House of Egmond


The House of Egmond or Egmont is named after the Dutch town of Egmond, province of North Holland, and played an important role in the Netherlands during the Middle Ages and the Early modern period. The main lines Egmond-Geldern, Egmond-Gavere and Egmond-Buren-Leerdam had high noble, princely rank.
Besides the main and secondary lines that have died out, there were also some illegitimate lines of the family, including the Egmond van Merenstein, Egmond van Kenenburg, Egmond van de Nijenburg and Egmond van Cranenburch. Today there are still the extramarital lines of the Imperial Counts of Geldern-Egmond and the Barons of IJsselstein.

History

They were one of the principal noble families of the County of Holland during the Middle Ages. The family said to be descendants of the Kings of Friesland and early Counts of future Holland, maintained some power due to its hereditary position as Voogd of the powerful Egmond Abbey in North Holland. They built their residence in Egmond aan den Hoef and became the Lords of Egmond. Thanks to a number of judicious marriages they were able to add the strategically important Lordship of IJsselstein and the semi-sovereign territory of the Lords of Arkel to their domains.
The family achieved even greater prominence in the period of Burgundian and Habsburg rule over the Netherlands. In the late 15th century, the senior branch became the sovereign Dukes of Guelders, whilst the younger branch split into the Counts of Egmond and the Counts of Buren and Leerdam. The senior branches of the family moved out in the 16th and 17th centuries, but illegitimate branches flourished well into the 20th century.
The execution of Lamoral, Count of Egmont in 1568 helped spark the Dutch Revolt that eventually led to the independence of the Netherlands, while Anna van Egmond-Buren, known as Anna van Buren in the Netherlands, was the first wife of William the Silent, the leader of this national uprising. Ironically, in 1573 both Egmond Abbey and Egmond Castle were destroyed on order of William the Silent.
Though the family name may not be carried, direct descendants of the family are in existence, thus, not extinct.

Notable members of the family

For the earlier lords, see List of Lords and Counts of Egmont.

Coat of arms

Shield: Or, seven chevronels gules. The Egmond coat of arms is depicted in the medieval Gelre Armorial

Note

The Irish Perceval family, which erroneously claims descent from the house of Egmond, was admitted to the Irish peerage as Earls of Egmont in 1722.