The Tree of EuropeHistorical and genealogical atlas
ESEN
The Tree of Europe · Person

Adolf I of Cleves

The first duke of Cleves, he married Mary of Burgundy. Their daughter Catherine carried that connection into Guelders through her marriage to Arnold of Egmond. The alliance placed his grandchildren within the Valois-Burgundian family network.

1373 – 1448DukeLa Marck · ES
Explore this family · Spanish AtlasBack to people

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 2 August 1373 Documented

Death: 23 September 1448 Documented

Role: Duke

Dynasty: La Marck · ES

Territories: Cleves (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
Count · Cleves · County Pending review1394–1417Effective rule
Duke · Cleves · Duchy Pending review1417–1448Effective ruleEmperor Sigismund raised Cleves to a duchy in 1417.
Family network

Recorded relationships

Partners
Children
Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

5 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
Family and relationships (1/1 with a precise source)
Governments (0/2 with a precise source)
  • GovernmentPending review

    Count · Cleves · 1394–1417

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • GovernmentPending review

    Duke · Cleves · 1417–1448

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Biographical and contextual references (3)
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

Keep exploring

More paths from Adolf I of Cleves