The Guelders Wars broke out in 1502 over an old, unsettled dispute. At the end of the Second War of the Guelderian Succession (1423–1448), Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg sold his claims to the Duchy of Guelders to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. In subsequent years, a long-lastig succession dispute broke out within the Guelders-ruling House of Egmont between Arnold, Duke of Guelders (died 1473) and his son Adolf, Duke of Guelders, which Philip's son Charles the Bold exploited to seize Guelders in 1473.
The conflict known as the Guelders Wars erupted in 1502 due to an old disagreement that had not been resolved. Following the Second War of the Guelderian Succession (1423–1448), Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg relinquished his claims to the Duchy of Guelders to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. A protracted succession dispute within the Guelders ruling House of Egmont between Arnold, Duke of Guelders (died 1473), and his son Adolf, Duke of Guelders, was exploited by Philip's son Charles the Bold to seize Guelders in 1473.