Adelaide of Holland

Adelheid of Holland (also Adelheid of Avesnes ) ( partly Aleid, Aleydis ) (* 1230, † 1284) was V. for her minor nephew Florence regent of the County of Holland and Zeeland 1258-1263 and by marriage Countess of Hainaut.

Life

She was daughter of Count Florence IV and mother Matilda of Brabant. So she was the sister of King William of Holland.

She was married to John of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut in 1246. For political reasons played a role. William of Holland has supported the counts against his mother, Margaret of Flanders. Johann wanted to enforce his claim to Flanders. With her husband Adelheid had seven children. Among them was John II, later Earl of Holland, Johanna Abbess of Flines, Burchard of Avesnes Bishop of Metz, Guido d' Avesnes Bishop of Utrecht, Wilhelm II of Hainault Bishop of Cambrai, Florence of Hainault governor of Zeeland and by marriage Titularfürst of Achaia, Morea. Her husband died in 1257th

Adelheid has raised her nephew Floris V of Holland after William's death, although his mother was still alive. The regency for this initially served his uncle Florence. This had resolved the conflict with Margaret of Flanders.

When Florence died in 1258, the regency passed to Adelheid as Vögtin. You uncertificated as Tutrix de Hollandie et Zeelandie. As another guardian they appointed Heinrich III. of Brabant. He died 1261st From the outside Holland was not threatened at this time. Your position as regent was confirmed by King Richard of Cornwall in 1262.

Against the rule of a woman but coveted on the needle. The nobility appointed in their stead Count Otto II of funds as regent. This took a Dordrecht, while Adelheid had to withdraw after Zeeland. He succeeded the troops to beat Adelaide in Reimerswaal and was able to gain power. They acknowledged their defeat and in a charter of 1264, she spoke of a früherern violence.

After Florence had 1265/66 assumed the regency itself, it became once again a great influence on him. He concluded by Adelheid a contract for her Witwengut. Adelaide had a big part in that one of their sons was able to win Florence of Hainault big impact. This meant that Florence V. 1277 these and Adelheid of Holland sales. Since then lived this in Hainault, where now her son John took over the rule. A reconciliation with Holland was 1282nd

She distinguished herself as a benefactor and supporter of religious institutions. This benefited the mendicant orders, Cistercians and the Beguines. This is evident in her will of 1271. She was buried in Valenciennes.