European Kingdoms

Counts of West-Frisia (House of Holland) (Netherlands) (Low Countries)
AD 916 - 1061

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Succeeding the counts of Friesland in the Low Countries, the counts of West-Frisia ruled locally in the name of the archbishop of Utrecht, who himself governed the area on behalf of the Holy Roman Emperor. Frisia consisted at this time of 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

928 - 988

m Hildegard of Flanders. First Count of West-Frisia (964).

962

With the accession of the Saxon king, Otto I, the power of the Germanic Roman empire is confirmed. Otto is quite vigorous in establishing new counties and border areas within and without the empire's borders. The county of Ardennes under Sigfried gains the stronghold of Lucilinburhuc (the later Luxemburg), Arnulf I the Elder is restored in Flanders, and the March of Austria is formed from territory which has already been captured from early Hungary (around 960).

Germany in AD 962 may have had its new emperor to govern those territories which are shown within the dark black line, but it was still a patchwork of competing interests and power bases (click or tap on map to view full sized)

At the same time, Saxony gains Hermann Billung as its duke, charged with maintaining the duchy's eastern borders and expanding them further to the east, alongside the recently-created North March. Perhaps as a reaction to this or as the culmination of a process that is already heading that way, the duchy of Poland is formed around the same time.

988 - 993

993 - 1039

m Othelindis, dau of Bernard I of Saxony.

1039 - 1049

Son of Dirk III. Killed in battle.

1046 - 1049

Dirk has continued his father's policy of expanding his territorial possessions around the low-lying peat districts of Holland and Utrecht. As a result he has come into conflict with the bishop of Utrecht, along with other bishops and monasteries. The Holy Roman empire's Henry III personally leads an expedition against him in 1046, forcing Dirk to relinquish some of his gains.

Almost immediately after the emperor departs, Dirk begins plundering the lands of the bishops of Utrecht and Liège. The emperor returns in 1047 to destroy the stronghold at Rijnsburg, but is over-confident. His forces suffer heavy losses on their retreat, so Dirk's allies rise up in open revolt. On 13 January 1049 Dirk is ambushed and killed near Dordrecht by a force which is led by Bishop Theodwin of Liège, along with elements of Utrecht and Metz.

1049 - 1061

Son of Dirk III.

1061

When Floris I dies, his widow, Gertrude, initially governs West-Frisia as regent, until Dirk V can accede to the title of count of Holland.