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”
Tag Archives: history
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”
Another Brick in the Wall. A Love-Hate Relationship
Who has not dined at least once in an ’80s Chinese restaurant that carried the name 万里长城 (‘Great Wall of China’)? Certainly, you have been at least once at one of these restaurants for take-away, with the white plastic boxes wrapped in paper sheets, with prawn crackers and a small cup of sambal sauce (‘chiliContinue reading “Another Brick in the Wall. A Love-Hate Relationship”
Why Was Redbad Skinny Dipping in Eau de Cologne?
In March 716, Redbad’s army reached the shores of Cologne. That is deep in the Frankish heartlands and way out of the traditional Frisian coastal territories. Sure, Frisians were smelly bastards, but eau de Cologne wasn’t invented yet. Was Redbad ahead of his time or why else did he end up there? A movie aboutContinue reading “Why Was Redbad Skinny Dipping in Eau de Cologne?”
The Battles of Redbad, Unplugged
King Redbad died in 719. Some 1300 years later, as a tribute a movie about this Frisian king hit the silver screen in the Dutch cinemas. Redbad repeatedly ended up fighting his neighbours, the Franks. Where and how often, will be explored in this article. As a hikers blog that follows the whereabouts of Frisian history, we areContinue reading “The Battles of Redbad, Unplugged”
Women of Frisia: Free and Unbound?
Below the green and black image of Saskia Holleman, the reincarnation of Mata Hari, her fellow citizen. Saskia was born in 1945 in the town of Leeuwarden in the province of Friesland, standing stark naked in the milky grasslands with a Friesian Holland cow. It is a pamphlet from the former Pacifist Socialist Party (PSP)Continue reading “Women of Frisia: Free and Unbound?”
Walcheren Island. Once the Sodom and Gomorrah of the North Sea
In contrast to today’s Sunday rest, for centuries the island of Walcheren was a pagan stronghold and a safe haven for Vikings with their slightly aggressive business model. Heathen beliefs were deeply rooted on the island. Even in the eleventh century, the Roman Catholic Church feared that its inhabitants might revert to their former paganContinue reading “Walcheren Island. Once the Sodom and Gomorrah of the North Sea”
Tolkien Pleaded in Favour of King Finn. An Immortalized Royal Tragedy
Around the year 440 (Shippey 2022), a betrayal unfolded on the southern shores of the North Sea — a tragedy not forgotten in north-western Europe, echoing even in distant Bavaria. And it never will be. We are talking about the bloody battle at the citadel of King Finn — or Fin Folcwalding Fresna cynne, asContinue reading “Tolkien Pleaded in Favour of King Finn. An Immortalized Royal Tragedy”
How Towns Could Drown Overnight: The Case of Rungholt
Rungholt. A thriving and wealthy town of the archipelago of the Wadden Sea that disappeared in the waves overnight in the year 1362. For six centuries, only legends have told us about what happened to Rungholt. A town submerged in the sea as the wrath of God. According to these medieval legends, you could stillContinue reading “How Towns Could Drown Overnight: The Case of Rungholt”
Frisia Coast Trail 