View source for Count of Holland

{{Short description|none}}
{{See also|County of Holland|Countess of Holland}}
{{distinguish|Earl of Holland}}
[[File:Counts of Holland Arms.svg|thumb|right|[[Coat of arms]] of the counts of Holland]]

The '''counts of Holland''' ruled over the [[County of Holland]] in the [[Low Countries]] between the 10th and the 16th century.

==The Frisian origins==
While the Frisian kingdom had comprised most of the present day Netherlands, the later province of Friesland in the Netherlands was much reduced. Already in the early Middle Ages West-Frisia (Frisia west of the Vlie) was not considered to be a part of Frisia anymore, and came to be known as Holland (present day provinces North and South Holland and Zeeland). [[Floris II, Count of Holland|Floris II]] was the first count who restyled his name from count of "West-Frisia", in count of "Holland".

Frisia Proper in medieval time therefore only included the middle and eastern part. The middle part (corresponding to the present day Dutch province of Friesland) was populated by free peasants who successfully resisted all attempts by feudal lords to subdue them, mainly the counts of Holland and the bishops of Utrecht. In the eastern part, local chieftains created their own states (within the Holy Roman Empire) in the late Middle Ages. They became a county after 1446 until 1744, after which it was incorporated within Prussia and later Germany.

==House of Holland==
{{For|a complete table of rulers|House of Holland (nobility) #Rulers}}
The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was the son or foster-son of [[Gerolf of Holland|Gerolf, Count in Frisia]] (Dijkstra suggests that Dirk may have been the son of a sister of Gerolf and that his own father died while he was still an infant). He received land around [[Egmond (municipality)|Egmond]] from [[Charles the Fat]] at a place called Bladella (modern-day Bladel near Eindhoven, The Netherlands) in 922.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024|reason=Is there a publication that mentions this? Also: Bladel is not near Egmond at all}} This is seen as the beginning of the county of Holland.{{By whom|date=October 2024}} However, until about 1100, the usual names for the county were West-Friesland, Frisia or Kennemerland; in spite of this the counts from Dirk I onwards are traditionally named ''of Holland''.

Note that the chronology of the first few counts is uncertain. The existence of a count between Dirk I and Dirk II was only recently suggested, since it is thought that the references to counts named Dirk between 896 and 988 refer to three, not two, different counts. This third Count Dirk is placed between Dirk I and II and numbered as Dirk I ''bis'' to avoid confusion with the already established numbering referring to the other counts of Holland named Dirk.

The counts of West-Frisia ruled locally in the name of the archbishop of Utrecht, but over time, the counts of Holland came to dominate the bishopric of Utrecht. The archbishop of Utrecht governed the area on behalf of the Holy Roman Emperor, who saw his power diminished by the feudal system in which the counts and dukes ruled almost as sovereigns.

The counts of Holland tried frequently to increase their territory but apart from the acquisition of Zeeland during the 14th century they had no lasting success. Instead, it became a part of the mighty medieval dynasties' possessions, first Wittelsbach then Valois and thereafter Habsburg.

