HOLLAND, COUNTY AND PROVINCE OF. The first mention of Holland in any document is found in an imperial gift brief dated May 2, 1064. A comparison with other documentary evidence leads to the identification of Holland with the f oresturn Merweda, or the bush-grown fenland lying between the Waal, the old Meuse and the Merwe. It is the district surrounding the town of Dordrecht. A portion of the original Holland was submerged by a great inundation in 1421, and its modern appellation of Bies bosch (reed-forest) is descriptive of what must have been the con dition of the entire district in early times. The title count of Holland appears to have been first borne by the Frisian count Dirk III., who founded Dordrecht (see below). It was not, how ever, till late in the II th century that his successors adopted the style "Hollandensis comes" as their territorial designation, and that the name Holland becomes gradually extended northwards to connote all the land subject to the rule of the counts between Texel and the Maas.
The beginnings of the history of this feudal State centre in the abbey of Egmont in the archives of which its records have been preserved. In 922 Charles the Simple gave in full possession to a count in Frisia, Dirk by name (a shortened form of Diederic, Latin Theodoricus), "the church of Egmont with all that belonged to it from Swithardeshage to Kin hem." This man, usually known as Dirk I., died about 939 and was succeeded by his son of the same name, Dirk II., the founder of the abbey of Egmont. He obtained in 983 from the emperor Otto III., with whom he was in great favour, a considerable ex tension of territory, that now covered by the Zuider Zee and south ward down to Nijmwegen. In other words his rule extended over the whole country from the right bank of the Meuse to the Vlie. He appears also to have exercised authority at Ghent. He died in 988. His elder son Arnulf was count till 993, when he was slain in battle against the west Frisians, and was succeeded by his 12 year-old son Dirk III. In his minority the boy was despoiled of almost all his possessions, except Kennemerland and Maasland. Afterwards he made himself master not only of his ancestral possessions, but of the district on the Meuse known as the Bush land of Merweda (forestum Merweda), hitherto subject to the see of Utrecht. In the midst of this marshy tract, at a point com manding the courses of the Meuse and the Waal, he built a castle (about 1015) and began to levy tolls. Around this castle sprang up the town of Thuredrecht or Dordrecht. The possession of this stronghold was so injurious to the commerce of Tiel, Co logne and the Rhenish towns with England that complaints were made by the bishop of Utrecht and the archbishop of Cologne to the emperor, who commissioned Duke Godfrey of Lorraine to chastise the young Frisian count. Duke Godfrey invaded Dirk's lands with a large army, but was totally defeated with heavy loss (July 29, 1o18). This victory of 1o18 is often regarded as the true starting-point of the history of the county of Holland. Hav ing thus established his rule in the south, Dirk next proceeded to bring into subjection the Frisians in the north. He appointed his brother Siegfrid or Sikka as governor over them. In his later years Dirk went upon a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from which he returned in 1034; and ruled in peace until his death in
His son, Dirk IV., was one of the most enterprising of his war like and strenuous race. His reign was marked by a notable vic tory over an imperial army which had occupied Zeeland (1047). It is in his time that the dispute between the counts of Flanders and Holland for the possession of Zeeland and Walcheren began. In 1049 he was killed in battle against the forces of a coalition headed by the archbishop of Cologne and the bishop of Utrecht. He was succeeded by his brother Floris I., who, like his predeces sors, was hard-fighting and tenacious. He found a formidable adversary in the able and warlike William, who, becoming bishop of Utrecht in 1054, was determined to recover the lost posses sions of his see; and in 1058, in alliance with Hanno, archbishop of Cologne, Egbert, margrave of Brandenburg, the bishop of Liege and others, invaded the Frisian territory. At first success attended the invaders and many places fell into their hands, but finally they were surprised and defeated near Dordrecht. The counts of Guelders and Louvain