Count of Holland

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 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.

{{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, 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 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 = 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 = Holland

| image1 = Counts of Holland Arms.svg

| alt1 = Coat of arms of the Counts of Holland in use centuries later

|

| name2 = 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?

| family2 = Holland

| image2 = Thierry I de Hollande.png

| alt2 =

|

| name3 = Dirk II

| nickname3 =

| native3 =

| life3 = ca. 932 - 988

| reignstart3 = 939

| reignend3 = 988

| notes3 = son of Dirk I; count of Frisia

| family3 = Holland

| image3 = Thierry II de Hollande.png

| alt3 =

|

| name4 = Arnulf

| nickname4 =

| native4 =

| life4 = ca. 951 - 993 (ca. 42 years)

| reignstart4 = 988

| reignend4 = 993

| notes4 = son of Dirk II; count of Frisia

| family4 = Holland

| image4 = Arnould de Hollande.png

| alt4 =

|

| name5 = 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 Frisia

| family5 = Holland

| image5 = Thierry III de Hollande.png

|

| name6 = Dirk IV

| nickname6 =

| native6 =

| life6 = ca. 1015 - 1049 (ca. 34 years)

| reignstart6 = 1039

| reignend6 = 1049

| notes6 = son of Dirk III Hierosolymita; count of Frisia

| family6 = Holland

| image6 = Thierry IV de Hollande.png

| alt6 =

|

| name7 = Floris I

| nickname7 =

| native7 =

| life7 = ca. 1025 - 1061 (ca. 36 years)

| reignstart7 = 1049

| reignend7 = 1061

| notes7 = brother of Dirk IV; regents: Gertrude of Saxony (widow of Floris I), Robert the Frisian (second husband of Gertrude) and Godfrey the Hunchback, Duke of Lower Lorraine; count of Frisia

| family7 = Holland

| image7 = Florent Ier de Hollande.png

| alt7 =

}}

{{Succession table monarch

| name1 = Dirk V

| nickname1 =

| native1 = Dirk V

| life1 = 1054 - 1091 (37 years)

| reignstart1 = 1061

| reignend1 = 1091

| notes1 = son of Floris I; count of Frisia

| family1 = Holland

| image1 = Thierry V de Hollande.png

| alt1 =

|

| name2 = 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; first count who named himself count of 'Holland'

| family2 = Holland

| image2 = Florent II de Hollande.png

| alt2 =

|

| name3 = Dirk VI

| nickname3 =

| native3 = Dirk VI

| life3 = 1114 - 1157 (43 years)

| reignstart3 = 1121

| reignend3 = 1157

| notes3 = son of Floris II

| family3 = Holland

| image3 = Thierry VI de Hollande.png

| alt3 =

|

| name4 = Floris III

| nickname4 =

| native4 = Floris III

| life4 = ca. 1140 - 1190 (ca. 50 years)

| reignstart4 = 1157

| reignend4 = 1190

| notes4 = son of Dirk VI

| family4 = Holland

| image4 = Florent III de Hollande.png

| alt4 =

|

| name5 = Dirk VII

| nickname5 =

| native5 = Dirk VII

| life5 = ca. 1165 - 1203 (ca. 38 years)

| reignstart5 = 1190

| reignend5 = 1203

| notes5 = son of Floris III

| family5 = Holland

| image5 = Thierry VII de Hollande.png

| alt5 =

|

| name6 = Ada

| nickname6 =

| native6 = Ada

| life6 = 1188 - 1223 (35 years)

| reignstart6 = 1203

| reignend6 = 1207

| notes6 = daughter of Dirk VII; ruled together with Louis I; no issues

| family6 = Holland

| image6 = Ada de Hollande.png

|

| name7 = William I

| nickname7 =

| native7 = Willem I

| life7 = 1168 - 1222 (54 years)

| reignstart7 = 1203

| reignend7 = 1222

| notes7 = son of Floris III

| family7 = Holland

| image7 = Guillaume Ier de Hollande.png

| alt7 =

|

| name8 = Floris IV

| nickname8 =

| native8 = Floris IV

| life8 = 1210 - 1234 (24 years)

| reignstart8 = 1222

| reignend8 = 1234

| notes8 = son of William I

| family8 = Holland

| image8 = Florent IV de Hollande.png

| alt8 =

|

| name9 = William II

| nickname9 =

| native9 = Willem II

| life9 = 1227 - 1256 (28 years)

| reignstart9 = 1235

| reignend9 = 1256

| notes9 = son of Floris IV

| family9 = Holland

| image9 = Guillaume II de Hollande.png

| alt9 =

|

| name10 = 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; Floris de Voogd regent and guardian for Floris V (1256–1258)

| family10 = Holland

| image10 = Florent V de Hollande.png

| alt10 =

|

| name11 = John I

| nickname11 =

| native11 = Jan I

| life11 = 1284 - 1299 (15 years)