{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[Gerolf of Holland|Gerulf II]]'''
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = 
| life1       = ca. 850 - 898 or 914 (ca. 48 or 64 years)
| reignstart1 = ca. 885
| reignend1   = 895/896
| notes1      = son or grandson of [[Gerulf I of Frisia]], or the same Gerulf
| family1     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image1      = Counts of Holland Arms.svg
| alt1        = Coat of arms of the Counts of Holland in use centuries later
|
| name2       = '''[[Dirk I, Count of Holland|Dirk I]]'''
| nickname2   = 
| native2     =
| life2       = ca. 875 - ca. 923 or 939 (ca. 48 or 64 years)
| reignstart2 = 896
| reignend2   = ca. 923 or 939
| notes2      = son of [[Gerolf of Holland|Gerolf]]?
| family2     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image2      = Thierry I de Hollande.png
| alt2        = 
|
| name3       = '''[[Dirk II, Count of Holland|Dirk II]]'''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = 
| life3       = ca. 932 - 988
| reignstart3 = 939
| reignend3   = 988
| notes3      = son of [[Dirk I, Count of Holland|Dirk I]]; count of Frisia
| family3     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image3      = Thierry II de Hollande.png
| alt3        = 
|
| name4       = '''[[Arnulf, Count of Holland|Arnulf]]'''
| nickname4   = 
| native4     = 
| life4       = ca. 951 - 993 (ca. 42 years)
| reignstart4 = 988
| reignend4   = 993
| notes4      = son of [[Dirk II, Count of Holland|Dirk II]]; count of Frisia
| family4     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image4      = Arnould de Hollande.png
| alt4        =
|
| name5       = '''[[Dirk III, Count of Holland|Dirk III]]'''
| nickname5   = Hierosolymita (the Jerusalemite)
| native5     = Dirk III de Jeruzalemganger
| life5       = ca. 982 - 1039 (ca. 57 years)
| reignstart5 = 993
| reignend5   = 1039
| notes5      = son of [[Arnulf, Count of Holland|Arnulf]]; count of Frisia
| family5     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image5      = Thierry III de Hollande.png
|
| name6       = '''[[Dirk IV, Count of Holland|Dirk IV]]'''
| nickname6   = 
| native6     = 
| life6       = ca. 1015 - 1049 (ca. 34 years)
| reignstart6 = 1039
| reignend6   = 1049
| notes6      = son of [[Dirk III, Count of Holland|Dirk III ''Hierosolymita'']]; count of Frisia
| family6     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image6      = Thierry IV de Hollande.png
| alt6        = 
|
| name7       = '''[[Floris I, Count of Holland|Floris I]]'''
| nickname7   = 
| native7     = 
| life7       = ca. 1025 - 1061 (ca. 36 years)
| reignstart7 = 1049
| reignend7   = 1061
| notes7      = son of Dirk III; count of Frisia
| family7     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image7      = Florent Ier de Hollande.png
| alt7        = 
}}
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[Dirk V, Count of Holland|Dirk V]]'''
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = Dirk V
| life1       = 1054 - 1091 (37 years)
| reignstart1 = 1061
| reignend1   = 1091
| notes1      = son of [[Floris I, Count of Holland|Floris I]]; regents: [[Gertrude of Saxony]] (widow of Floris I), [[Robert I, Count of Flanders|Robert ''the Frisian'']] (second husband of Gertrude); count of Frisia
| family1     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image1      = Thierry V de Hollande.png
| alt1        = 
|
| name2       = '''[[Floris II, Count of Holland|Floris II]]'''
| nickname2   = the Fat
| native2     = Floris II de Dikke
| life2       = ca. 1084 - 1121 (ca. 37 years)
| reignstart2 = 1091
| reignend2   = 1121
| notes2      = son of [[Dirk V, Count of Holland|Dirk V]]; first count who named himself count of 'Holland'
| family2     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image2      = Florent II de Hollande.png
| alt2        = 
|
| name3       = '''[[Dirk VI, Count of Holland|Dirk VI]]'''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = Dirk VI
| life3       = 1114 - 1157 (43 years)
| reignstart3 = 1121
| reignend3   = 1157
| notes3      = son of [[Floris II, Count of Holland|Floris II]]
| family3     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image3      = Thierry VI de Hollande.png
| alt3        = 
|
| name4       = '''[[Floris III, Count of Holland|Floris III]]'''
| nickname4   = 
| native4     = Floris III
| life4       = ca. 1140 - 1190 (ca. 50 years)
| reignstart4 = 1157
| reignend4   = 1190
| notes4      = son of [[Dirk VI, Count of Holland|Dirk VI]]
| family4     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image4      = Florent III de Hollande.png
| alt4        = 
|
| name5       = '''[[Dirk VII, Count of Holland|Dirk VII]]'''
| nickname5   = 
| native5     = Dirk VII
| life5       = ca. 1165 - 1203 (ca. 38 years)
| reignstart5 = 1190
| reignend5   = 1203
| notes5      = son of [[Floris III, Count of Holland|Floris III]]
| family5     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image5      = Thierry VII de Hollande.png
| alt5        =
|
| name6       = '''[[Ada, Countess of Holland|Ada]]'''
| nickname6   = 
| native6     = Ada
| life6       = 1188 - 1223 (35 years)
| reignstart6 = 1203
| reignend6   = 1207
| notes6      = daughter of [[Dirk VII, Count of Holland|Dirk VII]]; ruled together with [[Louis II, Count of Loon|Louis I]]; no issues
| family6     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image6      = Ada de Hollande.png
|
| name7       = '''[[William I, Count of Holland|William I]]'''
| nickname7   = 
| native7     = Willem I
| life7       = 1168 - 1222 (54 years)
| reignstart7 = 1203
| reignend7   = 1222
| notes7      = son of [[Floris III, Count of Holland|Floris III]]
| family7     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image7      = Guillaume Ier de Hollande.png
| alt7        = 
|
| name8       = '''[[Floris IV, Count of Holland|Floris IV]]'''
| nickname8   = 
| native8     = Floris IV
| life8       = 1210 - 1234 (24 years)
| reignstart8 = 1222
| reignend8   = 1234 
| notes8      = son of [[William I, Count of Holland|William I]]
| family8     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image8      = Florent IV de Hollande.png
| alt8        = 
|
| name9       = '''[[William II, Count of Holland|William II]]'''
| nickname9   =
| native9     = Willem II
| life9       = 1227 - 1256 (28 years)
| reignstart9 = 1235
| reignend9   = 1256
| notes9      = son of [[Floris IV, Count of Holland|Floris IV]]
| family9     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image9      = Guillaume II de Hollande.png
| alt9        = 
|
| name10       = '''[[Floris V, Count of Holland|Floris V]]'''
| nickname    =  the Peasants' God
| native10     = Floris V, der keerlen god
| life10       = 1254 - 1296 (42 years)
| reignstart10 = 1256
| reignend10   = 1296
| notes10      = son of [[William II, Count of Holland|William II]]; [[Floris de Voogd]] regent and guardian for Floris V (1256–1258)
| family10     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image10      = Florent V de Hollande.png
| alt10        = 
|
| name11       = '''[[John I, Count of Holland|John I]]'''
| nickname11   = 
| native11     = Jan I
| life11       = 1284 - 1299 (15 years)
| reignstart11 = 1296
| reignend11   = 1299
| notes11      = son of [[Floris V, Count of Holland|Floris V]]; [[John III, Lord of Renesse]] regent for [[John I, Count of Holland|John I]] (1296-1299);  [[John II, Count of Hainaut]] inherited the county after John I's death  
| family11     = [[House of Holland (nobility)|Holland]]
| image11      = Jean Ier de Hollande.png
| alt11        = 
|
}}

