Life
On 9 October 1246, Adelaide married John I of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut. Like her mother, she was a patron of religious houses. Her religious interest is reflected in that three of her sons became bishops, and her one daughter became an abbess. She also insisted on a bilingual education for them.
Between 1258 and 1263, Adelaide was regent of Holland in the name of her nephew Floris V. She called herself Guardian of Holland and Zeeland (Tutrix de Hollandie et Zeelandie). After he came of age, she continued to advise him. She died in 1284, but in 1299, with the death of Floris' son John I, it was her own son John II who inherited Holland through her.
She gave Town privileges to Schiedam, which afterwards had the right to be called a city. In it she founded Huis te Riviere, which was then the second largest castle in Holland.
Jacob van Maerlant dedicated his first poem, Geesten, to Adelaide.
Read more about this topic: Adelaide Of Holland
Famous quotes containing the word life:
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