Born on July 15, 1401 in The Hague to William of Bavaria, Count of Holland, Hainaut and Zeeland, and Marguerite of Burgundy. Died October 8, 1436 of tuberculosis at Teylingen Castle near Leiden. Jacoba was born when the interpersonal politics that had governed the Low Countries were intersecting with large international events like the 100 Years War, the Western Schism, and the expansion of the Holy Roman Empire. Jacoba was determined and played the game the best she could with the tools available to her, but ultimately could not stop the Duke of Burgundy. Two of her husbands and many of her kinsman betrayed her for their own enrichment and she eventually bargained the Duke of Burgundy into a financial settlement rather than fight a war on so many fronts.
Jacoba’s second husband, Humphrey of Gloucester, plays a major role in the reign of Henry VI, which you can hear about at the
English History Podcast. (English and French histories will refer to her as Jacqueline.)