William II, Count of Hainaut
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox noble William II (1307 – 26 September 1345) was Count of Hainaut from 1337 until his death. He was also Count of Holland (as William IV) and Count of Zeeland. He succeeded his father, Count William I of Hainaut. While away fighting in Prussia, the Frisians revolted. William returned home and was killed at the Battle of Warns.
Life
William was born in 1307, the son of William I of Hainaut and Joan of Valois.Template:Sfn
In 1334, he married Joanna, Duchess of Brabant, the daughter and heiress of John III, Duke of Brabant, but had no issue.Template:Sfn
He fought in France as an ally of the English (he was the brother-in-law of King Edward III of England). In 1339, William participated in the Siege of Cambrai (1339).Template:Sfn In 1345, two months before he died, he Template:Ill, because the bishop, John van Arkel, was trying to regain the bishopric's historical independence from Holland.
William fought against the Saracens,Template:Cn and went on crusade with the Teutonic Order in Prussia.Template:Sfn He was killed near Stavoren, during one of the battles of Warns against the Frisians in 1345.Template:Sfn
William was succeeded by his sister, Margaret of Hainaut, who was married to Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland became a part of the imperial crown domains.
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See also
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