Dirk V Reclaims Holland: The Capture of Bishop Conrad of Utrecht (1076–1077)

Following the assassination of Duke Godfrey IV of Lower Lorraine and the death of Bishop William of Utrecht in 1076, Dirk V of Holland saw a golden opportunity to reclaim his ancestral lands from imperial control. With the support of his stepfather, Robert I of Flanders ("the Frisian"), Dirk raised an army and launched a decisive campaign against Bishop Conrad of Utrecht, William's successor.

Dirk V’s Counteroffensive Against Conrad of Utrecht (1076–1077)

• Now fully managing his own estate, Dirk V quickly mobilized forces to take back the lands lost to the Bishopric of Utrecht.
• With Robert’s military support, Dirk besieged Bishop Conrad at Ysselmonde, a strategic castle that controlled access to Holland.
• The siege was successful, and Conrad was captured, marking a significant victory for Dirk and a severe blow to imperial authority in the region.

The Bishop’s Ransom and Dirk’s Restoration of Holland

• Bishop Conrad was forced to ransom himself, negotiating for his release by surrendering all claims to the disputed lands.
• With this agreement, Dirk V regained full control over Holland, reversing the imperial-backed annexation by Bishop William of Utrecht in 1064.
• The capture of Ysselmonde and the bishop’s surrender ensured that the County of Holland was now independent of Utrecht’s influence.

Consequences and Significance

• Dirk V’s successful campaign permanently ended the Bishop of Utrecht’s territorial ambitions in Holland.
• The balance of power in the Low Countries shifted away from imperial-backed bishops and toward secular counts like Dirk and Robert I of Flanders.
• This event further weakened Emperor Henry IV’s authority in the region, as anti-imperial forces continued to gain ground.
• Dirk V had not only restored his county but had done so through military strength and political cunning, solidifying his position as an independent ruler in the Low Countries.

By 1077, Dirk V had fully reclaimed Holland, marking the end of imperial influence in the region and securing his dynastic legacy, which would shape the future of the County of Holland for generations to come.