From 2012 onward, about 5,000 foreign fighters from various European countries travelled to the Levant to join the fighting. Six years later, roughly fifteen percent had died in combat. Others remained in the Middle East — imprisoned or drifting toward new conflict zones as terrorist groups lost ground. But some returned home. This wave ofContinue reading “Foreign Fighters Returning From Viking Warbands”
Category Archives: history
The Treaty of the Upstalsboom. Why Solidarity Is Not the Core of a Collective
At the time of writing this blog post (2018), many supranational organizations, whether governmental or judicial, are struggling with their legitimacy and survival; it is almost becoming tedious. Take, for example, the European Union with a humiliating Brexit and its seemingly endless debates on urgent monetary and migration policy reforms. Consider the International Criminal CourtContinue reading “The Treaty of the Upstalsboom. Why Solidarity Is Not the Core of a Collective”
Porcupines Bore U.S. Bucks. The Birth of Economic Liberalism
On May 5th, 2018, it was exactly two centuries since Karl Marx was born. When the good man published the first volume of Das Kapital in 1867, he was, in fact, about 1,300 years too late to turn the tide. The ship had already sailed — quite literally. Ships of selfish and ruthless Frisian merchantsContinue reading “Porcupines Bore U.S. Bucks. The Birth of Economic Liberalism”
Frisian Mercenaries in the Roman Army. Fighting for Honour and Glory
After the Roman Empire had incorporated a big chunk of the British Isles in the first century, the empire needed a military force to defend their northern limes (‘border’). Like elsewhere, they made use of mercenaries. Many Frisians, (still) living along the coast of present-day the Netherlands, joined the Roman army as mercenaries to fightContinue reading “Frisian Mercenaries in the Roman Army. Fighting for Honour and Glory”
Follow the Footsteps of Five Frisian Kings
We plotted the exact locations of the whereabouts of the five Frisian kings Finn, Audulfus, Aldgisl, Redbad, and Poppo. We might have even hit some royal DNA samples. GPS, ready, go! Just follow and click the blue pins on the map below: Plotting the Frisia Coast Trail hike When shaping the Frisian Coast Trail weContinue reading “Follow the Footsteps of Five Frisian Kings”
Haute Couture From the Salt Marshes
It was not the city of Parisius (‘Paris’). Nor that of Londinium (‘London’). Believe it or not, the early-medieval center for expensive cloth and chic clothing in the northwest of Europe was the muddy Wadden Sea coast. Here the highly sought-after pallia Fresonica (‘Frisian cloth’) was fabricated and distributed to the wider world. It possessedContinue reading “Haute Couture From the Salt Marshes”
King Redbad’s Last Act
Not much is known about Redbad’s death. Many Frankish fragments use his year of death as a historical point of reference for many events. One story tells about his strong wish to make sure his heritage ends up with the rightful owners. It is 719. Redbad has been ill for six years. He suffers fromContinue reading “King Redbad’s Last Act”
Bil: A Wasteland of Non-Integrated Migrants?
This is the story of the land reclaimed from the former Middelzee — a shallow inland sea that once split the present-day province of Friesland in two, separating the ancient pagus Westrachia (modern district Westergo) from pagus Austrachia (modern district Oostergo). The name Middelzee literally means ‘middle sea.’ Closing this watery rift took centuries. ThroughContinue reading “Bil: A Wasteland of Non-Integrated Migrants?”
Know Where to Find Your Sweet Potato, and the Cradle of Home Nursing Too
We retrace our steps to the sixteenth century, a time when the potato was still an exotic newcomer. Today, children grow up on pasta, pizza, burgers, shawarma, sushi, mountains of noodles, and fried rice. That is why, when you serve them plain boiled potatoes for supper — once in a while, with a pinch ofContinue reading “Know Where to Find Your Sweet Potato, and the Cradle of Home Nursing Too”
Finally, King Redbad Made His Point in the European Commission — Via Facebook
“I can not live without the company of my forefathers”, Redbad said in an interview in 718. In 2018 this sentence caused turmoil in the social media and the European Union. Having such an impact 1300 after your death deserves some further investigation, we believe. This article is about a medieval king, freedom of religion,Continue reading “Finally, King Redbad Made His Point in the European Commission — Via Facebook”
Frisia Coast Trail 