| Albert I | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Lower Bavaria | |
 Portrait byWillem Thibaut | |
| Born | (1336-07-25)25 July 1336 Munich |
| Died | 13 December 1404(1404-12-13) (aged 68) The Hague |
| Spouse | Margaret of Brieg Margaret of Cleves |
| Issue | Katharina, Duchess of Gelders and Jülich Johanna, Queen of Bohemia Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy William VI, Count of Holland Albert II, Duke of Lower Bavaria Joanna Sophia, Duchess of Austria John, Duke of Lower Bavaria |
| House | House of Wittelsbach |
| Father | Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Mother | Margaret II, Countess of Holland |
Albert I, Duke of Lower Bavaria (German:Albrecht; 25 July 1336 – 13 December 1404), was afeudal ruler of the counties ofHolland,Hainaut, andZeeland in theLow Countries. Additionally, he held a portion of theBavarian province ofStraubing, his Bavarian ducal line'sappanage and seat,Lower Bavaria.
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Albert was born inMunich, the third son ofLouis IV, Holy Roman Emperor,[1] by his second wifeMargaret II, Countess of Hainaut and Holland. Albert was originally a younger son, apportioned at best an appanage. He was only 10 years old when his father died, leaving most of his Bavarian inheritance to his eldest half-brother,Louis V, Duke of Bavaria, but also some appanages to the younger sons.
His elder brother,William V, Count of Holland, had engaged in a long struggle with their mother, obtaining Holland and Zeeland from her in 1354, and Hainaut on her death in 1356. William was supported by the party ofburghers of the cities. They were opposed in this by theHook faction, the party of disaffected nobles who were supporters of Empress Margaret. Margaret had resigned her sovereignty in favour of her son William V, but the result was a period of great upheavals and chaos which gave rise to the formation of these two opposing parties.
William'sinsanity resulted in the appointment of the then 22-year-old Albert as governor (orregent orruwaard) of his brother's territories from 1358 onwards. During Albert's regency, affairs ran smoothly and trade improved.Troubles between the two political parties, theHoeks ("Hooks") andKabeljauws ("Cods"), remained barely beneath the surface. William lived for another thirty years. Albert did not formally succeed him until his death in 1388, by which time he had already arranged the marriage of his daughters to a number of Imperial princes and other nobles. The eldest daughter to have children wasMargaret; her sonPhilip III, Duke of Burgundy would ultimately inherit Albert's territories.
In Albert's own reign, troubles erupted between the Hoeks and the Kabeljauws because of a woman. Albert always hadmistresses, but this time his attentions were drawn toAleid van Poelgeest,[2] a member of the Kabeljauw party. She was considered very beautiful and was able to gain political influence which was resented. A plot was hatched among the Hoeks as well as members of Albert's household. On 22 September 1392 Aleid was murdered inThe Hague by Hoek nobles.[2]
In his rage Albert persecuted the Hoeks, by sword and fire, conquering one castle after the other. Even his own son and heir, William, did not feel safe and went to live in Hainault. During his last years, Albert fought theFrisians. They were beaten time and time again, but were never completely conquered.
On Albert's death in 1404, he was succeeded by his eldest son,William. A younger son,John III, becameBishop of Liège. However, on William's death in 1417, a war of succession broke out between John and William's daughterJacqueline of Hainaut. This would be the last episode of theHook and Cod wars and would lead to the counties being placed intoBurgundian hands.
Albert married inPassau after 19 July 1353,Margaret of Brieg fromSilesia (1342/43 – 1386),[2] and had seven children, all of whom lived to adulthood:
He also had severalillegitimate children.
Albert contracted a second marriage in 1394 inHeusden withMargaret of Cleves (c. 1375 – 1412),[4] sister ofAdolph I, Duke of Cleves, but they had no children. He died inThe Hague, aged 68.
Albert I, Duke of Bavaria Born: 25 July 1336 Died: 13 December 1404 | ||
| Preceded by | Duke of Bavaria 1347–1349 withLouis V,Stephen II,Louis VI,William I,Otto V | Partitioned |
| New title | Duke of Lower Bavaria 1349–1353 withStephen II andWilliam I | |
| Duke of Bavaria-Straubing 1353–1404 withWilliam I andAlbert II | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Count of Holland,Hainaut andZeeland 1388–1404 | |
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