Dirk III van Brederode

Dirk III van Brederode (ca. 1308 – Haarlem, 11 November 1377) was lord of Brederode. Life Family Dirk III's grandfather Dirk II van Brederode (1256-1318) had two sons: Willem and Hendrik. Willem was the oldest, and married Elisabeth (a.k.a. Elsbee) of Kleve, but when he predeceased his father in 1316, his son Dirk III was only about 8 years old. That year Dirk's grandfather tried to get his hands on Elisabeth's dower, but the Count of Holland prevented this. The dower included: the House and judiciary at Voshol and 500 pounds a year, mostly on goods in the vicinity. In 1318 Willem's younger brother Hendrik became Hendrik I of Brederode because Dirk was still a minor. Willem's rich widow Elisabeth would leave to remarry somewhere near Kleve. Dirk III was left behind, and came under guardianship of William III of Holland (1286-1337). This might have been forced by Dirk II and or the count in order to keep control of the succession of Elisabeth's and possibly Hendrik's succession. As a consequence of the guardianship, Dirk III grew up with the future William IV of Holland. It also meant that Dirk spent a lot of time in Mons in the County of Hainaut, the usual residence of the counts of Hainaut and Holland.