Part One - (1750 B.C. - 785 A.D.) Origins of the Frisians (1750 B.C. - 700 B.C.) Gold bracelet with runes (fozo gruoba), 750 A.D. found in Hitsum (Fryslân). The origins of the Frisians lie in an area that roughly covers South Scandinavia, Denmark and the Weser/Oder region. In the period between 1750 and 700 B.C. they were still part of a larger group of peoples called the Germanics. This larger group was mainly of the Nordic race (dolichocranic). (Among the Nordics there also lived a - smaller- group of brachycranics whom probably had the position of slaves). After 1400 B.C. an expansion of the Germanics into southern Europe took place. Around 800 B.C. the original Germanic group had split into a West-, East (Goths and Vandals) and North Germanic group (Scandinavians). The differences can be traced in language and culture. At the end of the Bronze Age (700 B.C.) the expansion of the West Germanics had reached the coastal areas of northwest Germany (currently the province Hanover). The West Germanics can be divided, along religious lines, into three tribe groups, the Inguaeones, Istuaeones and Irminones. The Frisians belong to the Inguaeones. The name Inguaevones is derived from the god lnguz; the Frisians believed they descended from him. Inguz is another name for the Germanic god Freyr. Other tribes belonging to the Inguaeones were the Jutes, Warns, Angles, and the Saxons. Of these tribes the Saxons were closest in kin to the Frisians. All Inguaeones lived in the coastal areas along the North Sea. The Chaukians, also a tribe that lived along the North Sea, belong to the Irminones. From north-west Germany, to be exact the coastal areas around the mouths of the rivers Eems and Weser, the Inguaeones colonized the coastal clay-districts of the current Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen (700 - 600 B.C.). THE HEATHEN PERIOD IN FRIESLAND (700 B.C. - 800 A.D.) So between 700 and 600 B.C. the forefathers of the Frisians colonized the coastal clay-districts of the current Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen. The largest group came from the Eems/Weser region. Later also people came from the higher sandy regions to the east of Friesland (currently called Drente).

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Between 700 and 400 B.C. one can't speak of a separate Frisian group, since there is still one homogenic culture between Texel (Netherlands) and the Weser (Germany). Between 400 and 200 B.C. significant cultural changes take place. From Leiden in the south to Delfzijl in the north a 'Proto- Frisian' culture was evolving. In 200 B.C. a distinctly Frisian culture can be found between the river Eems (Germany) and Wijk- bij-Duurstede (Netherlands). For the first time the Frisians are an ethnic entity! To the north of the Eems lives a tribe called the Chaukians. An interesting fact is that the Chaukians belonged mainly to the Falian race (Dolichocranic with a broad face). The Frisians mainly to the Nordic race (Dolichocranic with narrow face). In the region currently known as the province of Groningen there was a melting together of both races. There was also a small group of brachycranic people living among the Nordic Frisians, of a non-Germanic origin. They inhabited the Netherlands before the Germanic-invasion, and were probably of pre-Indogennanic origin. TERP BUILDERS Two centuries after the colonization of the clay-district the sea level starts to rise. To encounter the periodical flooding of their homesteads the Frisians built earth-mounds known as terps. There were several periods of sea level rising (they were accompanied by storm flooding), consequently there are several separate terpbuilding periods that coincide with the periods the sea level rose. There are three separate terpbuilding generations: The first terp-generation dates from 500 B.C.; the second terp-generation dates from 200 B.C. till 50 B.C.; and the third terp-generation dates from 700 A.D. In 250 A.D. the sea level rising and the coinciding storm flooding was so dramatic that almost all of the Frisians left the clay district only to return in 400 A.D. CONTACT WITH THE ROMANS Julius Caesar conquered Celtic Galicia between 58 and 50 B.C. (these are the current countries France and Belgium). In doing so he moved the borders of the Roman Empire up to the river Rhine. At this point in history the Frisians still lived north of the Rhine, and thus fell outside the borders of the Roman Empire. Under Emperor Augustus (28 B.C. - 14 A.D.) the Romans wanted to make the river Elbe their most northerly border, instead of the Rhine. The consequences would be that the entire Frisian Folk would fall under the influence of the Romans. The Frisians chose to collaborate with the Romans. This happened when Drusus, and his army, arrived at the Rhine in 12 B.C.

