Due to a civil war in the
Holy Roman Empire,
Emperor Henry VI had to find ways to make friends. He supported Dirk by giving him the right to levy tolls on Flemish traders in
Geervliet. Henry also gave Holland the
Grote Waard (
Dordrecht and its surroundings), at the cost of the
bishopric of Utrecht. He also set aside the
Salic law for the succession to the County of Holland, which meant that it could be inherited by a female heir. In 1196, Dirk temporarily gained the princely authority of the bishopric of Utrecht. This meant war with
Count Otto I of
Guelders. Otto was defeated at the Battle of the
Grebbeberg. In 1197
Dirk van Are was elected as the new bishop. As such, he recovered the princely authority of Utrecht. The
Hohenstaufens were losing the civil war, so Count Dirk changed sides and gave his allegiance to the
Welfs. or
kopje of Dirk VII|228x228pxThe Frisians in
Oostergo and
Westergo supported Dirk's brother
William, who invaded Holland. William was supported by some of the
West Frisians as well. In 1202 Dirk allied himself with Otto of Guelders, and they both attacked
Brabant. Brabant claimed Holland, Utrecht and Guelders as dukes of
Lotharingia.
Den Bosch and
Geertruidenberg were sacked during this campaign. Duke
Henry I of Brabant took Dirk prisoner at
Heusden. As well as having to pay a high ransom, he had to accept the Duke of Brabant as his overlord in southern Holland and the bishop of Utrecht as his overlord in northern Holland. Dirk died on 4 November 1203 and was succeeded by his daughter
Ada, who lost the county to Dirk's brother William. ==Family and children==