Free and high fief of Zuid-Polsbroek
Encyclopedia
The Free and high Fief
of Zuid-Polsbroek
(Dutch
: "vrije en hoge heerlijkheid
") was a semi-sovereign
or 'free and high' fief, now part of Polsbroek in the Dutch
province of Utrecht
.
, a type of local jurisdiction with many rights. Since 1155 the lords of Polsbroek are able to speak the high
(blood court) middle and low justice over their territory. Zuid-Polsbroek was a half-independent (semi-sovereign) entity of the provinces Holland or Utrecht
, like the larger Barony of IJsselstein to the east. During the late middleages it became unsure if Zuid-Polsbroek belong to the States of Holland
or to the province (unie) of Utrecht
. Polsbroek paid their dutys to the States of Holland. When the French
introduced the municipal system in the Netherlands in 1807, the rights of the heerlijkheid were largely abolished, although the heerlijkheid itself existed until the early 20th century.
The fief of (Zuid-)Polsbroek was first ruled by the Lords of Arkel since the early 11th century. In later years Polsbroek was ruled by the lords of Woerden van Vliet (until 1423), Viscounts of Montfoort (1423-1481/82), Lords of Bergen from the House of Glymes (1481/82 until 1566), the House of Ligne
(from 1566 to 1568) and their following House of Arenberg-Ligne
(from 1568 to 1610). Since 1610 the heerlijkheid was a possession of the regenten
family De Graeff
from Amsterdam
. When the French introduced the municipal system in the Netherlands in 1795, the rights of the heerlijkheid were largely abolished, although the heerlijkheid itself existed until the early 20th century.
Herrschaft (territory)
In the German feudal system, a Herrschaft or Herrlichkeit was the fiefdom of a lord, who in this area exercised his full feudal rights...
of Zuid-Polsbroek
Zuid-Polsbroek
Zuid-Polsbroek was a semi-sovereign or free and high fief , now part of Polsbroek in the Dutch province of Utrecht...
(Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: "vrije en hoge heerlijkheid
Heerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
") was a semi-sovereign
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
or 'free and high' fief, now part of Polsbroek in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
province of Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
.
History of the semisouverain fief
Zuid-Polsbroek, or Polsbroek, was an allodium and a free and high heerlijkheidHeerlijkheid
A heerlijkheid was the basic administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in Dutch-speaking lands before 1800. It originated in the feudal subdivision of government authority in the Middle Ages. The closest English equivalents of the word are "seigniory" and "manor"...
, a type of local jurisdiction with many rights. Since 1155 the lords of Polsbroek are able to speak the high
High Justice
High Justice is a 1974 collection of science fiction short stories by Jerry Pournelle. It was republished in a omnibus edition with Exiles to Glory in 2009 as Exile -- and Glory....
(blood court) middle and low justice over their territory. Zuid-Polsbroek was a half-independent (semi-sovereign) entity of the provinces Holland or Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
, like the larger Barony of IJsselstein to the east. During the late middleages it became unsure if Zuid-Polsbroek belong to the States of Holland
States of Holland
The States of Holland and West Frisia were the representation of the two Estates to the court of the Count of Holland...
or to the province (unie) of Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
. Polsbroek paid their dutys to the States of Holland. When the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
introduced the municipal system in the Netherlands in 1807, the rights of the heerlijkheid were largely abolished, although the heerlijkheid itself existed until the early 20th century.
The fief of (Zuid-)Polsbroek was first ruled by the Lords of Arkel since the early 11th century. In later years Polsbroek was ruled by the lords of Woerden van Vliet (until 1423), Viscounts of Montfoort (1423-1481/82), Lords of Bergen from the House of Glymes (1481/82 until 1566), the House of Ligne
House of Ligne
The House of Ligne is one of the oldest Belgian noble families, dating back to the eleventh century. It s name comes from the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. The lords of Ligne belonged to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the Crusades...
(from 1566 to 1568) and their following House of Arenberg-Ligne
House of Arenberg
The House of Arenberg is an aristocratic lineage that is constituted by three successive families who took their name from Arenberg, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the Eifel. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy...