The Frisians and Drusus negotiated a truce by which the Frisians had to, regularly, pay taxes in the form of cowhides. Under Emperor Tiberius the taxes became too high, and the Frisians could no longer comply with them. The result was that: first the Romans would take their cattle, after that their land and at last their women and children were taken to be sold in slavery. In 28 A.D. the Frisians rebelled, and hung the taxmen. To retaliate, the Romans sent their legions to punish and conquer Friesland. But the Roman army was slain in a battle at the Baduhennawood. The name of the Frisians was now a feared one in Rome. There was no Roman reprisal, since Rome had its own internal problems. For the next 20 years Friesland was free. In 47 A.D. the Frisians made another truce with the Romans. This time with Corbulo. An agreement was made in which there was a mutual understanding that the Rhine was to be the border that both parties had to respect. Friesland would fall under a Roman sphere of influence, but it would no longer be occupied. In 58 A.D. Frisians colonized an uninhabited strip of land south of the Rhine, thereby breaking their agreement with Corbulo. Two Frisian leaders, Verritus and Malorix (these are Roman translations of their Frisian names), went to Rome to bid the Roman Emperor Nero if they could stay. Alas, the Frisians were violently extradited from the region below the Rhine. In 69 A.D. the Batavians (a Germanic tribe situated in central Netherlands and the southern neighbors of the Frisians) also rebel against the Roman occupiers. This region was the northwestern cornerstone of the Roman Empire. The Frisians and the Canninifats (also a Germanic neighbor tribe of the Frisians in the west of the Netherlands) became the allies of the Batavians. Sadly the uprising fails. The Romans defeat the Batavians. The Rhine remains the Roman border until the collapse of the Roman Empire in 410 A.D. Around 250 A.D. almost all Frisians disappear from the Frisian coastal-clay districts. The rising of the sea level makes it impossible to live in the coastal areas of Friesland for the next 150 years (250 - 400 A.D.). In this period a fraction of the Frisians and the Chaukians (a Germanic tribe neighboring north of Friesland) form a new tribal alliance called the Franks. This is the tribe that will emigrate south and form the Frankish Empire (currently known as France). After 400 A.D. the rising of the sea level halted. Frisian people and their nobility returned to the Frisian clay-district which, by then, had already been colonized by peoples from the Elbe and Sleeswick/Holstein region. These tribes assimilated and continued as the Frisian tribe we know today. In 300 A.D. other smaller West Germanics tribes had also formed larger tribal-groups known as: Allemandes, Saxons, Thuringers, and Bayerns. The Chaukian tribe disappears altogether. It has assimilated in the Frisian- and Saxon-tribe.

MIGRATION PERIOD (350 - 550 A.D.) For two centuries (350 - 550 A.D.) the tide of the Migration of Nations sweeps over Europe. Germanic tribes migrate all over Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Thereby forming new tribes in the newly conquered areas and for the first time large organized Germanic states. In Europe the major Germanic states were the Jutish, Saxon, Anglo-Saxon, Frankish, Burgondish, West-Gothic, East-Gothic, Vandal and Frisian. Around 450 A.D. Angles, Saxons, Jutes and a Frisian fraction cross the North Sea and establish the Anglo-Saxon empire (currently known as England). The Frisians colonized the county of Kent in southeast England. Around 480 A.D. Clovis establishes the Frankish Empire (currently known as France). As said before the Frankish tribe originated from the Chaukans and Frisians. Around 400 A.D. the Frisians started establishing their Frisian Empire. In 500 and especially 600 A.D. there was a fast expansion and a strong increase in trade. At its peak, in the 7th century, this empire consisted of the coastal areas from north Belgium to southern Denmark. And it controlled a large part of the North Sea trade routes from Friesland to England, France, Scandinavia and northwest Russia.

