The small county round the castle of Duras on the edge of Sint-Truiden, whose counts were under-advocates of the abbey.
When the last count, Conon (also count of Montaigu), defaulted on a summons about 1189, the duke of Limburg, superior advocate of Sint-Truiden, seized his fiefs, kept some and sold others to Gerard of Loon; the church of Liege sold the lands Conon had given it in 1185 to Gerard of Loon and Wery of Walcourt; and the duke of Brabant, to whom Conon tried to sell the advocacy, occupied Duras and harassed Sint-Truiden, drawing in Hainaut. By 1200 the county is with Loon.
Who he is
- Name
- Louis II, count of Loon (by his father Gerard's purchases); Brabant's claim from its occupation of about 1189-1190 is unresolved in the sources used
- Title
- Count of Duras
- Since
- 1189 and after (Gerard of Loon)
- Born
- About 1170
- Family
- House of Loon, cousins of the old counts of Duras
- Confidence
- medium
en.wikipedia on Conon of Montaigu and Duras, and on the County of Duras
Overlord
Not pinned: the church of Liege (which sold Conon's lands) and the duke of Limburg (who seized and sold Conon's fiefs) both had a hand
What it holds
- Duras castle
- The under-advocacy of Sint-Truiden (contested with Limburg and Brabant)
- Scattered Duras fiefs within Loon
How it was acquired
Purchases by Gerard of Loon from Limburg (1189) and from the church of Liege.
Allies and rivals
Brabant (claimant), Limburg (superior advocate), the abbot of Sint-Truiden and the bishop of Metz.
How things stand that morning
Loon's, with Brabant's claim alive: the duke will take Loon's income at Sint-Truiden in 1203 (Loon history).
Wealth
Hesbaye land; advocacy dues from the abbey's people.
Military
Duras castle.
Threats
- Brabant
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1203 (later course)The lord of Sint-Truiden, a backer of Philip, transfers Louis's income there to Henry I of Brabant (Loon history).Depends on: The Brabant-Loon rivalry and the throne war. Stopped by: A settlement over Sint-Truiden.
Places of note
- Duras castle: Comital castle
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The transfer story is from the en.wikipedia articles (based on Gislebert of Mons); who held the castle on 1 January 1200 is inferred.
On the map: Symbolic: the county was a castle with scattered fiefs.
Primary sources for Loon
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Reiner of Saint James, Liège, Reiner of Liège (1197 to 1230, kept year by year). Contemporary annals kept inside Liège. Read online
Sources and studies
- Conon, Count of Montaigu and Duras (en.wikipedia)
- County of Duras (en.wikipedia)
- History of the county of Loon (dbnl)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.