Kingdoms of the Netherlands


The Netherlands / Low Countries / Holland The oldest traces of the Frisian population (proto-Frisians) in the Low Countries date back to the end of the Bronze Age in 700 BC, which makes the Frisians one of the oldest still-surviving tribes in Europe. Their origin in circa 1000 BC probably lies in southern Scandinavia, along with the other Germanic peoples. The coastal area around Friesland (Zwin, near Sluis in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, and Weser, Bremen) was initially ruled after the collapse of the Roman Empire by local Frisian leaders. During this turmoil smaller tribes in the Low Countries, like the Canninifates and the Batavians, merged with the bigger tribe of the Frisians, while some communities joined the Jutish/Saxon migration to southern Britain. (King lists and detailed additional notes from AD 839 onwards by Dirk van Duijvenbode.) EXTERNAL LINK: List of Dutch Sovereigns

Pre-Roman Frisia This region comprised the coastal area around the upper Netherlands, eastwards to the mouth of the Weser. The western half, which became known as West Frisia, emerged as a distinct region during the feuds of the thirteenth century AD, and evolved into the modern Netherlands. The remainder was then distinguished as East Frisia and was essentially German in character. The list is legendary until the advent of the Roman Empire (names backed in lilac). Before Charlemagne's rule, it remains uncertain. It was from this coastal strip that the combined Saxon and Frisian settlers headed for the southern shores of Britain in the fifth and sixth centuries. The language of the remaining population is still very closely linked to modern English.
? - 2194 BC	Frya		Traditional founder of the Frisian Commonwealth.


Frisian Folk Mothers
2194 - 2145? BC	Fasta
	Medea
	Thiania
	Hellenia

c.2013 BC	Minna

1631 - ? BC	Rosamond
c.1621 BC	Hellicht

? - 590 BC	Frana
590 - 559 BC	Adela		De facto ruler.
590 - 306 BC	After Frana, the authority of the folk mothers collapses. A period of division follows, with no clear Frisian rulers apparent.
306 - c.270 BC	Gosa		Eventually ruled jointly with the first king of Frisia.


Kings of Frisia (Friso)
304 - 264 BC	Adel I Friso		De facto king.
264 - ? BC	Adel II Atharik

? - 70 BC	Adel III Ubbo
70 BC - AD 11	Adel IV Asinga Ascon
c.60 BC	Prontlik		Folk Mother appointed by Adel IV.
AD 11 - 15	Diocarus Segon
15 - 28	Dibbald Segon
28	The Frisii on the Lower Rhine are driven to revolt against the Roman Empire by excessively zealous tax collection.
28 - 47	Tabbo
47	Frisia is appended to the Roman Empire. It is classified as a client state.
47 - 58	Asconius		Client king.
47 - 58	Adelbold		Client king.
58	Titus Boiocalus		Anti-Roman usurper.
58	Frisia is re-classified as an allied state of the Roman Empire.


Kings of Frisia (Ubbo)
58 - 70	Ubbo
70 - ?	Haron Ubbo

	Odilbald

? - 286	Udolph Haron


Kings of Frisia / Friesland (Offo) The Frisians were bordered to the north-east by the Saxon tribes which began forming a state of their own after the departure of the Romans. Many Saxon groups were accompanied by Frisians when they emigrated to Britain in the fifth to early seventh centuries.
286 - ?	Richold I Offo
	Odilbold
	Richold II
	Beroald
	Folcwald
? - c.448	Finn
c.448	Hn�f of the Danes is killed at the Fight at Finnesburg in Frisia, as is Finn's eldest son. Finn is subsequently killed by Hengist, Hn�f's Anglian comrade in arms, and his Danish wife, Hildeburh, is returned to her people. Soon afterwards, Hengist leads his people to Britain where he begins the conquest of Kent.

? - 677	Eadgils I
679 - 689	Redbad / Radboud
689 - 719	Friesland is conquered by the Frankish Merovingian Empire. Redbad continues to resist until his death. The Franks partition the area into three regions: Eastern Friesland (between the rivers Lauwers and Weser - later part of Germany); Middle Friesland (between Vlie and Lauwers); and West Friesland (everything west of the Vlie (the important sea arm, essentially for trading places like Dorestad) - the modern Netherlands).
719 - 734	Eadgils II (or Poppo)
734	The Merovingian Empire takes full control. The final two kings are either puppets or Merovingian administrators.
734 - 777	Gundebold (or Poppo)
777 - 806	Radbold II (or Dirk)
800	The East Francian section of the empire inherits Frisia. Frisia remains officially attached to Germany until the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. The ruling house is demoted to the rank of count.


