Home > William II, Count of Holland

William II of Holland, (February 1228- 28 January 1256), was a count of Holland (1235-1256) and king of Germany (1247-1256). He was the son of Floris IV and Aleid van Gelre.

When his father was killed at a tournament at Corbie, William was only seven years old. His uncles William and Otto ( bishop of Utrecht) were his guardians until 1239.

With the help of Henry II, Duke of Brabant and the archbishop of Cologne, he was elected in 1247 as king of Germany after Emperor Frederick II was excommunicated. After a siege of five months, he took Aachen in 1248 from Frederick's followers. Only then could he be crowned as king. Many of the German princes recognized his claim only after his marriage to Elizabeth of Brunswick in 1252.

In his home county, William fought with Flanders for control of ZeelandFor the U. towns of the same name see Zeeland, Michigan and Zeeland, North Dakota respectively. Netherlands Zeeland is a province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands (hence its name '.In July 1253Events Liepja, Latvian city, founded by fishermen. Sligo Abbey built in Sligo, Ireland Births July 6, Mindaugas crowned as King of Lithuania. Deaths October 9 Robert Grosseteste, English statesman and theologian. Monarchs/Presidents Aragon James I King of, he defeated the Flemish army at WestkapelleWestkapelle is a town in Knokke-Heist, a part of Belgium. See also West Flanders External link Belgian towns., and a year later a cease-fire followed.

From 1254Events December 2 Manfred of Sicily defeats army of Pope Innocent IV at Foggia. Theodore II Lascaris succeeds John III Ducas Vatatzes as Byzantine emperor. Byzantines defeat Bulgarians at Adrianople. Alkmaar granted city rights. Births Marco Polo, Venetia, he fought a number of wars against the FrisiansThe Roman historian Tacitus, in his Germania mentioned the Frisians among people he grouped together as the Ingvaeones. Their territory followed the coast of the North Sea from the mouth of the Rhine river up to that of the Ems, their eastern border accor. In a battle near Hoogwoud on January 28January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 337 days remaining (338 in leap years). Events 1521 Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. 1547 Edward VI becomes King of England. 1573 articles of Warsaw Confederation are s, 1256, his horse fell through the ice, and in this vulnerable position, William was killed by the Frisians. His body was recovered 26 years later by his son Floris of HollandCount Floris V of Holland ( 1254- 1296), the "Keerlen God" (Peasant God), is one of the most important figures of the first, native dynasty of Holland (833-1299). His life has been documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler., who was only 2 years old when he succeeded his father. William was buried in Middelburg.

William gave city rights to Haarlem, Delft, 's-Gravenzande and Alkmaar. A castle he had built in 1248 was the beginning of the city of The Hague.