House of Holland (Gerulfingian dynasty)The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was probably the son of Count Gerulf II of Frisia. He received land around Egmond from Charles the Fat at a place called Bladella (modern: Bladel) in 922. This is seen as the beginning of the county of Holland. However, until about 1100, the usual name of the county was West-Friesland. West Friesland was very different from the area (North and South Holland) of today. Most of the territory was swamp, where nearly nobody lived. The main habitation was in the dunes at the coast and in the river valleys. Gerulf could be a son or grandson of an earlier Gerulf (aka Gerulf I) who was also count in Frisia at the time of emperor Louis I the Pious (fl. 833) and who later became a monk at the monastery of Corvey (d. 855). There is some sketchy evidence that this earlier Gerulf was a son of a certain Theodoric, who was in his turn a desecendant of the Frisian king Redbad (d. 719). Gerulf 'II' was among those counts who assassinated their Viking overlord Godfrith the Sea King at a place called Herespich (modern: Spijk) in 885. .... more |
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