Counts of Friesland (House of Fries)
839 - 856	Gerulf I
885 - 889	Gerulf II


Counts of West-Frisia (House of Holland) Ruled locally in the name of the Archbishop of Utrecht, himself governing the area on behalf of the Holy Roman Emperor. Frisia was at this time the whole coastal area from Flanders to the Danish border, including Utrecht. Count Dirk's territory corresponds roughly with the present day provinces of South and North Holland.
916 - 928	Dirk I
928 - 988	Dirk II		m.Hildegard of Flanders. First Count of West-Frisia (964).
988 - 993	Arnhulf / Aernhoud of Ghent
993 - 1039	Dirk III Hierosolymitas
1039 - 1049	Dirk IV		Son of Dirk III.
1049 - 1061	Floris I		Son of Dirk III.
1061 - 1076	When Floris I dies, his widow, Gertrude, governs West-Frisia as regent, until Dirk V can accede to the title of Count of Holland.


Counts of Holland (House of Holland) The name 'Holland' only came in use around the year 1100. Before that the region was recognised universally as Western Frisia.
1061 - 1091	Dirk V		Son of Floris I of West-Frisia & Gertrude of Saxony.
1061 - 1064		Geertruida / Geertrui of Saxony	Countess / Gravin. Wife of Floris I. m.Robert of Flanders.
1064 - 1074		Robert of Flanders / Robrecht de Fries	m.Gertrude. Count of Flanders (1071-1093).
1074 - 1076		Govert met de Bult	House of Lotharingia.
1091 - 1121	Floris II de Vette (Fat)		Son.
c.1100	The old line of counts had by now become extinct, and internecine feuding erupts, and continues until the region is invaded by Spanish imperial troops at the end of the fifteenth century.
1122 - 1157	Dirk VI		Son.
1157 - 1190	Floris III		Son.
1190 - 1203	Dirk VII		Son.
1203	Ada		Countess / Gravin. Dau.
1203 - 1222	William I		Son of Floris III.
1222 - 1234	Floris IV		Son.
1234 - 1256	William II		Son. Rival for the Holy Roman Empire (1247-1256).
1256 - 1296	Floris V		Son.
1277	The separation of East Frisia from West Frisia had been de facto during the internecine feuding of the thirteenth century. The division becomes permanent when the Dollart Estuary, at the mouth of the Elms, is flooded. A line of independent counts is established there by 1400.
1296 - 1299	Jan / John I		Son. No heir.
1299	Aleid, younger sister of William II, marries Jan of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut, in 1246. Their son becomes Jan II of Holland.


Counts of Holland-Hennegau (House of Avesnes)
1299 - 1304	Jan II of Avesnes		Count of Hennegau (1280). Grandson of Margaret I of Flanders.
1304 - 1337	William III de Goede		Son.
1337 - 1345	William IV		Son.
1345 - 1349	Margaret / Margaratha of Beieren		Countess / Gravin. Dau of William III. m.Louis IV the Bavarian.
1349	William, son of Margaret and Louis IV of Bavaria, becomes William V of Holland. Hennegau ceases to be used in the title.


Counts of Holland (House of Beiers) The Beiers ruled in West Frisia only. An independent line of counts became established in East Frisia which had been divided from the west since the flooding of the Dollart Estuary in 1277, and the region eventually became part of Germany.
1349 - 1389	William V		Son of Margaret.
1389 - 1404	Albert / Albrecht		Son of Margaret.
1404 - 1417	William VI		Son. m.Margaret of Burgundy (1385).
1417 - 1433	Jacoba / Jacqueline		Countess / Gravin. Dau. No heir. d.1436.
1417 - 1424		William	John IV, Duke of Brabant (1415-1427). m.Jacoba.
1433	With the remarriage of Jacoba to the English Henry of Gloucester, the title passes to the dukes of Burgundy.


Counts of Holland (House of Burgundy)
1433 - 1467	Philip I the Good		Duke of Burgundy.
1467 - 1477	Charles I the Bold (Karel I de Stoute)		Duke of Burgundy.
1477 - 1482	Mary of Burgundy (Maria de Rijke)		Duchess of Burgundy.
1482	Mary of Burgundy marries Maximilian of Habsburg in 1477. The County of Holland passes to the Habsburg counts.


Counts of Holland (House of Habsburg)
1482 - 1494	Maximilian of Habsburg		Became HRE Emperor (1493). Passed Holland to his son.
1494 - 1506	Philip II de Schone		Became King Philip I of Castille (1504).
1506 - 1515	Maximilian		Regent for Charles II. HRE (1493-1519).
1515 - 1555	Charles II / Karel II		Grandson of Maximilian. Charles I of Spain (1516-1556).
1555 - 1581	Philip III		Philip II of Spain (1556-1598). Deposed by the Dutch.
1555 - 1581	While the Habsburgs rule Holland from Spain, the House of Orange rises to prominence in Holland itself as Stadhouders (viceroys), holding the title of prince. The absent Habsburgs are eventually thrown out during a Dutch revolt.


