Dirk II, Count of Holland facts for kids

Dirk II (also known as Theoderic II) was an important leader, or count, in a region called West Frisia. He lived from about 920 or 930 until May 6, 988. Dirk II is known as an ancestor of the later counts of Holland, who were powerful rulers in the area. He was the son of Dirk I and his wife Geva.

What Did Count Dirk II Do?

In 983, a powerful ruler named Emperor Otto III officially recognized Dirk's rights. This meant Dirk could control lands and properties in an area called the Duchy of Lower Lorraine. These lands included important places like Maasland, Kinhem (Kennemerland), and Texla (Texel). This stretched along the entire coast of what is now Holland, and also reached inland.

Count Dirk II was a smart builder. He had a strong fort built near a place called Vlaardingen. Years later, this fort became famous. It was the site of the Battle of Vlaardingen. In this battle, Dirk's grandson, Dirk III, fought against an army led by Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine.

Dirk and his wife, Hildegard, asking for help from Saint Adalbert. This picture is from the Egmond Gospels

Around the year 950, Dirk II started a big project. He rebuilt Egmond Abbey and its church. He changed the wooden church into a strong stone building. He did this to keep the special items, called relics, of Saint Adalbert. Saint Adalbert was not very well known then. But people said he had taught Christianity in the region two centuries before.

The abbey was given to a group of Benedictine monks from Ghent. These monks took the place of the nuns who had lived there before. This change probably happened in the 970s. Dirk's daughter, Erlint (also called Erlinde or Herlinde), was the abbess (leader of the nuns) at Egmond at that time. She then became the abbess of a new abbey founded in Bennebroek.

Dirk II's Family Life

Dirk II married a woman named Hildegard. Historians believe she was the daughter of Count Arnulf of Flanders. This idea comes from the names of her children. Dirk and Hildegard had three children that we know about.

Their son, Arnulf, became the Count of Holland and Frisia after Dirk died. Their younger son, Egbert, became an important church leader. He was named Archbishop of Trier in 977. Their daughter, Erlinde (or Herlinde), became an abbess, leading a community of nuns.

Dirk II passed away in 988. He was buried in the stone church at Egmond Abbey. His wife, Hildegard, died two years later. She was also buried at the abbey.