- Ada, Countess of Holland
Ada (1188 – 1223) was countess of Holland between 1203 and 1207.
She was the only surviving daughter of
Dirk VII, Count of Holland and his wifeAdelaide of Cleves . She succeeded her father as Countess in her own right. She immediately had to deal with her uncle William, who claimed Holland for his own. Ada married Louis II, count ofLoon to strengthen her position.Ada was quickly captured by the supporters of William and taken prisoner in the citadel of
Leiden . Afterwards she was taken to theKingdom of England . William had to accept Louis and Ada as count and countess at a treaty ofBrugge in 1206. Louis managed to get Ada free in 1207, but she had to accept the loss of her county. Ada and Louis didn't keep their promise and continued the fight.The
civil war in Holland became part of a major international war between on one sideFrance and theHohenstaufen dynasty and on the other side England and theWelfs . William could get Holland through good maneuvering between both sides. Louis and Ada had to give up their claims. Ada remained childless.External links
* [http://home.scarlet.be/~ijpelaan/Graven/Ada.html Ada, gravin van Holland] (Dutch)
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