William IV of Horne

Willem IV of Horne (1303-1343) was Lord of Altena, Weert, Nederweert, Wessem, Heeze, Leende, and Cortessem. From his niece Beatrice of Leuven he inherited Gaasbeek, Leeuw, Herstal and Montcornet. Early career In late 1321 Willem van Horne became 18 years old, and took control of Altena. This did not mean that he became its official lord. For that to happen, he had to be invested by the count of Kleve. Nevertheless, father no longer called himself Lord of Altena from 1321. Willem van Horne seems to have cultivated a good relation with the Count of Holland. The Count of Kleve did not acknowledge him as Lord of Altena. He probably wanted to give it to Willem's younger brother Dirk, son of Gerard and the Count's sister Irmgard. In 1327 Count William III of Holland then promised to maintain Squire Willem van Horne's possession of Altena as long as he did not get what he was entitled to. As Lord of Horne Willem's father probably died on 1 April 1330. The succession as Lord of Horne seems to have gone smoothly. The same was probably true for Loon op Zand. Herlaer and Kranenburg went to Irmgard's children.