Jacoba of Bavaria (Countess of Hainaut)

With this she became the most powerful figure in the region. Her reign was eventful, with rival rulers, members of the nobility and successive spouses continually making claims on her territory. She eventually lost the struggle for power in 1433 to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Holland, Zeeland and Hainault were then absorbed into the powerful Burgundian Empire. Jacoba of Bavaria entered the history books as a woman who tirelessly defended her inherited territories, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Many myths grew up around her, including that the so-called ‘Jacoba jugs’ that were found from the early 17th century onwards were made by the countess herself. And in the 18th century a lock of hair was secretly excavated that was attributed to Jacoba of Bavaria.