Herman VI van Woerden

Who is Herman VI van Woerden?

Herman or Hermanus VI van Woerden was a lord of Woerden.

He was the son of Herman V van Woerden and Badeloch Clemeta van Amstel, daughter of Gijsbrecht III van Amstel. It is assumed he became ruler of Woerden after 1252, the last year that his father was mentioned. He pledged his loyalty to the bishop of Utrecht as his father had done before him, but he nonetheless desired to expand his territory. In the 1280s the lands between the County of Holland and the Bishopric of Utrecht were sold to Floris V, Count of Holland. These lands included Woerden, which made Herman a vassal of the count of Holland. Herman was not happy with this, and several conflicts followed. in 1288 the count of Holland and Herman van Woerden reconciled.

Herman took part in the conspiracy to kidnap Floris V, Count of Holland. Together with Gerard van Velsen and Gijsbrecht IV of Amstel he imprisoned the count in the Muiderslot after capturing him by setting up a fake Falconry hunt. After the local population got wind of their count's imprisonment, they rebelled. When Floris attempted to escape, Gerard van Velsen killed him with a dagger.