Dirk VII, Count of Holland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dirk VII |
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Royal effigy on a silver penny of Dirk VII
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| Count of Holland | |
| Reign | 1190–1203 |
| Predecessor | Floris III |
| Successor | Ada |
| Died | November 4, 1203 Dordrecht |
| Spouse | Adelaide of Cleves |
| Issue | Aleidis Petronilla Ada |
| Father | Floris III |
| Mother | Ada of Huntingdon |
Dirk VII (died November 4, 1203, in Dordrecht) was a powerful ruler known as the count of Holland from 1190 to 1203. He was the older son of Floris III and Ada of Huntingdon.
Contents
Life as Count of Holland
Starting as Count
When Dirk became Count of Holland, the Holy Roman Empire was in the middle of a big civil war. The Emperor, Emperor Henry VI, needed friends and allies. He decided to support Dirk.
The Emperor gave Dirk special rights. One important right was to collect tolls from traders from Flanders in a place called Geervliet. This meant Dirk could make money from trade.
Henry VI also gave Holland more land, including the Grote Waard area around Dordrecht. This land used to belong to the bishopric of Utrecht.
New Rules for Succession
The Emperor also made a big change for Holland. He set aside the Salic law. This old law usually meant that only sons could inherit land or titles. By changing this, it meant that a female heir could now become the ruler of Holland. This was very important for Dirk's family later on.
Wars and Conflicts
In 1196, Dirk temporarily gained control over the bishopric of Utrecht. This led to a war with Count Otto I of Guelders. Dirk's forces won the battle at the Grebbeberg.
However, in 1197, a new bishop named Dirk van Are was chosen for Utrecht. He took back the princely authority from Dirk VII.
As the civil war in the Holy Roman Empire continued, the Hohenstaufen family (who the Emperor belonged to) started losing. So, Count Dirk changed his loyalty and joined the Welfs, the other powerful family.
Around this time, the Frisians in Oostergo and Westergo supported Dirk's brother, William. William invaded Holland, and some people from West Frisia also helped him.
Later Conflicts and Capture
In 1202, Dirk made an alliance with Otto of Guelders, who had been his enemy before. Together, they attacked the Duchy of Brabant. The Duke of Brabant claimed to be the overlord of Holland, Utrecht, and Guelders.
During this attack, Dirk and Otto's forces sacked (looted and destroyed) the towns of Den Bosch and Geertruidenberg.
However, Duke Henry I of Brabant managed to capture Dirk at Heusden. To be set free, Dirk had to pay a large ransom. He also had to agree that the Duke of Brabant was his overlord in southern Holland. For northern Holland, he had to accept the bishop of Utrecht as his overlord.
Dirk VII died on November 4, 1203. His daughter, Ada, became the next ruler. However, she soon lost the county to Dirk's brother, William.
Family
In 1186, Dirk married Adelaide. She was the daughter of Count Dietrich II of Cleves and Ida of Louvain.
Dirk and Adelaide had three daughters:
- Aleidis (died around 1203)
- Petronilla (died before 1203)
- Ada (born around 1188, died 1227)
