Dirk III, Count of Holland facts for kids

Dirk III (also known as Dirik or Theodoric) was an important ruler, called a count, in a region that would later become the county of Holland. He ruled from 993 until May 27, 1039. For the first few years, until 1005, his mother helped him rule because he was too young. People think Dirk III traveled to the Holy Land around the year 1030. Because of this trip, he was sometimes called Hierosolymita, which means "the Jerusalemite" in Latin.

What Was Dirk's County Like?

The land Dirk ruled was first called "Holland" much later, in 1101. Back then, it was known as a southern part of Frisia. Today, we often call this area "West Friesland." This region was very different from how it looks now. Most of it was swampy and often flooded. This meant very few people lived there. Most towns were built on sand dunes near the coast or on higher ground near rivers.

How Dirk's Mother Helped Him Rule

Count Dirk was part of the House of Holland, a powerful family in Germany at that time. His mother, Luitgard of Luxemburg, was in charge of the county while Dirk was a child. She ruled from 993 to 1005. Luitgard was related to Emperor Henry II, who was a very powerful ruler. With the Emperor's help, she made sure the county stayed safe for her son.

Even after Dirk started ruling on his own, his mother still used her family connections. For example, an imperial army once helped Dirk stop a local uprising. Some historical writings from 1017 even complained that the Emperor's relatives were causing trouble. This trouble led to a big fight against Dirk III in 1018, known as the Battle of Vlaardingen.

Dirk's Big Fight with the Emperor

Before 1018, Count Dirk III was loyal to Emperor Henry II. However, powerful bishops from Trier, Utrecht, and Cologne all wanted control over Dirk's land. This area was very important because of its location.

Utrecht was a major trading city for the German kings. Traders had to sail through Dirk III's lands to reach the North Sea. They used the Rhine and Vecht rivers. Also, the German kings often stayed in Utrecht and nearby Nijmegen. Another important trade route, from Tiel to England, also crossed Dirk's territory.

Dirk built a strong fort at Vlaardingen along this trade route. Many Frisian people had recently moved to this new area because Dirk invited them. He was not supposed to charge money or stop trade. But Dirk decided to go against the Emperor's rules. He and the Frisians started stopping ships and demanding payments. Merchants from Tiel complained to the king and Bishop Adelbold of Utrecht about Dirk's actions. Emperor Henry then decided to take Dirk III's lands away and give them to Bishop Adelbold.

The Battle of Vlaardingen and What Happened Next

A large army, made up of soldiers from different bishops, marched towards Dirk's fort at Vlaardingen. This army was led by Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine. The battle that followed, known as the Battle of Vlaardingen, was a huge disaster for the Emperor's army. It was a great victory for Count Dirk! Many of the Emperor's commanders died, and Duke Godfrey was even captured.

After this big win, Dirk III was allowed to keep his lands. He also continued to charge tolls for trade. Later, Dirk even gained more land to the east, taking it from the Bishop of Utrecht. When Emperor Henry II died in 1024, Dirk supported Conrad II to become the new king.

After Count Dirk III died in 1039, imperial armies tried a few more times to take back the lands held by the Frisian counts. But a powerful ruler named Robert I, Count of Flanders (also called Robert the Frisian) helped Dirk V, who was Dirk III's grandson, to keep control of the lands for the counts.

Dirk's Family

Dirk III married a woman named Othelindis. She might have been the daughter of Bernard I, Duke of Saxony. They had at least two children:

• Dirk, who became the next count after his father.
• Floris, who became count after his brother.

There is also some information that they had two daughters: Bertrada, who married Dietrich I. von Katlenburg, and Suanhildis (Swanhilde), who married Emmo van Loon, the Count of Loon.

After Dirk died on May 27, 1039, his wife Othelindis returned to Saxony. She passed away on March 31, 1044. Dirk was buried at Egmond Abbey.