or
Leuven during his reign. Born in
Leuven, he was the son of
Henry III, Duke of Brabant and
Aleidis of Burgundy, daughter of
Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy. He was also an older brother of
Maria of Brabant,
Queen consort of
Philip III of France. In 1267 his older brother
Henry IV, Duke of Brabant, being mentally deficient, was deposed in his favour. John's greatest military victory was the
Battle of Worringen 1288, by which John I came to reign over the
Duchy of Limburg. He was completely outnumbered in forces but led the successful invasion into the
Rhineland to defeat the confederacy. In 1288 Limburg was formally attached to
Brabant. John I was said to be a model of feudal prince: brave, adventurous; excelling in every form of active exercise, fond of display, and generous in temper. He was considered one of the most gifted princes of his time. This made him very popular in
Middle Ages poetry and literature. Even today there exists an ode to him, so well known that it was a potential candidate to be the
North Brabant anthem. John I delighted in tournaments and was always eager to take part in jousts. He was also famous for his many illegitimate children. On 3 May 1294 at some marriage festivities at
Bar-le-Duc, John I was mortally wounded in the arm in an encounter by
Pierre de Bausner. He was buried in the church of the
Order of Friars Minor (Minderbroederskerk) in Brussels, but since the
Protestant iconoclasm (
Beeldenstorm) in 1566, nothing remains of his tomb. ==Family and children==