William I the crazy Count of Holland , 11681222 (aged 54 years)

Name
William I // Count of Holland
Given names
William I
Nickname
the crazy
Name suffix
Count of Holland
Name
Willem I /van Holland/
Given names
Willem I
Nickname
de Gek
Surname prefix
van
Surname
Holland
Source citation
Citation details: 376, 377
Source citation
Text:

Genealogie der Graven van Holland, Zaltbommel, 1969 , Dek, Dr. A. W. E., Reference: page 15.

Source citation
Burial

In de Abdij van Rijnsburg

Note

15/150. Willem I van Holland (vernoemd naar de broer van zijn moeder, de
Schotse koning William the Lyon), geb. ca. 1168, groeit waarschijnlijk op in Engeland
en Schotland en neemt van daar uit deel aan de Derde Kruistocht (1189),
ook nadat hij zijn vader in Antiochië heeft begraven; keert pas in 1195 naar Holland
terug, waar hij door zijn broer (Dirk VII) wordt uitgesloten van opvolging,
en met steun van de Westfriezen een strijd begint; wordt na verzoening belast
met het Utrechts-Hollands condominium over Midden-Friesland met als titel
'graaf van Oostergo, van Westergo en in Staveren'; keert tijdens de ziekte van
Dirk VII (overl. 4-11-1203) naar Holland terug, wordt daar geweerd door zijn
schoonzuster, haar dochter Ada en haar schoonzoon graaf Lodewijk II van
Loon; maakt zich in een burgeroorlog (welke nog voortgezet wordt tot 1207/08)
echter meester van de macht in Holland en Zeeland, waar hij in de loop van zijn
regering tal van waterstaatkundige werken tot stand brengt; wordt met Holland
beleend door keizer Otto IV Nijmegen 13-1-1213 en neemt aan de Welfisch-
Engelse zijde deel aan de slag bij Bouvines 27-7-1214, vertrekt om aan een nieuw
proces van Ada en Lodewijk van Loon te ontkomen op kruistocht 29-5-1217;
strijdt in Portugal en mogelijk bij de inname van Damiate (6-11-1219); bezoekt
op de terugreis de hofdag te Mainz van Frederik II april 1220, met wie hij goede
betrekkingen aanknoopt; verkrijgt bij zijn tweede huwelijk (met Maria van
Brabant, weduwe van keizer Otto IV) het toen Brabantse deel van het eiland Tholen
juli 1220, overl. 4-2-1222, begr. Rijnsburg,
tr. (1) Staveren 1197
Aleida van Gelre, geb. ca. 1187, overl. 12-2-1218, begr. Rijnsburg, dr. van Otto I
graaf van Gelre en Zutphen, en Richardis van Scheyern-Wittelsbach.

Note

Willem was born about 1170, the second son of Floris III, Count of Holland, and Aleida of Scotland. When his father died on crusade in 1190 he was succeeded by his eldest son Dirk VII. Willem, who was raised in Scotland, started a revolt against his brother Dirk. After a reconciliation he became count in Friesland, which was considered a part of Holland by the counts of Holland.

In 1198 Willem married Aleida van Gelre, daughter of Otto I, Count of Gelre and Richardis von Scheyern-Wittelsbach. He and Aleida had five children, of who two sons, Floris IV and Otto, had progeny.

On the death of Dirk VII in 1203, his daughter Ada, Willem's niece, inherited the county of Holland in her own right. In November of that year she married Lodewijk II, Count of Loon, to strengthen her position. Willem did not accept her right to the county, and civil war broke out. Willem had the support of the population who resented a woman as their lord, especially when she had apparently so callously married a foreigner when her father had just died. Lodewijk and Ada were supported by the bishops of Liege and Utrecht and the count of Flanders. Willem had the support of the duke of Brabant and the majority of Hollanders.

Ada was quickly captured by Willem's supporters and taken to the citadel of Leiden. She was later taken to England. Lodewijk managed to win Ada's freedom in 1207, but she had to accept the loss of her county in exchange. Ada and Lodewijk did not keep their promise and continued the fight.

The civil war in Holland became part of a major international war between France and the Hohenstaufen dynasty on one side and England and the Welf dynasty on the other. Willem managed to gain the county of Holland through clever manoeuvring between the two sides, and Lodewijk and Ada had to surrender their claims to it.

