Ludwig II (Loon)

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Ludwig II. Count von Loon (also Looz ) (* around 1165 , † July 29, 1218 ) was Count von Loon and claimed the county of Holland by marriage . He entered into changing alliances to secure Loon and rule Holland. This failed and he was eventually murdered.

Wedding of Ada von Holland and Ludwig II von Loon in a non-contemporary representation

Life

It came from the house of the Counts of Loon. His father was Gerhard II von Loon (sometimes referred to as Gerhard I). The mother was Adelheid von Geldern.

Because his father was probably on the crusade Heinrich VI. Had died in 1197, he was his successor. However, he had to share the inheritance with his brothers. He himself got the actual County Loon. The county of Rieneck in Lower Franconia went to his brother Gerhard III. from Rieneck.

It was significant for Ludwig's actions that the county was partly a fiefdom of the dukes of Brabant . They tried to bring this area completely under their influence. This conflict played a role, which is why Ludwig became involved in imperial politics because he hoped to find support.

In the dispute about the successor to Heinrich VI. between Philip of Swabia and Otto IV , he initially supported Philip in 1198. In this way he stood in opposition to his liege lords, the Bishop of Utrecht and Henry I of Brabant . In 1201 they forced him to change sides. However, Heinrich himself changed fronts in 1203. In return, the diocese of Metz awarded him income that Ludwig was actually entitled to. He therefore asked the Bishop of Liège for help. For this he gave the bishop various allod estates and castles as fiefs and placed the western part of the county under Liège protection. This enabled him to prevent the Brabant area from being claimed.

In 1203 he married Ada von Holland , the daughter and heiress of Count Dietrich VII of Holland . After the marriage, the couple claimed rule over Holland. They met resistance from part of the nobility. This wanted Wilhelm von Friesland to be count. This was also supported by Brabant. Ada soon fell into the captivity of her opponents.

Ludwig von Loon, supported by the Bishop of Utrecht and the Duke of Limburg, fought for possession of Holland and was able to bring a large part of the country under his control. The alliance soon broke up, however. Philip of Swabia assured the Duke of Brabant the royal estates that Louis of the Empire had as a fief.

Ludwig reacted by reconciling himself with Philip and in 1205 becoming a vassal of Heinrich of Brabant. In this way he was in contrast to his previous ally, the Bishop of Liège. In the same year an agreement was reached with Wilhelm von Friesland in Bruges . This should get part of the Dutch inheritance, while the main part should remain with Ludwig and Ada. In order to get the approval of Brabant as well, Ludwig was ready to give most of the county of Loon Heinrich von Brabant a fief. This meant that Loon should be completely removed from the Liege fiefdom. This presupposes that he clearly sided with the Staufers. This was made more difficult by the fact that Ada had been handed over by her guards to King John Ohneland of England, who was an avowed ally of the Guelph Otto IV.

Ludwig managed to get Ada released in 1207. The price was that he had to promise to take Otto's side. His brother Arnold remained in England as a hostage. Nevertheless, Ludwig did not keep the promise and stepped on the side of Philip of Swabia. His murder in 1208 put Ludwig's policy in question. As a result, he supported Otto IV. Neither this nor later Friedrich II enfeoffed him with the county of Holland. This fell to Wilhelm von Friesland. Ludwig was poisoned. Only a few later his brother and successor Heinrich was also murdered. His brother Arnold escaped from England in 1216 and became Count of Loon.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Reichssachen (Deutsche 1198-1272) (RI V) n.10681

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Ludwig II.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Count von Loon entitled to Holland
DATE OF BIRTH around 1165
DATE OF DEATH July 29, 1218