Floris van Holland (abt. 1140 - 1190)

Ancestors

Husband of Ada Dunkeld — married 28 Aug 1162 in Scotland

Descendants

Died 1 Aug 1190 at about age 50 in Principality of Antioch

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Clyde Perkins [send private message]

Floris III van Holland was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Biography

Birth

Floris van Holland was born about 1140, the son of Dirk VI, graaf van Holland and Sophie (Rheinbeck), gravin van Rheinbeck, gravin van Bentheim ^[1][2]

Life Events

Around 1140, records hint at the shaping of Floris’s life. Observing the kingdom’s proceedings, he took note of political decisions and property exchanges, like one with Epternach in 1156. Upon his father’s death in 1157, Floris succeeded him, becoming Floris III, graaf van Holland. ^[2]

In 1161, Floris’s diplomatic prowess shone when he brokered peace with the Frisians of Drechterland, ushering in 30 years of tranquility. The subsequent year was eventful: he married Ada of Scotland, allying with the noble family of Henry of Scotland and Ada de Warenne, and generously donated the church of Vlaardingen to the Egmond abbey. Yet, adversity struck in 1167 when he was imprisoned in Bruges, and the West Frisians invaded, reaching Alkmaar. Floris retaliated, expelling the Frisians by 1169, but by 1180, tensions rekindled, prompting further confrontations. ^[2]

Parallelly, Floris grappled with Flanders over Geervliet’s rights. This conflict culminated in his two-year imprisonment. Upon his release in 1168, he acknowledged Philip of Alsace’s overlordship over Zeeland in a treaty, promising the cessation of tolls and refraining from constructing fortifications. Despite these setbacks, Floris’s loyalty was unwavering. He sided with Emperor Friedrich “Barbarossa” at the Battle of Legnano in 1176 and was awarded the imperial toll-post at Geervliet. ^[2]

Floris’s legacy extended through his progeny, with his sons Dirk VII and William I becoming Count of Holland in 1190 and 1203, respectively. ^[2]

Marriage

He married Ada of Scotland, sister of Malcolm IV, King of Scotland. This union briefly honored him with the title of Earl of Ross, though it was later withdrawn. ^[3][2][4]

Children of Floris van Holland and Ada Dunkeld

• Dirk van Holland (Dirk VII, count of Holland), m. 1186, Adelheid von Kleve, dau. of Dietrich IV, Graf von Kleve, and Adelheid von Sulzbach; d. 4 Nov 1203, Dordrecht, bur. Egmond monastery. ^[1][2]
• Willem van Holland (Wilhelm I, count of Holland), succ. 1203, graaf van Holland; d. 4 Feb 1222. ^[1][2]
• Floris van Holland (provost of Utrecht, bishop-elect of Glasgow, chancellor of Scotland), 1198; Monk at Middleburg; d. Dec 1210. ^[1][2]
• Boudewijn van Holland (Baldwin), d. 19 Aug 1204. ^[1][2]
• Robrecht van Holland (Robert, presidium van Kenemarie) ^[1][2]
• Beatrix van Holland ^[1][2]
• Elizabeth van Holland (Elisabeth) d. 27 Aug. ^[1][2]
• Ada van Holland, m. Otto I, Margrave von Brandenburg ^[1] (Margravine von Brandenburg), m. Otto I, poss. m. Otto II Markgraf von Brandenburg; d. after 1205. ^[1][2]
• Margaretha van Holland, m. Dietrich III, Graf von Kleve, son of Dietrich II, Graf von Kleve, and Adelheid von Sulzbach. ^[1][2]
• Hedwig van Holland (Hathewidis), d. 13 Jan, bur. Haarlem. ^[1][2]
• Agnes van Holland (Abbess of Rijnsburg); d. 22 Apr 1228. ^[2]

Death

In 1189, Floris, alongside his son Willem, joined Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa on the Third Crusade. This fateful decision led to Floris's untimely death on 1 Aug 1190 near Antioch, due to disease. His demise was documented in the Chronologia Johannes de Beke, and he was laid to rest in St. Peter's Basilica, "basilica sancti Petri." ^[2][5]

Research Notes

1. Croenen suggests that another daughter is Sofia, the wife of Wouter III Berthout. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), vol. 3, p. 299 HOLLAND 4. Ada of Scotland.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17} Cawley, Charles, Medieval Lands: a Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, (Hereford, UK: Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, 2006, Chapter 2. COUNTS OF HOLLAND [900-1299, DIRK, son of ARNULF Count of Holland, 2. FLORIS I Count of Holland, DIRK III, a) DIRK V, 1. FLORIS of Holland, 1. Dirk VI, FLORIS of Holland.
3. ↑ Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), vol. 4, p. 583.
4. ↑ The Scots Peerage; Founded on Wood’s Edition of Sir Robert Douglas’s Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of That Kingdom. Paul, James Balfour, Sir, Ed. Edinburg: David Douglas (1970), p. 230.
5. ↑ Koch, A. C. F., Dr. Oorkondenboek van Holland en Zeeland tot 1299. Huygens Institute. 's-Gravenhage: Martinus Nihoff (1970), V. 1291 tot 1299, Oorkonde van Holland en Zeeland, citing, “1189 [probably April], Merheim Diederik, archdeacon of the diocese of Liège, declares that Rutger van Merheim...with the cooperation of Count Floris III of Holland has donated to the abbey van Kamp…This donation to Kamp Abbey dates from...when Rutger van Merheim accepted the crusade. Presumably Count Floris III also moved south at that time and was able to cooperate in the donation from Rutger.” 1189 AD; Oorkonde No. 219, p. 375.
6. ↑ Godfried Croenen, Familie en Macht, de familie Berthout en de Brabantse adel, Leuven, 2003, p. 36.

See also:

• Blok, P.J., and P.C. Molhuysen. “[Floris, Van Holland (1)], Nieuw Nederland such Biografisch Woordenboek. Deel 2, P.J. Blok, P.C. Molhuysen.” DBNL (1970), https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/molh003nieu02_01/molh003nieu02_01_0973.php.
• Djr. “Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland.” Resources, Amsterdam: Huygens Institute (2023), https://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/AdavanSchotland.
• Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek (NNBW). Floris III, pp. 445-6, Accessed August 7, 2023. https://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/retroboeken/nnbw/#source=2&page=228&view=imagePane.
• Rolleston, T. W. De Historische Mythen Van Kennemerland. De Annalen van Egmond, Edited by Dr. B. C. Goudsmit. Zutphen: W. J. Thieme (2019), https://ijpelaan.nl/Archief/Kennemerland/Plaats-Egmond-Annalen.html.