Willem first became an ally of King John of England. The Welf Emperor Otto IV had acknowledged Willem as count of Holland in 1203, as he was a supporter of the Welfs. However he and many others changed allegiance to the Hohenstaufen Emperor Friedrich II after the coalition of John and Emperor Otto IV was defeated by the French under Philippe II Augustus at the battle of Bouvines on 27 July 1214. Willem took part in a French expedition against King John, who understandably did not approve of this and reminded the pope of Lodewijk's rights to the county of Holland, asking for these rights to be endorsed. The pope obligingly placed the Church's ban on Willem, forbidding him to attend church or even take part in any kind of church service. Possibly to release himself from this ban, Willem became a fervent crusader. He campaigned in Prussia and joined the conquest of Lisbon. In Europe he was called Willem 'the Crazy' for his chivalric behaviour. He was involved in the siege of the city of Damietta in Egypt during the Fifth Crusade.

There was an enormous change in the landscape of Holland in the end of the 12th and during the 13th century. Many colonists bought land to turn the swamps into polders. Most of the swamps had been sold, and irrigation had started during Willem's reign. Huge infrastructure projects were undertaken. Dikes were constructed around the island of Grote Waard, and a dam was built at Spaarndam. New constitutional bodies were created, the 'waterschappen, and 'hoogheemraadschappen', which were meant to protect the polders against the sea. Willem encouraged trade by giving city rights to Middelburg, Dordrecht, Geertruidenberg and possibly also to Leiden.

Willem's first wife Aleida died in 1218, and in 1220 he married Maria of Brabant, daughter of Hendrik I, Duke of Brabant and Mathilde de Boulogne. There was no issue from this marriage.

Willem died on 12 February 1222, and was succeeded by his son Floris IV.

Media object
William I
William I
Media object
William I
William I
 

Great-grandparents

generation +3 relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Biological great-grandparents)

the crazy has 4 great-grandfathers and 4 great-grandmothers recorded (8 in total).

Grandparents

generation +2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandparents)

the crazy has 2 grandfathers and 2 grandmothers recorded (4 in total).

Uncles and Aunts

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one uncle recorded.

Uncles and Aunts by marriage

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one aunt by marriage recorded.

Siblings-in-law of father (1)

Brother Otto IV van Bentheim Graaf van Bentheim

Parents

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological parents)

the crazy has 1 father and 1 mother recorded (2 in total).

Parents-in-law

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 father-in-law and 1 mother-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Co-parents-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 co-father-in-law and 1 co-mother-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Parents-in-law of biological children (2)

Marriage  Floris IV Count of Holland + Machteld of Brabant
2 Mathilde de Boulogne 11691210

Partners

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has 3 female partners recorded.

Partner of the crazy  (3)

1 Aleid van Gelre 11871218
2
3 Marie van Brabant 11891260

Partner chains

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no members of a partner chain recorded.

Siblings

same generation relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Full siblings)

the crazy has one brother recorded.

Siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no siblings-in-law recorded.

Co-siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no co-siblings-in-law recorded.

Cousins

same generation relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Children of full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one male first cousin recorded.

Nephews and Nieces

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Children of full siblings)

the crazy has no nephews or nieces recorded.

Children

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological children)

the crazy has 3 sons and 3 daughters recorded (6 in total).

Children-in-law

generation -1 no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 son-in-law and 1 daughter-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Partners of biological children (2)

Son Floris IV Count of Holland
Daughter [Jutta] van [Holland]

Grandchildren

generation -2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandchildren)

the crazy has 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters recorded (4 in total).

Grandchildren-in-law

generation -2 no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 grandson-in-law and 1 granddaughter-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Summary for the shown extended family

The extended family of the crazy has 40 members (including the crazy). (additional members of the partner chains are not counted)

Great-grandparents

generation +3 relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Biological great-grandparents)

the crazy has 4 great-grandfathers recorded.

Grandparents

generation +2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandparents)

the crazy has 2 grandfathers recorded.

Uncles and Aunts

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one uncle recorded.

Uncles and Aunts by marriage

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has no uncles or aunts by marriage recorded.

Parents

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological parents)

the crazy has one father recorded.

Parents-in-law

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one father-in-law recorded.

Co-parents-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has one co-father-in-law recorded.

Parents-in-law of biological children (1)

Marriage  Floris IV Count of Holland + Machteld of Brabant

Partners

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no partners recorded.

Partner chains

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no members of a partner chain recorded.

Siblings

same generation relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Full siblings)

the crazy has one brother recorded.

Siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no siblings-in-law recorded.

Co-siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no co-siblings-in-law recorded.

Cousins

same generation relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Children of full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one male first cousin recorded.

Nephews and Nieces

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Children of full siblings)

the crazy has no nephews or nieces recorded.

