battle of Nancy in 1477.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein

16. Engelbert II of the Mark (c.1275–1328) 8. Adolph II of the Mark (c.1314–1347) 17. Matilda of Arenberg (c.1280–1349) 4. Adolph I of Kleve-Mark (1334–1394) 18. Dietrich VIII of Cleves (1291–1346) 9. Margaret of Cleves (c.1310-aft 1348) 19. Margaret of Guelders (1297–1333) 2. Adolph I, Duke of Cleves (1373–1448) 20. William V, Duke of Jülich (c.1299–1361) 10. Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg (c.1325–1360) 21. Joanna of Hainaut (1311/13-1374) 5. Margaret of Jülich (c.1350–1425/29) 22. Otto IV, Count of Ravensberg (bef 1276–1328) 11. Margaret of Ravensberg (c.1320–1389) 23. Margaret of Berg-Windeck (?-1339) 1. Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein 24. John II of France (1319–1364) 12. Philip the Bold (1343–1404) 25. Bonne of Bohemia (1315–1349) 6. John the Fearless (1371–1419) 26. Louis II of Flanders (1330–1384) 13. Margaret III, Countess of Flanders (1393–1466) 27. Margaret of Brabant (1323–1380) 3. Mary of Burgundy, Duchess of Cleves (1393–1466) 28. Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1282–1347) 14. Albert I, Duke of Bavaria (1350–1405) 29. Margaret, Countess of Hainaut (1311–1356) 7. Margaret of Bavaria (1363–1424) 30. Ludwik I the Fair (c.1321–1398) 15. Margaret of Brieg (1342–1386) 31. Agnes of Glogau (c.1321–1362)

References

• Genealogy of Adolph of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein