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Adolf ICount of Cleves
Date of Birth: 02.08.1373
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Content:
- Early Life and Inheritance
- Military and Political Career
- First Marriage
- Second Marriage and Family
- Catherine (1417-1479), married Duke Arnold of Guelders
Early Life and Inheritance
Adolf was born as the eldest son of Adolf III, Count of Cleves and Mark, and Margaret of Jülich. In 1394, he inherited the County of Cleves from his father.
Military and Political Career
Adolf participated in the Battle of Kleverhamm in 1397. In 1399, following the death of his younger brother Dietrich, he inherited the County of Mark. In 1437, he appointed his brother Gerhard as regent of Mark, which eventually passed to Adolf's son, Johann, upon Gerhard's death.
First Marriage
Shortly before 1400, Adolf married Agnes, daughter of King Rupert of Germany. However, she died childless a year later.
Second Marriage and Family
In 1406, Adolf married Marie of Burgundy, daughter of Duke John the Fearless of Burgundy. Together, they had eight children:
Margarete (1416-1444), married Duke Wilhelm III of Bavaria and later Count Ulrich V of Württemberg
Catherine (1417-1479), married Duke Arnold of Guelders
Johann (1419-1481), succeeded his father as Duke of ClevesElizabeth (1420-1488), married Henry XXVI of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg
Agnes (1422-1446), married King Charles IV of Navarre
Helen (1423-1471), married Duke Henry of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Adolf (1425-1492), married Beatrice of Portugal
Marie (1426-1487), married Duke Charles of Orléans and was the mother of King Louis XII of France
