The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-30

G. p. Putnam's Sons, New York,
have published in "A Medieval Prin-
cess" by Ruth Putnam, a book which
should interest students of history. The
subtitle explains the scope of the book
Being True Record of the Changing
Fortunes Which Brought Divers Titles
to Jacqueline, Countess of Holland, To-
Rether with an Account Of Her CONNECT
with Philip, Duke of Burgundy" The
author is an honorary member OF the
Maatschappij van NederlandSche Letter
kunde at Leyden, and is known by
william the Silent" and other histori-
cal works.
In her preface the a1thor says that
only a very audacious romancer would
dare to make his heroine pass through
more varied fortunes than those actual
ly experienced by Jacqueline. last in
dependent sovereign in Holland, Zea-
land. and Hainaut- Orphaned at 16, no
forethought displayed by her father
Count William VD, no efforts of her
successive husbands were able to de-
fend her paternal heritage against the
rapatity OF her kinsmen. From the mo-
ment when she assumed the title in
1417, already forlorn and widowed at the
very opening of life. it was foregone
conclusion that at last the strongest
man among her cousins and uncles, the
Duke of Burgundy. should finally set
aside her rights and, severing the tie
which attached the otherwise autonom-
Gus countships to the empire, sweep
them into an expanding circle OF terri
tories, a circle whose periphery at last
proved overstretched for it's strength.
The methods used by Philip of Spain,
which led to the sixteenth century re-
volt of the Netherlands against his
domination. have been considered in all
phases. says Chicago Reviewer, but the
details of the entry of his Burgundian
ancestor, Philip the Good, into Holland
a century and half earlier have re-
ceived scanty notice in English.
Yet the story is full of interest in
giving a picture of the meeting between
he dorm md he Ia Az IL
Moreover, JacQueline's alliances with
the royal houses of France and Eng
land. the incidents of imperial and pa
pal interference In her fortunes and the
way in which her matrimonial ventures
brought about international compli-
cations. make her a startling figure of
the times.
Her contemporary, Jeanne dare,
fought against and was finally conquer
ed by the same men with whom JAG
Queline maintained her futile struggle.
The peasant girl has received much at
tentton from posterity; the Princess,
little. This account of her and her lost
cause should interest those who like to
read the footnotes of history
This woman. who made such stir in |
the world, was born in 1401 in the
counts palace at The Hague. 16 years |
after the marriage of her parents, Will |
liam Count OF Ostrevant, and Margaret |
OF Burgundy. Count William was then |
son of Holland, as heir to his father. |
Albert, first ruward and later count of |
Holland, Zealand and Hainaut. Three |
years later the little girl became daugh- |
ter Of Holland. as acknowledged sue |
cessor and sole heir of her father, then
Count William vi. AS she was born |
on St James day, she was baptized ia |
cobs. In Hainaut the name is usually
the French Jacqueline, but it is found
in many forms-Jacob, Jacque, Vrouw |
Jacob, Madame Jacque, Dame Jake, !
Jaque de Baviere.
The question of the future husband |
portant one Before she was 8 years |
old she was formally betrothed to |
John, Duke of Touraine, second son |
of Charles VI of France. then years |
of age. The betrothal was celebrated !
with grand festivities at Compiegne. |
Nothing was lacking but the presence |
of the two fathers. Charles being at
the moment in one of the crises of his |
periodic insanity, and William being !
temporarily disabled by the bite of a |
dog From the date of betrothal
Jacqueline is designated Duchess of |
Touraine, though the contract shows |
Use of the future. If the bride failed |
to keep her promise John was to get
100000 golden crowns, and a quarter
of million crowns If a birth of a. son !
to Count William cut his daughter off
from the succession. Due provision !
was also made for Jacqueline's posi- |
BILE widowhood- John was then turn !
ed over to his prospective mother-in- |
John XIII granted a paDal diSpen- |
sation removing the bar of consan- |
guinity, and in 1415 the wedding was |
celebrated at The Hague with mag
nificent pomp- Before the year closed |
the death of Johns eldest brother |
made him Dauphin and heir to the |
French crown, and the Daughter of
Holland became also Dauphiness of |
France.
In the spring of 1916 Emperor Sigis- |
mund visited England to further a
general European peace. Count Will |
liam went across the channel and |
asked the emperor to recognize JAG |
queline as the future sovereign of the |
three provinces. The emperor did not /
refuse point blank, but asked: Hast
thou neither brother nor cousin to be /
thy heir?" William did not argue |
with his feudal chief. He FASTENED |
back to Holland. called an assembly |
of the mobiles and cities, and made /
every one swear allegiance to Jacque-
line as their true sovereign. By 1417 /
the Dauphin was dead in Paris and a |
few months later Count William him.
self was dead. Thus Jacqueline, wild
owed and fatherless, came into her in
heritance.
Jacqueline died young-in 1896, in