William II, Count of Hainaut

William II of Hainaut (1307–1345), later called the Bold, found himself between France and the Empire. As a young man he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and fought the Moors in Spain. In 1337 he succeeded his father William the Good as count of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland, holding part of his lands from the French king and part from Emperor Louis IV.

Trying to please both, he angered both, and out of resentment at Philip VI he joined the English. As Edward III's brother-in-law he fought at the 1339 siege of Cambrai and the 1340 siege of Tournai.

In 1345 he took Utrecht, checking its bishop's bid for independence, then turned on a Frisian revolt and was killed at the Battle of Warns, leaving no heir. His sister Margaret, Emperor Louis IV's wife, inherited his counties.