Dirk III (also called Dirik or Theodoric) was the count with jurisdiction over what would become the county of Holland, often referred to in this period as "West Frisia", from 993 to 27 May 1039.
The chronicle of the bishops of Cambrai, in its entry for 1017, openly complains that the sisters-in-law of Emperor Henry II had been arousing rebellions against the status quo, which it associated with their bishop Gerard of Florennes and his cousin Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine, who led the unsuccessful campaign against Dirk III in 1018 at the Battle of Vlaardingen.
It was along this second route that Count Dirk built a stronghold at Vlaardingen, in a newly habitable area where many Frisians had recently settled by his invitation.
Merchants from the town of Tiel sent alarmed messages to the king and Bishop Adelbold of Utrecht about acts of violence against them by Dirk's men.
Emperor Henry then decided to end Dirk III's reign and awarded his lands to Bishop Adelbold.
A large imperial army, made up of troops supplied by the various bishops of region, under the command of Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine, then headed for the stronghold at Vlaardingen.