were among the prisoners that fell into the hands of Floris. The attack was renewed in 1061. In a battle at Nederhemert Floris met with his death in the hour of victory. He was succeeded by his son, Dirk V. a child, under the guardianship of his mother, Gertrude of Saxony. Bishop William seems now to have seized his opportunity and occupied all the territory that he claimed. In this he was confirmed by two charters of the emperor Henry IV. (April 3o and May 2, 1064) . Among the possessions thus assigned to him is found comitatus omnis in Hollandt cum omnibus ad bannum regalem pertinentibus. An examination of these documents shows the possessions of Dirk as in W est flinge et circa oras Rheni, i.e., west of the Vlie and around the mouths of the Rhine. Gertrude and her son appear to have withdrawn to the islands of Frisia (Zeeland), leaving William in undisturbed occupation of the dis puted lands. In 1063 Gertrude contracted a marriage with Robert, the second son of Baldwin V. of Flanders. On his mar riage his father invested him with Imperial Flanders, as an apa nage including the islands of Frisia (Zeeland) west of the Scheldt. He now became guardian to his stepson, in whose inheritance lay the islands east of the Scheldt. Robert thus, in his own right and that of Dirk, was ruler of all Frisia (Zeeland), and thus became known among his Flemish countrymen as Robert the Frisian. On the death of Bishop William of Utrecht (April 17, 1076) Dirk V. with the help of his stepfather Robert recovered the county of Holland and the other lands which the bishop had held. Hence forth the Frisian counts became definitively known as counts of Holland. Dirk V. died in 1091 and was succeeded by his son Floris II. the Fat. This count had a peaceful and prosperous reign of 31 years. After his death (1 1 2 2) his widow, Petronilla of Saxony, governed in the name of Dirk VI., who was a minor. The accession of her half-brother, Lothaire of Saxony, to the imperial throne on the death of Henry V. greatly strengthened her position. The East Frisian districts, Oostergoo and Wester goo, were by Lothaire transferred from the rule of the bishops of Utrecht to that of the counts of Holland (1125). But the Frisian peasants and fishermen were equally refractory to the rule of any distant overlord, and after a rebellion in 1132 they were replaced under the bishop's authority by the emperor Conrad III. (1138). Dirk VI. was succeeded in 11S7 by Floris III.
Floris III. reversed the traditional policy of his house by ally ing himself with the Hohenstaufen. He became a devoted ad herent and friend of Frederick Barbarossa, whom he accom panied upon the third Crusade, of which he was a distinguished leader. He died in 1190 at Antioch of pestilence. His son, Dirk VII., had a stormy, but on the whole successful reign. Contests with the Flemings in West Zeeland and with the West Frisians, stirred up to revolt by his brother William, ended in his favour. The brothers were reconciled and William was made count of East Friesland. In 1202, however, Dirk was defeated and taken prisoner by the duke of Brabant, and had to purchase peace on humiliating terms. He died early in 1204, leaving as his only issue a daughter, Ada, aged 17 years. Her succession was chal lenged by William, count of East Friesland, who became undis puted count of Holland in 1206. He took an active part in the events of his time. He fought by the side of the emperor Otto IV. in the great battle of Bouvines in 1214 (see PHILIP AUGUSTUS), and was taken prisoner. Two years later he accompanied Louis, the eldest son of Philip Augustus, in his expedition against King John of England. William is perhaps best known in history by his part in the fourth Crusade. He distinguished himself greatly at the capture of Damietta (1219), and died in 1222. The earliest charters conveying civic privileges in the county of Holland date from his reign—those of Geertruidenberg (1213) and of Dordrecht (1220). His son Floris IV., being a minor, succeeded him under the guardianship of his maternal uncle, Gerard III. of Gelderland. He maintained in later life close relations of friendship with Gerard, and supported him in his quarrel with the bishop of Utrecht (1224-26). Floris was murdered in 1235 at a tournament at Corbie in Picardy by the count of Clermont. Another long minority followed his death, during which his brother Otto, bishop of Utrecht, acted as guardian to his nephew William II.