| reignstart11 = 1296

| reignend11 = 1299

| notes11 = son of Floris V; John III, Lord of Renesse regent for John I (1296-1299); John II, Count of Hainaut inherited the county after John I's death

| family11 = Holland

| image11 = Jean Ier de Hollande.png

| alt11 =

|

}}

{{Succession table monarch

| name1 = 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; a.k.a. count John II of Hainaut

| family1 = Avesnes

| image1 = Jean Ier de Hainaut.png

| alt1 =

|

| name2 = William III

| nickname2 =

| native2 = Willem III

| life2 = 1287 - 1337 (50 years)

| reignstart2 = 1304

| reignend2 = 1337

| notes2 = son of John II

| family2 = Avesnes

| image2 = Guillaume Ier de Hainaut.png

| alt2 =

|

| name3 = William IV

| nickname3 =

| native3 = Willem IV

| life3 = 1307 - 1345 (38 years)

| reignstart3 = 1337

| reignend3 = 1345

| notes3 = son of William III

| family3 = Avesnes

| image3 = Guillaume II de Hainaut.png

| alt3 =

|

| name4 = Margaret I

| nickname4 =

| native4 = Margaretha

| life4 = 1310 - 1356 (45 years)

| reignstart4 = 1345

| reignend4 = 1354

| notes4 = daughter of William III; a.k.a. countess Margaret II of Hainaut

| family4 = Avesnes

| image4 = Marguerite II de Hainaut.png

| alt4 =

}}

{{Succession table monarch

| name1 = William V

| nickname1 =

| native1 = Willem V, Willem van Beieren

| life1 = 1330 - 1389 (58 years)

| reignstart1 = 1349

| reignend1 = 1389

| notes1 = son of Margaret I; a.k.a. duke William I of Bavaria, count William III of Hainaut, count William IV of Zeeland

| family1 = Wittelsbach

| image1 = Guillaume III de Hainaut.png

| alt1 =

|

| name2 = Albert

| nickname2 =

| native2 = Albrecht van Beieren

| life2 = 1336 - 1404 (68 years)

| reignstart2 = 1389

| reignend2 = 1404

| notes2 = son of Margaret I; count of Holland, Hainaut, and Zeeland

| family2 = Wittelsbach

| image2 = Albert de Bavière.png

| alt2 =

|

| name3 = William VI

| nickname3 =

| native3 = Willem VI, Willem van Oostervant

| life3 = 1365 - 1417 (52 years)

| reignstart3 = 1404

| reignend3 = 1417

| notes3 = son of Albert; a.k.a. duke William II of Bavaria-Straubing, count William IV of Hainaut, count William V of Zeeland

| family3 = Wittelsbach

| image3 = Guillaume IV de Hainaut.png

| alt3 =

|

| name4 = Jacqueline

| nickname4 =

| native4 = Jacoba van Beieren

| life4 = 1401 - 1436 (35 years)

| reignstart4 = 1417

| reignend4 = 1433

| notes4 = daughter of 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 = 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 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.

{{Succession table monarch

| name1 = Philip I the Good
(Philippe III le Bon)

| 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

| family1 = Valois-Burgundy

| image1 = Philip the good.jpg

| alt1 =

|

| name2 = Charles I the Bold
(Charles I le Téméraire)

| nickname2 =

| native2 =

| life2 = 1433 - 1477 (43 years)

| reignstart2 = 1467

| reignend2 = 1477

| notes2 = son of Philip I

| family2 = Valois-Burgundy

| image2 = Charles the Bold 1460.jpg

| alt2 =

|

| name3 = Mary I the Rich

| nickname3 =

| native3 =

| life3 = 1457 - 1482 (25 years)

| reignstart3 = 1477

| reignend3 = 1482

| notes3 = daughter of Charles I; countess of Frisia

| family3 = Valois-Burgundy

| image3 = Maître de la Légende de Sainte Marie-Madeleine, Sainte Marie-Madeleine (15–16ème siècle).jpg

| alt3 =

}}

{{Main|House of Habsburg}}

• Maximilian (r. 1482–1494, regent), Holy Roman Emperor, husband of Mary I
• Philip II the Handsome (r. 1494–1506), King Philip I of Castile
• Charles II (r. 1515–1555), Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, King 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 Estates General of the United Provinces declared themselves independent from the Spanish rule of Philip II (who was Philip III of Holland). Until the 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 IV (1598–1621, titular only), King Philip III of Spain
• Philip V (1621–1648, titular only, renounced 1648), King Philip IV of Spain

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.

• A book of 32 plates of the counts of Holland published in Amsterdam in 1663, engraved by Adriaen Matham

• B. K. S. Dijkstra, Een stamboom in been, Amsterdam 1991.

{{Burgundian Circle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holland, Count Of}}

Category:Countships of the Netherlands

Category:Lists of Dutch nobility

Category:Lists of nobility of the Holy Roman Empire