He ruled Cleves from 1448 from 1481, and Mark since 1461 after the death of his uncle Gerhard who had waged war on his own brother.

John fought 3 wars with the Electorate of Cologne and finally defeated Ruprecht of the Palatinate, conquering the cities of Xanten and Soest.

[2] In these wars, he was supported by his uncle Philip the Good, bringing Cleves-Mark into the Burgundian sphere of influence.

His marriage with Elisabeth Countess of Nevers, from a sideline of the House of Burgundy, only strengthened this influence.

[3] John was also made a Knight in the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece in 1451,[4] with which he was depicted by Rogier van der Weyden.