==[[Avesnes family|House of Avesnes]]==
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[John II, Count of Holland|John II]]'''
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = Jan II
| life1       = 1247 - 1304 (57 years)
| reignstart1 = 1299
| reignend1   = 1304 
| notes1      = son of [[John I of Avesnes]] and [[Adelaide of Holland]], Adelaide is daughter of [[Floris IV, Count of Holland|Floris IV]]; a.k.a. count John II of Hainaut
| family1     = [[House of Avesnes|Avesnes]]
| image1      = Jean Ier de Hainaut.png
| alt1        = 
|
| name2       = '''[[William III, Count of Holland|William III]]'''
| nickname2   = 
| native2     = Willem III
| life2       = 1287 - 1337 (50 years)
| reignstart2 = 1304
| reignend2   = 1337
| notes2      = son of [[John II, Count of Holland|John II]]
| family2     = [[House of Avesnes|Avesnes]]
| image2      = Guillaume Ier de Hainaut.png
| alt2        = 
|
| name3       = '''[[William IV, Count of Holland|William IV]]'''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = Willem IV
| life3       = 1307 - 1345 (38 years)
| reignstart3 = 1337
| reignend3   = 1345
| notes3      = son of [[William III, Count of Holland|William III]]
| family3     = [[House of Avesnes|Avesnes]]
| image3      = Guillaume II de Hainaut.png
| alt3        = 
|
| name4       = '''[[Margaret I, Countess of Holland|Margaret I]]'''
| nickname4   = 
| native4     = Margaretha
| life4       = 1310 - 1356 (45 years)
| reignstart4 = 1345
| reignend4   = 1354
| notes4      = daughter of [[William III, Count of Holland|William III]]; a.k.a. countess Margaret II of Hainaut
| family4     = [[House of Avesnes|Avesnes]]
| image4      = Marguerite II de Hainaut.png
| alt4        = 
}}

