Floris the Black
Encyclopedia
Floris the Black was a rebel count of Holland
in the 1120s and 1130s, against the claim of his brother Dirk
.
Floris openly revolted against his brother Dirk and was from 1129 to 1131 recognized as Count of Holland by, amongst others, King Lothair
and Andreas of Kuyk
, Bishop of Utrecht. After March 1131 Dirk again appears as count of Holland alongside him, the brothers apparently having reached an agreement. Only a few months later, however, in August 1131, Floris accepted an offer from the West-Frisians
to become lord of their entire territory, which reignited the conflict with his brother. After this the people from Kennemerland
joined the revolt as well. A year later, in August 1132, King Lothair intervened and managed to reconcile the brothers. This did not pacify the Frisians however, who continued their revolt, which was nonetheless eventually suppressed. Later that year, on 26 October Floris was ambushed near Utrecht
and murdered by Herman and Godfried of Kuyk, leaving Dirk to rule the county on his own. King Lothair punished this act by having Herman and Godfried's castle razed and banishing the two. Floris was buried at Rijnsburg Abbey.
Count of Holland
The Counts of Holland ruled over the County of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century.-House of Holland:The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was the son or foster-son of Gerolf, Count in Frisia...
in the 1120s and 1130s, against the claim of his brother Dirk
Dirk VI, Count of Holland
Dirk VI of Holland was Count of Holland between 1121 and 1157, at first, during his minority, under the regency of his mother Petronilla. He was the son of Count Floris II. After his death he was succeeded by his eldest son Floris III. He married Sofie of Salm, Countess of Rheineck and Bentheim...
.
Floris openly revolted against his brother Dirk and was from 1129 to 1131 recognized as Count of Holland by, amongst others, King Lothair
Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor
Lothair III of Supplinburg , was Duke of Saxony , King of Germany , and Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 to 1137. The son of Count Gebhard of Supplinburg, his reign was troubled by the constant intriguing of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia and Duke Conrad of Franconia...
and Andreas of Kuyk
Andreas van Cuijk
Andries or Andreas van Cuijk was a bishop of Utrecht from 1128 to 1139.Andries descended from a well-known family from the Sticht, the name for the central lands of the Bishopric of Utrecht...
, Bishop of Utrecht. After March 1131 Dirk again appears as count of Holland alongside him, the brothers apparently having reached an agreement. Only a few months later, however, in August 1131, Floris accepted an offer from the West-Frisians
West Friesland (historical region)
West Friesland is a historical region in the northern part of the Netherlands. It was located in parts of what now is Noord-Holland and the Waddenzee. The region was bordered by the rivers Vlie and IJ...
to become lord of their entire territory, which reignited the conflict with his brother. After this the people from Kennemerland
Kennemerland
Kennemerland is a region in the Netherlands, near the coast in the province of North Holland. In includes the sand dunes north of the North Sea Canal, as well as the dunes of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park.-History:...
joined the revolt as well. A year later, in August 1132, King Lothair intervened and managed to reconcile the brothers. This did not pacify the Frisians however, who continued their revolt, which was nonetheless eventually suppressed. Later that year, on 26 October Floris was ambushed near Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
and murdered by Herman and Godfried of Kuyk, leaving Dirk to rule the county on his own. King Lothair punished this act by having Herman and Godfried's castle razed and banishing the two. Floris was buried at Rijnsburg Abbey.