Gerulf

Gerulf I. , also Gerulf the Elder († after 856 ) was a count in Central Friesland and ancestor of the Dutch count house .

Life

The Frisian Gerulf was the son of Count Dietrich. At the time of Emperor Ludwig the Pious as his vassal, Count of Middle Friesland and Vogt of the Frisians, who lived between Flie and Weser . Already at the beginning of his reign, Ludwig the Pious had given back to the Frisians who had been subjugated by his father what they had lost as a result of their attempts at revolt. This measure made the emperor popular with the Frisian population, but weakened the position of the Frisian counts towards the population. Later, Ludwig's weak policy towards the Normans caused further displeasure. In 826 he granted part of the Frisian territory that the Count of Central Friesland had to protect to the Danish pretender Harald Klak . Harald received Rüstringen , on the left bank of the lower Weser, in order to have a refuge there from the hostile attacks of his relatives. This seriously impaired the sphere of power of the Count of Central Friesland. Gerulf probably joined the opposition to the emperor at this time.

A certificate from the emperor, which was issued on July 8th, 839 in the Kreuznacher Königshof , proves that there was also a revolt against the emperor in Central Friesland. During the quarrels between Emperor Ludwig and his sons, Count Gerulf had been heavily involved in the rebellious movement against Ludwig; in any case, he had lost his fiefdom and his property had been confiscated. He received his property back on July 8, 839, after the complete reconciliation between Emperor Ludwig and his son Lothar in Worms at the end of May . Gerulf was probably on Lothar's side. The document mentions the goods returned by Gerulf in and around Leeuwarden , as well as goods in Westrichgau , i.e. in the district between Flie and Lonbach.

Presumably, Gerulf had family ties with the Corvey founders . Gerulf is believed to have married a daughter of Wala , who became abbot of Corbie and Corvey .

progeny

Gerulf had the following children:

• Count Gerulf von Kennemerland († 896)
• Count Gerhard
• Gunthar of Cologne († 873), Archbishop of Cologne
• the mother of Bishop Radbod of Utrecht († 917)

literature

• Hugo Jaekel: The Counts of Middle Friesland from the line of King Ratbods. Gotha 1895. Pages 34–39.
• Heinrich Leo: Twelve Books of Dutch Stories. Eduard Anton Verlag, Halle 1832. Page 634.