He supported King Adolf in the Battle of Göllheim in 1298, but when Adolf was killed by King Albert I, Gerhard submitted to Albert and was allowed to keep his imperial fief.
He helped Albert against the Rhenish electors in 1300, which confirmed his interests with respect to Cologne.
Gerhard also won the river duties of Kaiserswerth, Mönchen-Gladbach, Kessel-Grevenbroich, Rheydt, Münstereifel/Bergheim and Müllenark, among others.
Gerhard married before 13 December 1299 Elisabeth of Brabant-Aarschot (c. 1280 – 1350/55), daughter of Godfrey of Brabant and Jeanne, dame de Vierzon.
Elisabeth's sister Marie had married Gerhard's brother Walram.