==[[House of Wittelsbach]]==
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[William I, Duke of Bavaria|William V]]'''
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = Willem V, Willem van Beieren
| life1       = 1330 - 1389 (58 years)
| reignstart1 = 1349
| reignend1   = 1389 
| notes1      = son of [[Margaret I, Countess of Holland|Margaret I]]; a.k.a. duke William I of Bavaria, count William III of Hainaut, count William IV of Zeeland
| family1     = [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbach]]
| image1      = Guillaume III de Hainaut.png
| alt1        = 
|
| name2       = '''[[Albert I, Duke of Bavaria|Albert]]'''
| nickname2   = 
| native2     = Albrecht van Beieren
| life2       = 1336 - 1404 (68 years)
| reignstart2 = 1389
| reignend2   = 1404
| notes2      = son of [[Margaret I, Countess of Holland|Margaret I]]; count of Holland, Hainaut, and Zeeland
| family2     = [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbach]]
| image2      = Albert de Bavière.png
| alt2        = 
|
| name3       = '''[[William II, Duke of Bavaria|William VI]]'''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = Willem VI, Willem van Oostervant
| life3       = 1365 - 1417 (52 years)
| reignstart3 = 1404
| reignend3   = 1417
| notes3      = son of [[Albert I, Duke of Bavaria|Albert]]; a.k.a. duke William II of Bavaria-Straubing, count William IV of Hainaut, count William V of Zeeland
| family3     = [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbach]]
| image3      = Guillaume IV de Hainaut.png
| alt3        = 
|
| name4       = '''[[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut|Jacqueline]]'''
| nickname4   = 
| native4     = Jacoba van Beieren
| life4       = 1401 - 1436 (35 years)
| reignstart4 = 1417
| reignend4   = 1433
| notes4      = daughter of [[William II, Duke of Bavaria|William VI]]; countess of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut; a.k.a. duchess Jacqueline of Bavaria-Straubing; no heir; With Jacqueline's remarriage to the English Henry of Gloucester, title passes to the dukes of Burgundy
| family4     = [[House of Wittelsbach|Wittelsbach]]
| image4      = Jacqueline de Bavière.png
| alt4        = 
}}

There was a war of succession between uncle ([[John III, Duke of Bavaria]]) and niece ([[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut]]). This war was finally won by [[Philip the Good]] in 1433, who, in the meantime had inherited John's claims on the county. Philip and Jacqueline were double first cousins, Philip's mother is daughter of [[Albert I, Duke of Bavaria|Albert]] while Jacqueline's mother was daughter of [[Philip the Bold]] of Burgundy. In April 1433 he forced Jacqueline to abdicate from Hainaut and Holland on his behalf.

