JOHN II, DUKE OF BRABANT

'Jan II van Brabant' (September 27, 1275 – October 27, 1312, Tervuren), also called 'John the Peaceful', was Duke of Brabant, Lothier and Limburg (1294–1312). He was the son of John I of Brabant and Margaretha of Flanders, daughter of Guy of Dampierre.

On July 8, 1290, Jan married Margaret Plantagenet in Westminster Abbey, London. She was a daughter of King Edward I of England and his first Queen consort Eleanor of Castile. Only one child was born out of this marriage, John III, Duke of Brabant.
During the reign of Jan II, Brabant continues supporting a coalition to stop French expansion. He tried to conquer South Holland (district of medieval Holland) from the pro-french count John II of Holland, but was not successful. John, who suffered from kidney stones and wanted his duchy to be peacefully handed over to his son upon his death, in 1312 signed the famous Charter of Kortenberg.
After his death Jan II was buried in the St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral in Brussels.
See also: Dukes of Brabant family tree