Thierry III of Holland

Thierry III of Holland known as of Jerusalem , born towards 980 and died in 1044, was count into Plank-Western of 995 with 1044. It was wire of Arnould, count into Plank-Western, and of Luitgarde of Luxembourg.

The Comté of Holland bore a different name then, that of Western Plank. It is only at the end of the 11th century that one of its descendants will be entitled count de Hollande . This area then very different from what it is currently, because was invaded by marshes where few people lived. Only the littoral zones of dunes and along the river valleys were inhabited.

Thierry III belonged to the family of Gérulfinges which became then the house of Holland, an important family of the empire of the time. His/her mother, who was regent of the Western Plank from 995 to 1005, was sister-in-law of the emperor Henri II.

Before 1018, Thierry was only one small vassal of Henri II, but its stronghold was a strategic position. Utrecht, located in the delta of the Rhine, was an important commercial city and the merchants were to cross the States of Thierry while following the the Rhine and Vecht to join the the North Sea. The Germanic kings and emperors often resided at Utrecht and Nimègue, and some died there.

the battle of Vlaardingen and its consequences

Thierry III built his power with the battle of Vlaardingen. Not to block the trade, it did not have the right to perceive taxes and tolls in some manner that it was. The traders of the town of Tiel sent messages alarmed to the emperor complaining about violences which were made to them by the soldiers of the count de Hollande. The emperor decided to put an end to the county of Plank and allotted his grounds to the bishop of Utrecht. An imperial army diriga then towards Vlaardingen, but it was beaten there by the forces of Thierry III.

After this victory, the emperor had to recognize in Thierry III the possession of the Western Plank, as well as the right to levy taxation of the trading vessels. After the death of Thierry, the imperial army tried to take again the grounds held by the counts of Frise and succeeds there only partially and temporarily. Thierry V, the grandson of Thierry III, helped of his father-in-law Robert Ier, finishes the reconstitution of the stronghold of its grandfather.

Its nickname attests that Thierry III made a pilgrimage in Holy Land but one is unaware of the date of it.

Marriage and children

He had married Othélandis (993 † 1044), girl of Bernard Ier, margrave de Nordmarck. They had had:

Thierry IV († 1049), count into Plank-Western
Florent Ier (1017 † 1061), count into Plank-Western
Bertrade, married to Thierry, count de Katlenbourg († 1056)
Suanehilde, married to Emmon († 1078) count de Looz

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