==House of Valois-Burgundy==
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[Philip III, Duke of Burgundy|Philip I]] ''the Good'' <br/><small>(Philippe III ''le Bon'')</small>'''
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = 
| life1       = 1396 - 1467 (70 years)
| reignstart1 = 1432
| reignend1   = 1467
| notes1      = son of [[John the Fearless]] and [[Margaret of Bavaria]], Margaret is daughter of [[Albert I, Duke of Bavaria|Albert]]
| family1     = [[House of Valois-Burgundy|Valois-Burgundy]]
| image1      = Philip the good.jpg
| alt1        = 
|
| name2       = '''[[Charles the Bold|Charles I]] ''the Bold'' <br/><small>(Charles I ''le Téméraire'')</small>'''
| nickname2   = 
| native2     =
| life2       = 1433 - 1477 (43 years)
| reignstart2 = 1467
| reignend2   = 1477
| notes2      = son of [[Philip III, Duke of Burgundy|Philip I]]
| family2     = [[House of Valois-Burgundy|Valois-Burgundy]]
| image2      = Charles the Bold 1460.jpg
| alt2        = 
|
| name3       = '''[[Mary of Burgundy|Mary I]] ''the Rich'''''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = 
| life3       = 1457 - 1482 (25 years)
| reignstart3 = 1477
| reignend3   = 1482
| notes3      = daughter of [[Charles the Bold|Charles I]]; countess of Frisia
| family3     = [[House of Valois-Burgundy|Valois-Burgundy]]
| image3      = Maître de la Légende de Sainte Marie-Madeleine, Sainte Marie-Madeleine (15–16ème siècle).jpg
| alt3        = 
}}

==House of Habsburg==
{{Main|House of Habsburg}}
*[[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian]] (r. 1482–1494, regent), Holy Roman Emperor, ''husband of Mary I''
*[[Philip I of Castile|Philip II ''the Handsome'']] (r. 1494–1506), King Philip I of Castile
*[[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles II]] (r. 1515–1555), Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, King of Spain
*[[Philip II of Spain|Philip III]] (r. 1555–1581, 1581–1598 titular only), King Philip II of Spain

During the 'foreign rule' by Burgundy and Habsburg, the county was governed by a [[stadtholder]] in name of the count. In 1581, the [[Netherlands States-General|Estates General]] of the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] declared themselves independent from the Spanish rule of Philip II (who was Philip III of Holland). Until the [[Peace of Westphalia|Treaty of Münster]] in 1648, the kings of Spain still used the title Count of Holland, but they had lost the actual power over the county to the [[States of Holland]].

*[[Philip III of Spain|Philip IV]] (1598–1621, titular only), King Philip III of Spain
*[[Philip IV of Spain|Philip V]] (1621–1648, titular only, renounced 1648), King Philip IV of Spain

== Aftermath ==

The county remained in existence as a constituent member state of the Dutch Republic until 1795. There were no more counts however since the Estates of Holland and West-Frisia were the sovereign of the county (although the countship was offered to [[William the Silent]] in 1584, shortly before his death). The  [[stadtholders]], who were servants of the Estates, were the de facto chief-executives during this period.

==See also==
*[[:Commons:32 afbeeldinge der Graven van HOLLANDT|A book of 32 plates of the counts of Holland]] published in Amsterdam in 1663, engraved by [[Adriaen Matham]]

==References==
*B. K. S. Dijkstra, ''Een stamboom in been'', Amsterdam 1991.


{{Burgundian Circle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holland, Count Of}}
[[Category:Counts of Holland| ]]
[[Category:County of Holland| ]]
[[Category:Countships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Ruling families of the County of Holland| ]]
[[Category:Lists of Dutch nobility]]
[[Category:Lists of nobility of the Holy Roman Empire]]
<!-- [[Category:Lists of German nobility]] Is this because of the House of Wittelsbach? There are some French and Spanish individuals listed as well. Should this article also have the categories "Lists of French nobility" and "Lists of Spanish nobility"? -->