Floris II, Count of Holland

Who was Floris II, Count of Holland?

Floris II, Count of Holland was the first from the native dynasty of Holland to be called Count of Holland.

He was the son of his predecessor Dirk V and Othilde. Floris II ended the conflict with the Bishop of Utrecht, most likely by becoming his vassal. In 1101 he was endowed with the title of Count of Holland by the bishop of Utrecht, after acquiring Rhineland.

Around 1108, Floris II married Gertrude, the daughter of Theodoric II, Duke of Lorraine. Gertrude changed her name to Petronila, in recognition of her loyalty to the Holy See. Petronila and Floris II had four children, three boys and one girl: Dirk, Floris, Simon and Hedwig, respectively. Dirk became his successor, Dirk VI of Holland, while Floris became known as Floris the Black and contested his brother's power.