John V, Count of Arkel
Coat of arms of the House of Arkel
Born	11 September 1362 Gorinchem
Died	25 August 1428(1428-08-25) (aged 65) Leerdam
Noble family	House of Arkel
Spouse(s)	Joanna of Jülich
Father	Otto, Lord of Arkel
Mother	Elisabeth of Bar-Pierrepont

John V, Lord of Arkel (11 September 1362 – 25 August 1428) was Lord of Arkel, Haastrecht and Hagestein and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and West Frisia. He was a son of Lord Otto of Arkel and his wife, Elisabeth of Bar-Pierrepont.

He acquired the Lordship of Haastrecht in 1380 and Hagestein in 1382. When he inherited Arkel from his father in 1396, he became a member of the court council of the Count of Holland.

During the reign of Albert I, the county suffered from a series of conflicts known as the Hook and Cod wars. John V sided with Albert I and the Cods. However, during a campaign in West Frisia, John V came into conflict with Albert's son, William VI, who sided with the Hooks. The murder of Aleid van Poelgeest may also have played a role in their animosity. Albert informed his father that John was no longer a faithful ally and John declared himself independent and refused to participate in further campaigns against the Frisians. This triggered the Arkel War, in which William VI conquered Arkel. John V lost his land and spent the years 1415–1426 in captivity.

John V died in Leerdam in 1428. His son William inherited his claim on the Land of Arkel.

Marriage and issue

On 18 October 1376, John married Joanna of Jülich, a daughter of Duke William II of Jülich and heiress to the Duchy of Guelders. She died in 1394. John and Joanna had two children:

• William (died 1 December 1417 in Gorinchem)
• Maria (died 1415 in IJsselstein), married John II, Count of Egmond

John also had four illegitimate children:

• Otto (died 1475 in Utrecht), married Jacobje of Arkel and had issue
• Henneke (died 1420), married John of Egmond, Lord of Wateringen
• Dirk
• Wynand (born 1426), goldsmith

William died when he tried to reconquer Gorinchem, which had been a possession of Arkel for many years. He was between 30 and 34 years old and had no male heir. The Land of Arkel was divided between Holland and Guelders.