Stadhouder Princes of Holland (House of Orange)
1463 - 1475	William VII of Chalon		Prince of Orange.
1475 - 1502	Jean II of Chalon		Prince of Orange.
1502 - 1515	Claudia of Chalon & Orange		Dau. m.Hendrik III of Nassau (1515).
1515 - 1538	Hendrik of Nassau		Count of Nassau. Prince of Orange.
1538 - 1544	Ren� of Chalon		Son. Count of Nassau. Prince of Orange.
1544 - 1555	William the Silent of Chalon		Nephew. Count of Nassau. Prince of Orange.
1555	The Princes of Orange play no part in Dutch history until this year. William I, Count of Nassau, Prince of Orange (born in Nassau), is officially proclaimed Stadhouder of the counties of Holland and Zeeland & the diocese of Utrecht by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The Princes of Orange now rule in the name of the absent Spanish Count of Holland, Philip III (King Phillip II of Spain).
1555 - 1584	William I the Silent (de Zwijger)		Led revolt against Spanish Habsburgs. Assassinated 10 July.
1568 - 1648	The War of Liberation against the Spanish Habsburgs ends with the M�nster (Westphalia) peace treaty. Europe recognises the independence of the Netherlands.
1581	The Habsburgs are thrown out of the Netherlands. William, who remains Stadhouder, now governs Holland along with the Staten Generaal (the representatives of the seven provinces). The Netherlands is officially declared a republic. The Staten-Generaal continues to select members of the House of Orange to govern the Netherlands as Stadhouder (even though there is no longer any monarch). They are kings in all but name.
1585 - 1625	Maurits / Maurice		Son.
1625 - 1647	Frederick Henry		Son of William I.
1641	The Dutch become allied to the African Congo Kingdom as the latter attempt to dislodge the Portuguese slave traders.
1647 - 1650	William II
1650 - 1672	Eerste Stadhouderloze Tijdperk (The First Stadhouderless Era). William III is born eight days after his father's death. As William III is too young to rule, and there is no other Orange to select, the Staten-Generaal do not select a stadhouder at all. In 1672, several nations declare war on the Netherlands and the people plead for an Orange to lead them.
1672 - 1702	William III		Son. William III of England (1689-1702). No heir.
1702 - 1747	Tweede Stadhouderloze Tijdperk (The Second Stadhouderless Era). No Stadhouder is elected by the Staten-Generaal. In 1747, the French invade and again, the Staten-Generaal popularly elect an Orange to lead the country. A remote cousin of William III's, William of Nassau, Stadhouder of Friesland, is elected to the post. In honour of his predecessors he takes the name "Orange-Nassau" (the Principality of Orange had been returned to France with the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, but the title had stayed with the Dutch).


Stadhouder Princes of Holland (House of Orange-Nassau) The elected title of stadhouder was changed to erfstadhouder (hereditary stadhouder: "erf" or "erven" = "inherit"). The Netherlands remained a republic until the French conquest of 1795.
1747 - 1751	William IV Friso		Stadhouder of Friesland (now one of the seven provinces).
1751 - 1795	William V the Batavian		Declared war on France (1793). Fled to England (1795).
1795 - 1806	The country is conquered by the French Republic and is renamed the Batavian Republic (Baatafsche Republiek), modelled on the French system.
1806 - 1810	The French-controlled Kingdom of Holland is created.


Kingdom of Holland (Bonaparte) The French-controlled Kingdom of Holland is created by Napoleon Bonaparte. He places one of his brothers on the throne.
1806 - 1810	Louis Bonaparte		Brother of Napoleon.
1810	Napoleon throws his brother out of office and draws Holland directly into the French Empire.
1810 - 1813	Napoleon Bonaparte		Emperor of France.
1813	Napoleon is forced out of Germany and greatly weakened in Holland. William I raises Dutch forces as part of the British-led Allied Army.


Kingdom of the Netherlands (House of Orange-Nassau)
1813 - 1840	William I		Son of Prince William V. Sovereign of Holland 1813-1815.
1815	By the power of the Congress of Vienna, William is elevated to the status of king to rule the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, incorporating Holland and Belgium. He is also made Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
1830	Belgium splits from Dutch rule and the following year proclaims its own kingdom. The country shortens its name to Kingdom of the Netherlands.
1840	William abdicates and three years later dies in Berlin.
1840 - 1848	William II		Son. Nicknamed Little Frog by British in the Peninsula War.
1849 - 1890	William III		Son. His own sons predeceased him.
1890	Under Salic Law, The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg cannot be ruled by a woman, so it is granted to a distant relative of William III's.
1890 - 1948	Wilhelmina		Queen. Dau. m.Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
1940 - 1945	Wilhelmina and the Dutch Government flee to London to escape the Nazi clutches, and proclaim a Dutch Government in Exile.
1948	Wilhelmina abdicates to make way for her daughter, Juliana.
1948 - 1980	Juliana		Queen. Dau. m.Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld.
1948 - 2004	Juliana becomes known as the Bicycling Queen, due to her fondness for cycling alone in public in the days before heavy personal security. Juliana abdicates in 1980 in favour of her daughter and remains Princess Juliana until her death on 19 March 2004 from pneumonia.
1980 - Present	Beatrix		Queen. Dau. m.Claus von Amsberg.
	Alexander / William-Alexander / William IV		Heir. m.Argentinean M�xima Zorreguieta on 2 Feb 2002.

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