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Birth:          ABT  840 
Death:          ABT  895 

Notes
received lands between the Rhine and Hennemerland from the Emperor Arnulf in the 
late 880s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerolf_of_Holland
Gerolf or Gerulf (c. 850 – 895/896) was the second count of this name who is attested 
in the area of Friesland (which also included Holland at the time). Gerolf's main area of 
power seems to have been in Kennemerland. Count Gerolf is often regarded as the 
founder of the County of Holland, although the actual name "Holland" is from a later 
time. His ancestry is unclear, but he may have been a son or, more likely, a grandson 
of the earlier Gerolf, who was a count in the area of Frisia at the time of the reign of 
Emperor Louis I the Pious (fl. 833) and who later joined a monastery. The earlier Gerolf 
died in 855. There is some limited and vague evidence that this earlier Gerolf was a 
son of a certain Theodoric, who in turn supposedly descended from the Frisian king 
Redbad (d. 719). Count Gerolf is often identified as the father of Count Dirk I and 
seen as the founder of the first house of the Counts of Holland, which ruled the 
county until it was inherited by John II of Hainaut in 1299.
Formation of the County of Holland[edit]

See also: County of Holland

Since the Treaty of Verdun (concluded in 843) Frisia and other parts of the present-
day Netherlands had become a part of, at first Middle Francia, then after 855 
Lotharingia, and finally after the Treaty of Meerssen it was incorporated into East 
Francia in 870. However, ever since the 840s a series of Viking leaders had been 
installed in the region (as a means of defense against further incursions) and they 
were the de facto rulers of the region. It was not until 885 that this situation was put 
to an end by the murder of Godfrid, Duke of Frisia at a place called Herespich 
(identified as modern Spijk). According to some sources Count Gerolf and Eberhard 
Count of Hamaland (who was later appointed Margrave of Frisia) were foremost 
amongst the conspirators in this plot. In the Chronicon of Regino of Prüm, on the other 
hand, there is no mention of Gerulf as taking part of this plan. Instead, according to 
this version, the murdering scheme would have been instigated by Emperor Charles 
and a certain Duke Henry. If so, it was, possibly, then, effectuated by Eberhard. The 
same Eberhard was hunted out and killed by Gerolf's son Waldger in 898, but the 
origin of that conflict is unknown, a possible explanation being that Waldger (who 
probably descended from Frisian royalty, see below) contested Eberhard's recent 
appointment as Margrave. It might be important remembering, in face of this scenario, 
how Merovingian and, most particularly, Carolingian leaders had hunted heathen 
Frisians just before the Frankish society had to deal with the Viking expansion. In this 
sense, it is interesting, as well, to observe how far the Gerulfingian House of Holland, 
during the centuries to follow, would pose an obstacle for the full grasp of this region 
by the Holy Roman Empire.

On 4 August 889, Count Gerolf received a reward for his role in the defeat of the 
Vikings. On this date Arnulf of Carinthia, King of East Francia, granted him a number 
of lands and properties in full ownership. Firstly, he was granted an area outside his 
county, in Teisterbant, which consisted of a number of farms and houses in, amongst 
others, Tiel, Aalburg and Asch. Also he was granted additional property in his own 
county, consisting of a forest and agricultural lands, situated somewhere between the 
mouth of the Old Rhine and (presumably) Bennebroek.

Doubts about the founding of the House of Holland[edit]

Only since the late nineteenth century is Gerolf regarded as the founder of the House 
of Holland. This is based on a poem composed around 1120. It locates the tombs 
where members of the house were interred. The poem begins with: "The first Dirk, 
brother of Waldger was a glorious man ..." In another work Waldger is named: 
"Waldgarius Freso, Gerulfi filius", which translates as: "Waldger the Frisian, son of 
Gerolf".

However, it appears unusual that, following the death of Gerolf, the eldest son 
Waldger received Teisterbant, while the younger brother Dirk inherited the comital 
title, although the title wasn't necessarily inheritable, but often rather by appointment. 
Also surprising is that Waldger's eldest son was named Radboud and a possible 
second son (or other relation) of his was named Hatto. It was customary in those days, 
that the eldest son received the name of his father's father. It is therefore thought that 
Gerolf was not the father but the foster-father of Waldger and Dirk. Filius in this case 
meaning foster-son.

The most likely candidate for the biological father of Dirk and Waldger is Radboud, 
prince of the Frisians. (Note: this link is incorrect as it links to King Redbad who ruled 
about 760) Waldger's nickname Freso may also be indicative of this origin. This prince 
Radboud fell in battle in 874, while repelling a Viking incursion together with Reginar 
"Longneck" (Count of Maasgau, later Duke of Lorraine). At this time Dirk and Waldger 
were still infants. It is further speculated that because Gerolf's sister may have been 
Dirk and Waldger's mother, her brother acted as her children's guardian after their 
father had been killed. While Dirk and Waldger were still minors, Gerolf, as guardian, 
presumably was then appointed count of the threatened area to protect it from the 
Vikings. Later on, after Gerolf had died without leaving any sons of his own, Dirk then 
inherited the fief or was appointed as its next count. Possibly Waldger may have 
received (the properties in) Teisterbant because this was an allodium of the family, the 
comital title and territories being an imperial appointment.

Yet another possibility is that Dirk was called Waldger's brother because one of them 
was married to the other's sister (i.e. Gerolf's daughter, making him a son-in-law of 
Gerolf's). Alternatively, Gerolf may have simply been, as is often assumed, the father 
of Dirk. The reason that Dirk and not (the elder) Waldger was appointed count is 
possibly also Waldger's feud with Eberhard of Hamaland, the newly appointed 
Margrave of Frisia, whom he murdered in 898.


Marriage To ----- ----- ()
    m.  

Notes


Children by ----- ----- 
____ Dietrich (Dirk) I (ABT  880 - 6 Oct  939)

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