William II. became a man of mark. Pope Innocent IV., having deposed the emperor Frederick II., caused the young count of Holland to be elected king of the Romans (1247). William took Aachen in 1248 and was there crowned king; and after Frederick's death in 125o, he had a considerable party in Germany. He was on the point of proceeding to Rome to be crowned emperor, when in an expedition against the West Frisians he perished, going down, horse and armour, through the ice (1256). Like so many of his predecessors he left his inherit ance to a child. Floris V. was but two years old at his father's death ; and he was destined during a reign of 4o years to leave a deeper impress upon the history of Holland than any other of its counts. Floris was a man of chivalrous character and high capacity ; alike in his troubles with his turbulent subjects and in the perennial disputes with his neighbours he pursued a strong, far-sighted and successful policy. But his active interest in affairs was not limited to the Netherlands. He allied himself closely with Edward I. of England, and secured great trading advantages for his people ; the staple of wool was placed at Dort (Dordrecht) and the Hollanders and Zeelanders got fishing rights on the English coast. So intimate did their relations be come that Floris sent his son John to be educated at the court of Edward with a view to his marriage with an English princess. To balance the power of the nobles he granted charters to many of the towns. Floris made himself master of Amstelland and Gooiland ; and Amsterdam, destined to become the chief com mercial town of Holland, counts him the founder of its greatness. Its earliest extant charter dates from 1275. In 1296 Floris forsook the alliance of Edward I. for that of Philip IV. of France, probably because Edward had given support to Guy, count of Flanders, in his dynastic dispute with John of Avesnes, count of Hainaut, Floris's nephew (see FLANDERS). Shortly afterwards a conspiracy of disaffected nobles was formed against . him, and he was basely murdered in the castle of Muiden (June 27, 1296) . The burghers and people, who knew him to be their best friend, took such vengeance on his slayers as permanently to reduce the power of the nobles.
With his son, John I. (1296-99), husband of Eleanor, daughter of Edward I., the first line of counts ended after a rule of nearly 400 years. Europe has perhaps never seen an abler series of princes than these 14 lineal descendants of Dirk I. Excepting the last, there is not a weak man among them. Physically hand some and strong, model knights of the days of chivalry, hard fighters, wise statesmen, they were born leaders of men; always ready to advance the commerce of the country, they were the supporters of the growing towns, and likewise the pioneers in the task of converting a land of marshes and swamps into a fertile agricultural territory rich in flocks and herds. As individuals they had their failings, but one and all were worthy members of a high-souled race.
The first count of the new line, who took the title of John II., was the son of John of Avesnes, count of Hainaut, and Alida, sister of William II. of Holland. On his succession the Zeelanders were hostile, and a long struggle ensued before his authority was generally recognized. In 1301 Bishop William of Utrecht invaded Amstelland, but was killed in battle. John made use of his victory to secure the election of his brother Guy as bishop in his place. A war with the Flemings followed, in which the Flemings were at first victorious, but after a struggle of many vicissitudes they were at length driven out of Holland and Zeeland in 1304. John II. died in that year and was succeeded by his son William III., surnamed the Good (1304 37). In his reign the long-standing quarrel with Flanders was finally settled by the treaty of 1323, by which the full possession of West Zeeland was granted to William, who on his part re nounced all claim in Imperial Flanders. The Amstelland with its capital, Amsterdam, which had hitherto been held as a fief of Utrecht, was by William, on the death of his uncle Bishop Guy, finally annexed to Holland. This count did much to encourage civic life and to develop the resources of the country. He had close relations through marriage with the three principal European dynasties of his time. His wife was Jeanne of Valois, niece of the French king; in 1323 the emperor Louis the Bavarian wedded his daughter Margaret ; and in 1328 his third daughter, Philippa of Hainaut, was married to Edward III. of England. By their alliance William III. occupied a position of much dignity and influence, which he used to further the interests of his hereditary lands. He was in all respects a great prince and a wise and prudent statesman. He was succeeded by his son, William IV., who was the ally of his brother-in-law, Edward III., in his French wars. He was killed in battle against the Frisians in 1345. He left no children, and the question as to the succession now brought on Holland a period of violent civil commotions. His inheritance was claimed by his eldest sister, the empress Margaret, as well as by Philippa of Hainaut, or in other words, by Edward III. of England. Margaret came in person and was duly recognized as countess in Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut; but returned to her husband after appointing her second son, Duke William of Bavaria, as stadholder in her place. In
