Florence of Holland and Ada of Scotland
It must have been on 28 august 1162 that in the Egmond Monastery in what now is called The Netherlands, not much more than an arrow shot from the North Sea coast, a long awaited marriage took place: count Florence III of Holland took the hand (and several other body parts – wide grin!) of Ada of Huntingdon, princess of Scotland. Florence was politically very active: not only did he staunchly support the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa, he also entertained good relations with the Scottish king Malcolm IV (Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig). To the right you see the coat of arms of the counts of Holland – very familiar to both Scots and Dutch!
Ada was a granddaughter of the Scottish king David I (picture left), and a daughter of David’s son prince Henry, Earl of Huntingdon. Her marriage to the Dutch count Florence fitted perfectly into the politics of both Scotland and Holland. Ada was well educated: she could read, and probably write, Latin. She and Florence had at least ten children, several of which are my ancestors, like Margaretha and count Willem (William), the latter having been raised in Scotland and named after his maternal uncle, king William the Lion of Scotland.
Williams descendant Florence V would later claim the Scottish throne after the death of its occupant Alexander III, but along with 11 other pretenders he was outwitted by John Balliol who was supported by the English king Edward I Longshanks.
It is, among several others, via Florence and Ada that the ancient Fergusson blood has trickled down to me.
Tags: Ada of Huntingdon, Count Florence III, Holland, Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig
Orange bordered on account of my Dutch birth and proudly flying the Saltire in honor of our Scottish roots, I make this website for all Fergussons - regardless of name, spelling or origins. It's dedicated to all Scots and all Scottish descendants around the world, meaning that in fact it's dedicated to ourselves!