Children

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological children)

the crazy has 3 sons recorded.

Children-in-law

generation -1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one son-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological children (1)

Daughter [Jutta] van [Holland]

Grandchildren

generation -2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandchildren)

the crazy has 2 grandsons recorded.

Grandchildren-in-law

generation -2 no blood relationship

the crazy has one grandson-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological grandchildren (1)

Marriage  William I the crazy Count of Holland + Aleid van Gelre

Summary for the shown extended family

The extended family of the crazy has 20 members (including the crazy). (additional members of the partner chains are not counted)

Great-grandparents

generation +3 relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Biological great-grandparents)

the crazy has 4 great-grandmothers recorded.

Grandparents

generation +2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandparents)

the crazy has 2 grandmothers recorded.

Biological parents of father (1)

Marriage  Dirk VI Count of Holland 1121-1157 + Sophia von Rheineck
1 Sophia von Rheineck 11151176

Biological parents of mother (1)

Marriage  Henry Earl of Huntingdon Earl of Northumberland + Ada de Warrene
1 Ada de Warrene 11251178

Uncles and Aunts

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has no uncles or aunts recorded.

Uncles and Aunts by marriage

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one aunt by marriage recorded.

Siblings-in-law of father (1)

Brother Otto IV van Bentheim Graaf van Bentheim

Parents

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological parents)

the crazy has one mother recorded.

Biological parents (1)

Marriage  Floris III Count of Holland + Aleida of Scotland
1 Aleida of Scotland 11401204

Parents-in-law

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one mother-in-law recorded.

Co-parents-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has one co-mother-in-law recorded.

Parents-in-law of biological children (1)

Marriage  Floris IV Count of Holland + Machteld of Brabant
1 Mathilde de Boulogne 11691210

Partners

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has 3 female partners recorded.

Partner of the crazy  (3)

1 Aleid van Gelre 11871218
2
3 Marie van Brabant 11891260

Partner chains

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no members of a partner chain recorded.

Siblings

same generation relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Full siblings)

the crazy has no siblings recorded.

Siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no siblings-in-law recorded.

Co-siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no co-siblings-in-law recorded.

Cousins

same generation relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Children of full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has no first cousins recorded.

Nephews and Nieces

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Children of full siblings)

the crazy has no nephews or nieces recorded.

Children

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological children)

the crazy has 3 daughters recorded.

Children-in-law

generation -1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one daughter-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological children (1)

Son Floris IV Count of Holland

Grandchildren

generation -2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandchildren)

the crazy has 2 granddaughters recorded.

Grandchildren-in-law

generation -2 no blood relationship

the crazy has one granddaughter-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological grandchildren (1)

Marriage  William I the crazy Count of Holland +

Summary for the shown extended family

The extended family of the crazy has 21 members (including the crazy). (additional members of the partner chains are not counted)

No family available

No family available

Great-grandparents

generation +3 relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Biological great-grandparents)

the crazy has 4 great-grandfathers and 4 great-grandmothers recorded (8 in total).

Grandparents

generation +2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandparents)

the crazy has 2 grandfathers and 2 grandmothers recorded (4 in total).

Uncles and Aunts

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one uncle recorded.

Uncles and Aunts by marriage

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one aunt by marriage recorded.

Siblings-in-law of father (1)

Brother Otto IV van Bentheim Graaf van Bentheim

Parents

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological parents)

the crazy has 1 father and 1 mother recorded (2 in total).

Parents-in-law

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 father-in-law and 1 mother-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Co-parents-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 co-father-in-law and 1 co-mother-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Parents-in-law of biological children (2)

Marriage  Floris IV Count of Holland + Machteld of Brabant
2 Mathilde de Boulogne 11691210

Partners

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has 3 female partners recorded.

Partner of the crazy  (3)

1 Aleid van Gelre 11871218
2
3 Marie van Brabant 11891260

Partner chains

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no members of a partner chain recorded.

Siblings

same generation relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Full siblings)

the crazy has one brother recorded.

Siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no siblings-in-law recorded.

Co-siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no co-siblings-in-law recorded.

Cousins

same generation relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Children of full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one male first cousin recorded.

Nephews and Nieces

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Children of full siblings)

the crazy has no nephews or nieces recorded.

Children

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological children)

the crazy has 3 sons and 3 daughters recorded (6 in total).

Children-in-law

generation -1 no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 son-in-law and 1 daughter-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Partners of biological children (2)

Son Floris IV Count of Holland
Daughter [Jutta] van [Holland]

Grandchildren

generation -2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandchildren)

the crazy has 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters recorded (4 in total).