Margaret was induced to resign her sovereignty, and the stad holder became count under the title of William V. This was the time of the formation of the famous parties in Holland, known as Kabbeljauws (Cods) and Hoeks (Hooks) ; the former, the burgher party, were the supporters of William, the latter the party of the disaffected nobles, who wanted to catch and devour the fat burgher fish. The struggle between the nobles and the cities broke out into civil war. In 135o the nobles invited Mar garet to return to Holland. Edward III. came to her aid, winning a sea-fight off Veere in 1351; a few weeks later the Hooks and their English allies were defeated by William and the Cods at Vlaardingen—an overthrow which ruined Margaret's cause. Edward III. shortly afterwards changed sides, and the empress saw herself compelled (13 54) to come to an understanding with her son, he being recognized as count of Holland and Zeeland, she of Hainaut. Margaret died two years later, leaving William, who had married Matilda of Lancaster, in possession of the entire Holland-Hainaut inheritance (July 1356). But bef ore the close of 1357 he showed such marked signs of insanity that his wife, with his own consent and the support of both parties, invited Duke Albert of Bavaria, younger brother of William V., to be regent, with the title of Ruward (1358). William lived in con finement for 31 years. Albert died in 1404, having ruled the land well and wisely for 46 years, first as Ruward, then as count. He was succeeded by his son, William VI., in 1404. On his accession to power William upheld the Hooks, and secured their ascendency. His reign was much troubled with civil discords, but he was a brave soldier, and was generally successful in his enterprises. He died in 1417, leaving an only child, a daughter, Jacqueline (or Jacoba), who had in her early youth been married to John, heir to the throne of France.
At a gathering held at The Hague (Aug. 15, 1416) the nobles and representatives of the cities of Holland and Zeeland had promised at William's request to support his daughter's claims to the succession. But John of France died (April 1417), and William VI,. about a month later, leaving the widowed Jacqueline at 17 years of age face to face with a difficult situation. She was at first welcomed in Holland and Zeeland, but found her claims opposed by her uncle, John of Bavaria, supported by the Cod party. Every one from whom she might have expected help betrayed her in turn, her second husband John IV. of Brabant, her third husband Hum phrey of Gloucester, her cousin Philip the Good of Burgundy, all behaved shamefully to her. Her romantic and sad life has rendered the courageous and accomplished Jacqueline the most picturesque figure in the whole history of Holland. She struggled long against her powerful kinsfolk, nor did she know happiness till near the end of her life, when she abandoned the unequal strife, and found repose with Francis of Borselen, Ru ward of Holland, her fourth husband. Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, craftily seized him, and thereby in
the duchess Jacqueline was compelled to cede her rights over the counties of Holland and Hainaut. Consequently at her death in 1436, as she left no children, Philip succeeded to the full and undisputed possession of her lands. Now, with the extinction of the Bavarian line of counts, Holland ceased to have an independent existence and became an outlying province of the growing Burgundian power (see BURGUNDY). Holland during this time contented herself with growing material prosperity. Her herring fishery, rendered more valuable by the curing process discovered or introduced by Benkelszoon, brought her increasing wealth, and her fishermen were already laying the foundations of her future maritime greatness. It was in the days of Duke Philip that Lorenz Koster of Haarlem contributed his share to the discovery of printing. During the reign of Charles the Bold (5467-77) the Hollanders, like the other subjects of that warlike prince, suffered much from the burden of taxation. They were much aggrieved by the establishment of a high court of justice for the entire Netherlands at Mechlin (1474) which was regarded as a serious breach of their privileges. The succession of Mary of Burgundy led to the granting to Holland, as to the other provinces of the Netherlands, of the Great Privilege of March 1477, which restored the most important of their ancient rights and liberties (see NETHERLANDS). A high court of justice was established for Holland, Zeeland and Friesland, and the use of the native lan guage was made official.
