William, King of the Romans
Encyclopedia
William II of Holland was a Count
of Holland
and Zeeland
(1235–56). He was elected as German anti-king in 1247 and remained king until his death.
He was the son of Floris IV
and Mathilde of Brabant. When his father was killed at a tournament at Corbie
, William was only seven years old. His uncles William and Otto
(bishop of Utrecht) were his guardians until 1239.
With the help of Henry II, Duke of Brabant
and the archbishop of Cologne, he was elected in 1247 as king of Germany after Emperor Frederick II
was excommunicated. After a siege of five months, he took Aachen
in 1248 from Frederick's followers. Only then could he be crowned as king. He gained a certain amount of theoretical support from some of the German princes after his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Otto the Child, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, in 1252; but, although "William lacked neither courage nor chivalrous qualities... his power never extended beyond the Rhine country."
In his home county, William fought with Flanders
for control of Zeeland
. He made himself (being king of Germany) count of Zeeland. In July 1253, he defeated the Flemish army at Westkapelle
, and a year later a cease-fire followed. His anti-Flemish policy worsened his relationship with France
.
From 1254, he fought a number of wars against the West Frisians
. He build some strong castles in Heemskerk
and Haarlem
and created roads for the war against the Frisians.
Melis Stoke
, a scribe to William's son Floris of Holland
, wrote about his death that, in battle near Hoogwoud
on 28 January 1256, William tried to traverse a frozen lake (by himself, because he was lost), but his horse fell through the ice. In this vulnerable position, William was killed by the Frisians, who secretly buried him under the floor of a house. His body was forcefully recovered 26 years later by his son Floris V, who was only 2 years old when he succeeded his father. William was then buried in Middelburg
. Independent chronicles confirm his death at that time, by failing to jump over a muddy water way during a skirmish. Much of Stoke's writing may have been to justify his employer's deeds and his claim on current-day West Frisia, so that the details of the mishap and subsequent events could be largely legendary.
William gave city rights to Haarlem
, Delft
, 's-Gravenzande
and Alkmaar
. A castle he had built in 1248 was the beginning of the city of The Hague
.
Count of Holland
The Counts of Holland ruled over the County of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century.-House of Holland:The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was the son or foster-son of Gerolf, Count in Frisia...
of Holland
County of Holland
The County of Holland was a county in the Holy Roman Empire and from 1482 part of the Habsburg Netherlands in what is now the Netherlands. It covered an area roughly corresponding to the current Dutch provinces of North-Holland and South-Holland, as well as the islands of Terschelling, Vlieland,...
and Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
(1235–56). He was elected as German anti-king in 1247 and remained king until his death.
He was the son of Floris IV
Floris IV, Count of Holland
Floris IV , Count of Holland from 1222 to 1234. He was a son of William I of Holland and Adelaide of Geldern....
and Mathilde of Brabant. When his father was killed at a tournament at Corbie
Corbie
Corbie is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The small town is situated up river from Amiens, in the département of Somme and is the main town of the canton of Corbie. It lies in the valley of the River Somme, at the confluence of the River Ancre. The town...
, William was only seven years old. His uncles William and Otto
Otto III van Holland
Otto van Holland was a bishop of Utrecht from 1233 to 1249.Otto was the second son of William I, Count of Holland and his first wife Aleid van Gelre. He was chosen as bishop in 1233, but because of resistance from the canons of Utrecht, his consecration was delayed until 1245. He emerged as a...
(bishop of Utrecht) were his guardians until 1239.
Henry II, Duke of Brabant
Henry II of Brabant was Duke of Brabant and Lothier after the death of his father Henry I in 1235...
and the archbishop of Cologne, he was elected in 1247 as king of Germany after Emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
was excommunicated. After a siege of five months, he took Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in 1248 from Frederick's followers. Only then could he be crowned as king. He gained a certain amount of theoretical support from some of the German princes after his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Otto the Child, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, in 1252; but, although "William lacked neither courage nor chivalrous qualities... his power never extended beyond the Rhine country."
In his home county, William fought with Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
for control of Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
. He made himself (being king of Germany) count of Zeeland. In July 1253, he defeated the Flemish army at Westkapelle
Westkapelle
Westkapelle can refer to:* Westkapelle - a place in the municipality of Knokke-Heist in Belgium* Westkapelle - a place in the municipality of Veere in the Netherlands...
, and a year later a cease-fire followed. His anti-Flemish policy worsened his relationship with France
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...
.
From 1254, he fought a number of wars against the West Frisians
West Friesland (historical region)
West Friesland is a historical region in the northern part of the Netherlands. It was located in parts of what now is Noord-Holland and the Waddenzee. The region was bordered by the rivers Vlie and IJ...
. He build some strong castles in Heemskerk
Heemskerk
Heemskerk is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.-Local government:The municipal council of Heemskerk consists of 25 seats, which are divided as follows:* PvdA - 5 seats* CDA - 5 seats* VVD - 5 seats...
and Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
and created roads for the war against the Frisians.
Melis Stoke
Melis Stoke
Melis Stoke was a Dutch writer who lived in the 13th century.-Biography:Melis Stoke was probably born in the Dutch province of Zeeland around 1235...
, a scribe to William's son Floris of Holland
Floris V, Count of Holland
Count Floris V of Holland and Zeeland , "der Keerlen God" , is one of the most important figures of the first, native dynasty of Holland . His life was documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler...
, wrote about his death that, in battle near Hoogwoud
Hoogwoud
Hoogwoud is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Opmeer, and lies about northeast of Heerhugowaard....
on 28 January 1256, William tried to traverse a frozen lake (by himself, because he was lost), but his horse fell through the ice. In this vulnerable position, William was killed by the Frisians, who secretly buried him under the floor of a house. His body was forcefully recovered 26 years later by his son Floris V, who was only 2 years old when he succeeded his father. William was then buried in Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of the province of Zeeland. It is situated in the Midden-Zeeland region. It has a population of about 48,000.- History of Middelburg :...
. Independent chronicles confirm his death at that time, by failing to jump over a muddy water way during a skirmish. Much of Stoke's writing may have been to justify his employer's deeds and his claim on current-day West Frisia, so that the details of the mishap and subsequent events could be largely legendary.
William gave city rights to Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, Delft
Delft
Delft is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland , the Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam and The Hague....
, 's-Gravenzande
's-Gravenzande
s-Gravenzande is a town in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Westland, and lies about 12 km southwest of The Hague. Until 2004 it was a separate municipality and covered an area of 20.77 km² .In 2001, the town of 's-Gravenzande had 15241 inhabitants...
and Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
. A castle he had built in 1248 was the beginning of the city of The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
See also
- Counts of Holland family treeCounts of Holland family treeThis is a family tree of the Counts of Holland from 916 to 1299, when a personal union was formed with the County of Hainaut. After this date, the diagram continues at Counts of Hainaut family tree.-See also:*Holland - Other family trees...