biography
| name: |
Otto II, Count of Gelre
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| |
nickname the Lame or Horsefoot
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (c.1200–71)
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| biography:
| Dutch ruler, the son of Gerard I and Margaret of Brabant. He set about expanding his influence and territory by various means. Firstly, he married Margaret, daughter of Count Dirk of Cleves, and later Philippa, daughter of the Count of Ponthieu. Secondly, he purchased Emmerik, Groenlo, Breevoort, and Zevenaar, judiciously granted privileges to towns, and acquired from William II, King of the Romans, Nijmegen and the surrounding area. He was Regent of Holland during the minority of Floris V and conducted successful expeditions against Zeeland. With his brother Henry (prince-bishop elect of Liège) he supported the citizens of Cologne against Archbishop Engelbrecht II, and was rewarded with the title of ‘protector of the city’ for his successors. |
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