16 Francs 1994 - John I Duke of Brabant - Tournament in England


16 Francs 1994 - John I Duke of Brabant - Tournament in England
Added by Bart Perdieus
General Description : John I of Brabant, also called John the Victorious (1252/1253 – 3 May 1294) was Duke of Brabant (1267–1294), Lothier and Limburg (1288–1294).
Born at 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.

His greatest military victory was the Battle of Woeringen, 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 (now France), John I was mortally wounded in the arm in an encounter. He was buried in the church of the Minderbroeders in Leuven, but since the Protestant iconoclasm (Beeldenstorm) in 1566, nothing remains of his tomb.
Face value 16 Francs
Catalog code (Michel) BE 2605
Catalog code Stamp Number BE 1548 Yvert et Tellier BE 2549 Stanley Gibbons BE 3224 AFA number BE 2612 Belgium BE 2553 Unificato BE 2553
Stamp colour multicolor
Stamp use Commemorative stamp
Print run 6.000.000
Issue date 23/03/1994
Designer Jacques Doppée
Print technique photogravure
Perforation 11 1/2
Height 28.00 mm
Width 41.00 mm
Catalog prices No catalog prices set yet