John III, Duke of Brabant

Jan III van Brabant, also called John III the triumphantor, was born in 1300 and died in Brussels on December 5, 1355. He was Duke of Brabant and Limburg (1312-1355) and Duke of Lorraine. He was the son of John II of Brabant and Margaret Platagenet, princess of England.

He married Marie d' Evreux died on October 31, 1335 the daughter of count Louis d' Evreux and Marguerite d' Artois.

During the reign of Jan III Brabant was an allie of England. Jan III fought many wars and became powerful. As a result some Dutch sovereigns became his enemies from 1329 til 1334. Among them Flanders, Liege, Holland and Gelre. The sovereigns were stimulated by Phillips VI of Valois, king of France. During the peace of Amiens the French king declares that Jan III of Brabant has to hand over the cities of Tiel, Heerewaarden and Zandwijk to the county of Gelre. However it was able to annex the enclave of Mechelen which belonged to Liege. In 1350 persecution of Jews in Brabant.

After his dead Jan III was buried in the Cisterciënzer Abbey of Villers.