(from 1568 to 1610). Since 1610 the heerlijkheid was a possession of the regenten
Regenten
In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the regenten were the rulers of the Dutch Republic, the leaders of the Dutch cities or the heads of organisations . Though not formally a hereditary "class", they were de facto "patricians", comparable to that ancient Roman class...
family De Graeff
De Graeff
De Graeff is an old Dutch patrician family. The family have played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam public life and oligarchy from 1578 until 1672...
from Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. When the French introduced the municipal system in the Netherlands in 1795, the rights of the heerlijkheid were largely abolished, although the heerlijkheid itself existed until the early 20th century.
Lords of (Zuid-)Polsbroek
- -1008 Foppe van Arkel
- 1008-1034 Johan I. van Arkel
- 1034-1077 Johan II. van Arkel
- 1077-1115/18 Johan III. van Arkel
- 1115/18-1140 Folpert van Arkel van der Leede
- 1140-1200 Herbaren I. van der Leede
- 1200-1207 Floris Herbaren van der Leede
- 1207-1212 Folpert II. van der Leede
- 1212-1234 Herbaren II. van der Leede van Arkel
- 1234-1255 Johan I. van der Leede
- 1255-1284 Folpert und Pelgrim van der Leede
- 1284-1296 (?) Johan II. van der Leede
- (?) 1296-1299 Wolfert I van Borselen
- -1314 Gerrit van Vliet
- Gerard van Vliet
- -1423 Jan van Woerdern van Vliet
- 1423-1448 Jan II. van Montfoort
- 1448-1459 Hendrik IV. van Montfoort
- 1459-1481/82 Jan III. van Montfoort
- 1482 Michiel van Glymesvan Bergen
- 1482-1509 Maximilian van Glymes van Bergen
- 1509-1533 Cornelis van Glymes van Bergen
- 1533-1566 Maria of Bergen
- 1566-1568 Louis de Ligne
- 1568 Jean de LigneJean de Ligne, Duke of ArembergJean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg was Baron of Barbançon, founder of the House of Arenberg and stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death....
- 1568-1610 Charles de LigneCharles de Ligne, 2nd Prince of ArenbergPrincely Count Charles of Arenberg, duke of Aarschot , baron of Zevenbergen, knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, was the second Princely Count of Arenberg and a leading aristocrat of the Habsburg Netherlands, who served as a courtier, soldier, minister and diplomat.-Background and early...
- 1610-1638 Jacob Dircksz de GraeffJacob Dircksz de GraeffJacob Dircksz de Graeff was one of the most illustrious members of the De Graeff family. He was a powerful member of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam after the political collapse of Reinier Pauw in 1627.In the mid 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, De Graeff controlled...
- 1638-1664 Cornelis de GraeffCornelis de GraeffCornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van Polsbroek was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the sudden death of stadholder William II of Orange...
- 1664-1707 Pieter de GraeffPieter de GraeffPieter de Graeff , was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent during the late 1660s and the early 1670s, and held the titles as Lord of the semi-sovereign Fief Zuid-Polsbroek and 19.th Lord of the Free and high Fief Ilpendam and Purmerland...
- 1707-1714 Johan de GraeffJohan de GraeffJohan de Graeff - Lord of the semisouverain Fief Zuid-Polsbroek and Lord of the castle Ilpenstein - was a member of the De Graeff - family from the Dutch Golden Age.-Life:...
- 1714-1752 Gerrit de Graeff IGerrit de Graeff IGerrit de Graeff van Zuid-Polsbroek was a member of the De Graeff - Family from the Dutch Golden Age...
- 1752-1811 Gerrit de Graeff II
- 1811-1814 Gerrit de Graeff (III.) van Zuid-PolsbroekGerrit de Graeff (III.) van Zuid-PolsbroekGerrit de Graeff van Zuid-Polsbroek was a member of an influential regent family of Amsterdam, who have played an important role in the Dutch Golden Age.-Biographie:...
- 1814-1870 Gerrit de Graeff (IV.) van Zuid-Polsbroek
- 1870-1914 Dirk de Jongh