Sophie of Mechelen

Daughter of Floris Berthout, lord of Mechelen, who was married to Reginald II, count of Guelders in 1311. In Book III of the Chronicles Froissart seems to give her name erroneously as Mary. Sophie had several children from her husband, but only two are mentioned by Froissart: her elder daugher Mathilde, whom Froissart called ‘Isabella’ in Book III, was married to John II of Blois and claimed the duchy of Guelders after the death of her half-brothers; a younger daughter Marie, whom Froissart called ‘Jeanne’ in Book III, was married to William VI of Juliers and also claimed the duchy. Sophie died in 1329.

England

Island kingdom bounded to the west by the Marcher lordships and the (still contested) principality of Wales conquered by Edward I; English lordships included parts of modern south Wales (from southern Pembrokeshire through Swansea, Cardiff and on towards Gloucester in England); bounded to the north by the kingdom of Scotland, to the east by the North Sea and to the south by the Channel; included Somerset, Devon and Cornwall to the south-west. Population up to the Black Death of 1348-9 approximately 4 million souls.

John II, count of Blois (d. 1381)

John II of Châtillon, count of Blois and Soissons between 1372 and his death in 1381. He was the second son of Louis I of Châtillon and Jeanne of Hainault. He inherited the lordships of Schoonhoven and Gouda, both in the county of Holland, from his paternal grandfather, John of Hainault on the latter’s death in 1356. When his elder brother Louis II died in 1372, he also inherited the counties of Blois and Soissons. He married Mathilde of Gueldres on 14 February 1372. They had no children. John died 9 June 1381 and was buried in the Francisan convent in Valenciennes. He was succeded as count of Blois by his youngest brother Guy.