John of Bavaria governed Liège as prince-bishop from 1389 despite never being ordained a priest — a canonical irregularity he managed to sustain for decades through sheer political leverage and the backing of his brother, William II of Holland. The griffin type belongs to a series of gold struck under his authority during a prolonged conflict with the city of Liège itself, whose citizens revolted repeatedly against episcopal rule and were crushed decisively at the Battle of Othée in 1408, one of the bloodiest engagements in the region's medieval history.
He renounced the see in 1418 to pursue the County of Holland.
John of Bavaria governed Liège as prince-bishop from 1389 despite never being ordained a priest — a canonical irregularity he managed to sustain for decades through sheer political leverage and the backing of his brother, William II of Holland. The griffin type belongs to a series of gold struck under his authority during a prolonged conflict with the city of Liège itself, whose citizens revolted repeatedly against episcopal rule and were crushed decisively at the Battle of Othée in 1408, one of the bloodiest engagements in the region's medieval history.
He renounced the see in 1418 to pursue the County of Holland.