Grandchildren-in-law

generation -2 no blood relationship

the crazy has 1 grandson-in-law and 1 granddaughter-in-law recorded (2 in total).

Summary for the shown extended family

The extended family of the crazy has 40 members (including the crazy). (additional members of the partner chains are not counted)

No family available

Great-grandparents

generation +3 relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Biological great-grandparents)

the crazy has 4 great-grandfathers recorded.

Grandparents

generation +2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandparents)

the crazy has 2 grandfathers recorded.

Uncles and Aunts

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one uncle recorded.

Uncles and Aunts by marriage

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has no uncles or aunts by marriage recorded.

Parents

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological parents)

the crazy has one father recorded.

Parents-in-law

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one father-in-law recorded.

Co-parents-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has one co-father-in-law recorded.

Parents-in-law of biological children (1)

Marriage  Floris IV Count of Holland + Machteld of Brabant

Partners

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no partners recorded.

Partner chains

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no members of a partner chain recorded.

Siblings

same generation relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Full siblings)

the crazy has one brother recorded.

Siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no siblings-in-law recorded.

Co-siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no co-siblings-in-law recorded.

Cousins

same generation relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Children of full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has one male first cousin recorded.

Nephews and Nieces

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Children of full siblings)

the crazy has no nephews or nieces recorded.

Children

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological children)

the crazy has 3 sons recorded.

Children-in-law

generation -1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one son-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological children (1)

Daughter [Jutta] van [Holland]

Grandchildren

generation -2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandchildren)

the crazy has 2 grandsons recorded.

Grandchildren-in-law

generation -2 no blood relationship

the crazy has one grandson-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological grandchildren (1)

Marriage  William I the crazy Count of Holland + Aleid van Gelre

Summary for the shown extended family

The extended family of the crazy has 20 members (including the crazy). (additional members of the partner chains are not counted)

No family available

Great-grandparents

generation +3 relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Biological great-grandparents)

the crazy has 4 great-grandmothers recorded.

Grandparents

generation +2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandparents)

the crazy has 2 grandmothers recorded.

Biological parents of father (1)

Marriage  Dirk VI Count of Holland 1121-1157 + Sophia von Rheineck
1 Sophia von Rheineck 11151176

Biological parents of mother (1)

Marriage  Henry Earl of Huntingdon Earl of Northumberland + Ada de Warrene
1 Ada de Warrene 11251178

Uncles and Aunts

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has no uncles or aunts recorded.

Uncles and Aunts by marriage

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one aunt by marriage recorded.

Siblings-in-law of father (1)

Brother Otto IV van Bentheim Graaf van Bentheim

Parents

generation +1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological parents)

the crazy has one mother recorded.

Biological parents (1)

Marriage  Floris III Count of Holland + Aleida of Scotland
1 Aleida of Scotland 11401204

Parents-in-law

generation +1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one mother-in-law recorded.

Co-parents-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has one co-mother-in-law recorded.

Parents-in-law of biological children (1)

Marriage  Floris IV Count of Holland + Machteld of Brabant
1 Mathilde de Boulogne 11691210

Partners

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has 3 female partners recorded.

Partner of the crazy  (3)

1 Aleid van Gelre 11871218
2
3 Marie van Brabant 11891260

Partner chains

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no members of a partner chain recorded.

Siblings

same generation relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Full siblings)

the crazy has no siblings recorded.

Siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no siblings-in-law recorded.

Co-siblings-in-law

same generation no blood relationship

the crazy has no co-siblings-in-law recorded.

Cousins

same generation relationship coefficient: 12.5% (Children of full siblings of biological parents)

the crazy has no first cousins recorded.

Nephews and Nieces

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Children of full siblings)

the crazy has no nephews or nieces recorded.

Children

generation -1 relationship coefficient: 50.0% (Biological children)

the crazy has 3 daughters recorded.

Children-in-law

generation -1 no blood relationship

the crazy has one daughter-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological children (1)

Son Floris IV Count of Holland

Grandchildren

generation -2 relationship coefficient: 25.0% (Biological grandchildren)

the crazy has 2 granddaughters recorded.

Grandchildren-in-law

generation -2 no blood relationship

the crazy has one granddaughter-in-law recorded.

Partners of biological grandchildren (1)

Marriage  William I the crazy Count of Holland +

Summary for the shown extended family

The extended family of the crazy has 21 members (including the crazy). (additional members of the partner chains are not counted)

No family available

No family available