Jacqueline of Bavaria’s Counteroffensive and the Battle of Alphen (1425)

Following her escape from Burgundian custody in September 1425, Jacqueline of Bavaria sought to regain control over Holland and Zeeland. Facing the growing dominance of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, she turned to her husband, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, for military support.

While awaiting reinforcements from England, Jacqueline’s forces achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Alphen on October 22, 1425, defeating a Burgundian force composed largely of city militia.

I. Jacqueline Appeals to Humphrey for Reinforcements

• Humphrey, still in England, responded to Jacqueline’s call for aid and began raising a force of 1,500 English troops.
• The expeditionary force was led by Walter FitzWalter, 7th Baron FitzWalter, a seasoned English commander.
• These reinforcements were intended to bolster Jacqueline’s resistance against Burgundy and strengthen the Hooks’ position.

II. The Battle of Alphen (October 22, 1425): A Rare Victory for Jacqueline

• As she waited for English reinforcements, Jacqueline’s forces clashed with a Burgundian army near Alphen, a strategic location in Holland.
• The Burgundians, mostly city militia, were not professional soldiers and struggled against the more experienced Hooks.
• Jacqueline’s army secured a decisive victory, temporarily weakening Burgundian control over the region.

III. Consequences and the Continuing War

• The victory at Alphen boosted morale among Jacqueline’s supporters and proved she could still challenge Burgundian authority.
• However, the arrival of Humphrey’s English reinforcements would soon escalate the conflict, drawing Burgundy and England closer to direct confrontation.
• Philip the Good would respond forcefully to the English intervention, ensuring that the struggle for Holland and Zeeland was far from over.

Jacqueline’s appeal to Humphrey and her victory at the Battle of Alphen briefly revived her resistance, but Burgundy’s growing power meant the war was still tilted in Philip the Good’s favor.