William I of Holland
| William I of Holland | |
|---|---|
| Count of Holland | |
William I as imagined in the 16th century
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| Reign | 1203 – 4 February 1222 |
| Predecessor | Ada |
| Successor | Floris IV |
| Born | ca. 1167 The Hague |
| Died | February 4, 1222 |
| Burial | Rijnsburg |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
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| Father | Floris III |
| Mother | Ada of Huntingdon |
William I (c. 1167 – 4 February 1222), Count of Holland from 1203 to 1222. He was the younger son of Floris III and Ada of Huntingdon.
William was born in The Hague, but raised in Scotland. He started a revolt against his brother, Dirk VII and became count in Friesland after a reconciliation. Friesland was considered as a part of Holland by the Counts of Holland. His niece, Ada, Countess of Holland inherited Holland in 1203, but William couldn't accept this. After a war of succession, known as the Loon War (1203–1206), William won the county. Ada and her husband, Louis II, were supported by the bishop of Liège and bishop of Utrecht, and the count of Flanders. William was supported by the duke of Brabant and by the majority of the Hollanders.
Emperor Otto IV acknowledged him as count of Holland in 1203, because he was a supporter of the Welfs. He and many others changed allegiance to emperor Frederick II after the battle of Bouvines in 1214. He took part in a French expedition against king John of England. The pope excommunicated him for this.
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