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William was raised in Scotland. He started a revolt against his brother , D i r k V I I and became count in Friesland after a reconciliation. Friesl an d w a s c o nsidered as a part of Holland by the Counts of Holland. His n i ec e , A d a, eventually inheritited Holland in 1203, but William couldn't a c c e p t t his. After a civil war, which lasted for several years, William w o n t h e w a r. Louis and Ada were supported by the bishop of Utrecht, and t h e c o u n t of Flanders. William was supported by the duke of Brabant and b y t h e m a j ority of the Hollanders.
Emperor Otto IV acknowledged him as count of Holland in 1203, because h e w a s a s u p porter of the Welfs. He and many others changed allegiance t o e m pe r o r Frederick II after the battle of Bouvines in 1214. He took pa rt i n a F r e n ch expedition against king John of England. The pope excomm uni cate d h i m f or this.
Possibly because of this, William then became a fervent crusader. He ca m p a i g ned in Prussia and joined in the conquest of Lisbon. In Europe , h e c a m e t o b e called William the Crazy for his chivalric and reckless be ha v i o u r in battle. William conquered the city of Damietta during the Fi f t h C r u sade.
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Abt 1167 - 1222 (55 years)