HOLLAND Dirk

Abt 0875 - 0939  (64 years)

• Name	HOLLAND Dirk
  Birth	Abt 0875	Noordwijk-Binnen, Zuid-Holland, Nederland
  Gender	Male
  Death	06 Oct 0939	Egmond-Binnen, Noord-Holland, Nederland
  Notes	Dirk I or Thidericus Fresonie (born abt. 875 - died abt. 923 or Andernach, 5 October 939) was a Fries Count who from 896 was ruling a couple of area's in the coastal area of West-Frisia, the later 'graafschap Holland'. His father was Gerulf. Dirk married in 928(?) to Gerberga (Geva), daughter of Meginhard IV van Hamaland, son of Everhard Saxo an succeeds his father as Count of Hamaland and Duke of Friesland. Dirk and Geva had a son, Dirk II, succeeds his father as Count of West Friesland. Dirk and Gerberga both were buried in the abbis of Egmond [1] Na Diederic, den eersten grave, Quam sijn sone, daer ic ave Segghen sal wel ende waer. Want den vader volghede hi naer In kersteliken daden na rechte; Hi vercoes sinte Aelbrechte,Want die kerke tEgmonde, Die sijn vader in siere stonde Van houte eerst maken dede, Brac hi, ende sette daer ter stede Een gods huys van stenen al, Dat van coste niet was smal....[2] It says: After Diederic, the first Count. came his son. He followed his father in his Christian deeds. His father as a gift to the church, had made sure (payed for) the wooden church/convent of Egmond, his son now had it rebuilt in stone... [2] Dirk I is son or grandson of Haghen, Count of Aquitaine (uncle of Charles the Bald of France and son of Walter, Count of Teisterbant). Encyclopaedia Britannica (1956; 11:668) states that the county was founded by "Rorik, of Norman origin, ...in 862. His successor Gerulf, to whom the German king Arnulf in 889 granted some possessions and rights in the region between the Rhine and Swithardeshaga..., may be considered the first count of Holland, notwithstanding the doubt that may be felt about his being the father of Dirk I, whom tradition long held to be the first count."[3] Theory Dirk I bis (ca. 900–939) Vast staat dat Dirk II in 988 is overleden. Als hij zijn vader al in 923 was opgevolgd, dan zou dat betekenen dat hij niet minder dan 65 jaar heeft geregeerd, wat zeer onwaarschijnlijk is. Daarom gaan sommige historici ervan uit dat er nog een Dirk geweest moet zijn die de naam "Dirk I bis" heeft gekregen. D.J. Henstra is een andere mening toegedaan, en maakt door een berekening plausibel dat Dirk II wel degelijk de zoon is van Dirk I, en dat die de zoon is van Gerulf I. Het is bekend dat graaf Dirk getrouwd was met Gerberga (Geva) van Hamaland (die ongeveer 912 zal zijn geboren), dat hij betrokken was bij de Lotharingse opstand van 939 tegen de Duitse koning Otto de Grote, en op 2 oktober 939 is gesneuveld in de slag bij Andernach (waarbij Dirk I dan ongeveer 65 zou zijn geweest). Deze gegevens maken een tweede generatie, dus Dirk I bis, aannemelijk, maar er zijn uit deze periode wel meer voorbeelden bekend van edelen die op hogere leeftijd nog met een jonge vrouw (her)trouwden of aan een veldslag deelnamen.[4] Translated: It is certain that Dirk II died in 988. If he succeeded his father in 923, it would mean he had ruled no less than 65 years, which is very unlikely. That is why some historians assume that there must have been another Dirk who has been given the name "Dirk I bis". D.J. Henstra takes a different view, and makes a plausible calculation that Dirk II is indeed the son of Dirk I, and that he is the son of Gerulf I. It is known that Count Dirk was married to Gerberga (Geva) of Hamaland (who will be born about 912), that he was involved in the Lorraine uprising of 939 against the German king Otto the Great, and on 2 October 939 he was killed in the battle of Andernach (with Dirk I then being about 65) . These data make a second generation, so Dirk I bis, plausible, but from this period more examples are known of nobles who at a higher age still married a young woman or participated in a battle. By G. N. M. Vis, 7 maart 1992: Theorie dat tussen de twee eerste Hollandse graven, Dirk I ( ca. 942) en Dirk II ( 988), een tussengeneratie, nl. graaf Dirk I-bis, moet worden ingevoegd. In mijn teksteditie van het Leven van Sint Adalbert (de "Vita Sancti Adalberti' - Nederlandse Historische Bronnen VII, Den Haag, 1987) is deze theorie bestreden. Sint Adalbert was patroonheilige van het klooster Egmond, waar Dirk I en Dirk II lagen begraven. In zijn "Vita', geschreven omstreeks 985, worden twee graven genoemd: ene Dirk en zijn zoon Dirk junior. Deze laatste is Dirk II, de vader van aartsbisschop Egbert van Trier (©0 993) en de bouwheer van de eerste stenen Egmondse abdijkerk. Daar is iedereen het over eens. Maar wie is nu de niet gespecificeerde Dirk? Hij is dezelfde als de Dirk die in 922 de Egmondse kerk met haar goederen ontving en aansluitend het gebeente van St. Adalbert liet overbrengen naar zijn klooster. En dat was Dirk I. Translated; Theory that an intermediate generation, namely count Dirk I-bis, should be inserted between the two first Dutch counts, Dirk I (ca. 942) and Dirk II (988). In my text edition of the Life of Saint Adalbert (the "Vita Sancti Adalberti" - Dutch Historical Sources VII, The Hague, 1987) this theory was contested/disproved. 'Saint Adalbert was patron saint of the convent Egmond, where Dirk I and Dirk II were buried. In his 'Vita', written around 985, two graves are mentioned: one Dirk and his son Dirk junior. The latter is Dirk II, the father of archbishop Egbert van Trier ( 993) and the principal of the first stone Egmond abbey church. Everyone agrees. But who is now the unspecified Dirk? He is the same as the Dirk who received the Egmond church in 922 with her goods and subsequently had the bones of St. Adalbert transferred to his monastery. And that was Dirk I. [5] Sources ↑ Source: Wikipdia Dirk I or Dirk I bis (graaf) ↑ 2.0 2.1 Source: Rijmkroniek van Holland (366-1305) pg. 20 ↑ Entered by Deeann Kronenwetter. ↑ Wikipedia Dirk I cites: D.J. Henstra Friese graafschappen tussen Zwin en Wezer, pag. 82 ↑ From: Article (NRC) Graven en Gravinnen by G. N. M. Vis, 7 maart 1992 Projects Medlands Chapter 2. Counts of Holland [900-1299] Projects Medlands Dirk I, son of Gerolf Count [of Frisia & his wife --- (-6 Oct, 928 or after, maybe after 8 Jul 949, bur Egmond)] Wikipedia: Dirk I, Count of Holland 10x de Graven van Holland http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/HOLLAND.htm#_Toc359915623
  Person ID	I58646	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

  
  

  Father	FRIESLAND Gerulf,   b. 0845, Friesland, Netherlands d. 0916, Corvey, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Age ~ 71 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	FLANDERS Unknown,   b. 0855
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F26121	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	HOLLAND Geva,   b. Abt 0903, Egmond-Binnen, Egmond, Noord-Holland, Netherlands d. 11 Jan 0928, Egmond-Binnen, Egmond, Noord-Holland, Netherlands (Age 25 years)
  Children	1. HOLLAND Diederic,   b. Abt 0928, Egmond Binnen, Noord Holland d. 06 May 0988, Abdijkerk Egmond, Noord Holland (Age 60 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F26120	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026