Petronilla of Lorraine

Petronilla of Holland (also Gertrude of Upper Lorraine and Alsace ) (c. 1082, † May 23, 1144 ) was Countess of Holland and 1122-1133 regent of the county.

Life

She was born as the daughter of the Duke Dietrich II.von Upper Lorraine and members of the Saxon noble family of Bill Unger and baptized with the name Gertrude. She was a half sister of the Emperor Lothar of Saxony Süpplinburg; common mother was Hedwig of Formbach.

1113 she married Count Florentius II of Holland. For her minor son Dietrich VI. , Led by Florens death from 1122 to 1125 officially into office as Count widow of Lorraine Holland- Zeeland and Friesland, together with the Count of Egmond, Rijnsburg and Middelburg. 1122/23 became the county of Holland in the resentment of the German Emperor Henry V, as they leaned on France. The fact that her half-brother was surprisingly elected in 1125 as the successor of Henry V, then again strengthened their position and their son. She supported in 1127 the imperial candidates Dietrich of Lorraine in Flanders Erbkrieg. Petronillas younger son, the Black Florence fought as Count of Friesland for the region's independence. He was the leader of the resistance against Holland, referring thus against his own brother and his mother position.

Petronilla founded the monastery Rijnsburg, where she retired in 1133, when her son fully took over the government office. Here she was also buried.

Progeny

• Dietrich VI. (* 1110, † August 6, 1157 )
• Florence Black (* 1115, † October 26, 1133 )
• Simon († unknown) - canon in Utrecht
• Hedwig († 1132 ) - nun Rijnsburg