| Surname: | House of Egmond |
| Type: | noble family |
| Native Name: | Maison d'Egmond Huis Egmond |
| Other Name: | Egmont |
| Caption: | Coat of Arms |
| Country: | Netherlands |
| Titles: | Lord, Baron, Count, Prince, Duke |
| Founded: | 13th century |
| Founder: | Wouter of Egmond |
| Dissolution: | 17th century |
The House of Egmond or Egmont (French: Maison d'Egmond, Dutch: Huis Egmond) 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 (Dukes of Geldern and Counts of Zutphen, extinct in 1538), Egmond-Gavere (Counts of Egmont, Princes of Gavere and Steenhuyze, extinct in 1682/1714) and Egmond-Buren-Leerdam (Counts of Buren and Leerdam, extinct in 1558) 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 (extinct in 1559), Egmond van Kenenburg (extinct in 1703), Egmond van de Nijenburg (Imperial Barons; extinct in 1747) and Egmond van Cranenburch. Today there are still the extramarital lines of the Imperial Counts of Geldern-Egmond (today Mirbach-Geldern-Egmond) and the Barons of IJsselstein (also IJsselstein or Ysselstein).
They were one of the principal noble families of the County of Holland during the Middle Ages.[1] 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 (Advocate) 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[2] and the semi-sovereign territory of the Lords of Arkel[3] 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 (elevated to become Princes of Gavere in 1553) and the Counts of Buren and Leerdam.[4] The senior branches of the family moved out in the 16th and 17th centuries, but illegitimate branches (such as that of the Bavarian Counts of Geldern-Egmond[5]) 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[6] 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.
For the earlier lords, see List of Lords and Counts of Egmont.
Shield: Or, seven chevronels gules. The Egmond coat of arms is depicted in the medieval Gelre Armorial (folio 83v) [7]
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.[8]