‘In the navy’, a song by the Village People. Of the small villages along the southern coast of the North Sea. A water people once united in the mythical Seven Sealands. Moreover, a people who laid the foundations of two of history’s most impressive navies: that of the Kingdom of England and that of theContinue reading “♪ They Want You as a New Recruit ♪”
Tag Archives: battles & war
Like Father, Unlike Son — Un Saint Frison en France
The Battle of Tours in 732 was a turning point in the wars against the Umayyad Caliphate. The Caliphate was one of the biggest empires in history, but it lost this battle. At the confluence of the rivers Clain and Vienne, the Franks, led by statesman majordomo Charles Martel, only just managed to defeat theContinue reading “Like Father, Unlike Son — Un Saint Frison en France”
Frisia, a Viking Graveyard
Hjoggum vér með hjörvi — ‘we swung our swords’ — as all the stanzas of the twelfth-century epic poem Lay of Kraka begin, the tale of Ragnar Lothbrok’s death. When reading about the famous deeds of great Viking warriors, little attention is given to their moments of failure. Little is written about where and when thoseContinue reading “Frisia, a Viking Graveyard”
History Is Written by the Victors — A Story of the Credits
New York City, the Capital of the World. They call it a lot of things: Gotham, the Big Apple, the Empire City, Modern Gomorrah, even Baghdad-on-the-Subway. And of course, Times Square proudly calls itself the Center of the Universe — although the true center of the world is the village of Aegum. And in theContinue reading “History Is Written by the Victors — A Story of the Credits”
A Theel-Acht. What a Great Idea!
By the middle of the ninth century, the Vikings had carved out a more or less permanent foothold in Frisia, in the pagus ‘territory’ of Nordendi, also known as Norditi. But by the year 884, the Frisians had had enough. They forged swords and axes, raised an army, and drove the Norsemen out once andContinue reading “A Theel-Acht. What a Great Idea!”
Magnus’ Choice. The Origins of the Frisian Freedom
According to medieval legend, around the year 800, Charlemagne and Pope Leo clashed with the citizens of Rome. The Pope was attacked and forced to flee the city. It was an army of ‘naked’ Frisians, led by Magnus, that stormed back in, retaking the citadel and the Urbs Aeterna — the Eternal City. In gratitude,Continue reading “Magnus’ Choice. The Origins of the Frisian Freedom”
Ornament of the Gods Found in a Pile of Clay. The Brísingamen of Wijnaldum
In the year 516, King Hygelac of the Geats, a tribe in — probably — the southeast of Sweden, raided Frisia. Back then, this part of the Netherlands was an impenetrable land with big rivers, little streams, swamps, peat bogs, and damp forests covered with moss and mould. Hygelac’s expedition into Frisia was less fortunate,Continue reading “Ornament of the Gods Found in a Pile of Clay. The Brísingamen of Wijnaldum”
Is Magna Frisia Fact or Fiction?
Here are some maps that help you locate the Frisians in the Early Middle Ages (AD 500-800). We combined old maps, archaeological finds, old scriptures, and historical research. In one of our previous blog posts we pinpointed several locations where the 5 Frisian kings set foot. In this blog post we focus on the FrisianContinue reading “Is Magna Frisia Fact or Fiction?”
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”
Refuge on a Terp 2.0. Waiting to Be Liberated
August 21, 1930, Wieringermeer in the province of Noord Holland. The reclamation of just another piece of the Zuiderzee ‘southern sea’ was completed. A wooded area, when it was still land, that was called Creilerwoud. Land lost to the sea eight centuries ago during the most destructive All Saints’ Flood in the year 1170. TheContinue reading “Refuge on a Terp 2.0. Waiting to Be Liberated”
Frisia Coast Trail 