Listen to the Friesian language

FRISIANS EXPANSION UNDER HEATHEN KINGS (400 A.D.-719 A.D.) Very little is known about this period in history. There are no historical documents of Frisian origin, and a few documents of Frankish and Anglo-Saxon origin. The Frankish writings do not always present a historically just picture of the Frisians. Ever since the Frankish conversion to Christianity under Clovis (496 A.D.) the Frisians had become their major antagonists, as a result the Frankish texts had become colored for political and religious reasons. Clovis converted to Catholicism for power-political reasons. The Gallo-Roman aristocracy in France and the church in Rome, whose support Clovis needed during his empire-building period, were both Catholic. Other Germanic tribes in the former hemisphere of the Roman Empire (Goths and Vandals) had converted to a form of Christianity more suitable to the Germanic soul, called Aryanism. The Germanic tribes in the north, including the Frisians, were still practicing the religious believes of their forefathers, currently known as Odinism or Asatru. In this article the term 'Heathen' will be used. In becoming Catholic the Franks automatically became the greatest antagonists of the Frisians. Around 500 A.D. Clovis had formed his Frankish Empire, which was to be the heir of the Roman Empire with blessings of the pope in Rome. The most northerly border of this empire was formed by the cities Utrecht and Dorestad, neighboring to the Frisians. The Migration Period seems to have had only a slight change in racial characteristics. In the sixth century the written sources begin to speak again about the Frisians. A 'Great Friesland' (Magna Frisia) has been created. This historical Great-Friesland consisted of a long narrow strip of land along the North Sea, from the Swin (Belgium) in the south, to the Weser (Germany) in the north. This historic Frisian empire lasted from 500 A.D. to 719 A.D. It neighbored to the Saxons in the north and east, the Franks in the south and the Anglo-Saxons in the west across the North Sea. After the death of Clovis in 511 A.D. the Frisians took advantage of the internal Frankish power struggle and captured Utrecht and Dorestad. Both cities would stay Frisian for over a hundred years (511 - 628 A.D.). The capture of these cities was of very great interest to the Frisians, since they were the gateways of trade from the Saxon and Frankish hinterlands to the North Sea. In the sixth and the seventh century the Frisians were the major traders on the North Sea. The North Sea was even called 'Mare Frisicum' during this period.

From a religious point of view the Frisian heathenism was no longer under threat of Frankish Christianity since there was no sally port (Utrecht). In the year 628 A.D. the Frankish/Christian king Dagobert defeats a combined force of Saxons and Frisians (both Saxons and Frisians were Heathen). By doing so the city of Utrecht fell to the Franks. Dagobert erected a church in Utrecht and ordered a bishop to start converting the Frisians. Christianity had become a tool in the hands of the Franks to destroy the Frisian independence north of the Rhine. King Finn Folcwalding (lived somewhere in the beginning of the 6th century) King Finn may have been a Frisian king in the sixth century. He is only named in Anglo-Saxons epics (Widsith, Beowulf and Finnsburg-fragment) which have been written some 50 to 100 years later. King Eadgils ( ? - 677 A.D.) King Eadgils is the first Frisian king known by name. Two Christian scribes, Beda and Eddius, name him in their works. Under the rule of Eadgils the Frisians and the Franks live in peace with one and other. There are two reasons for this: The Franks were still in internal division, as to who was to be the heir of the Frankish empire Clovis built, and Eadgils let bishop Wilfried (a pawn of Rome and the Franks) preach Christianity freely in the Frisian regions. This peaceful time was to change drastically ten years later, when the Redbad had become king of Friesland and Pippin leader of the Franks. King Redbad (679 - 719 A.D.) The heathen king Redbad is the greatest folk hero of the Frisians. He is the defender of the Frisian freedom against the invading Frankish armies and against the Church of Rome. Redbad was a devout heathen. So when the Franks were internally divided as whom was to rule, he attacked the Franks, conquered Utrecht and destroyed the church. Christianity was then forcefully removed from the Frisian empire. In 689 A.D. Pepin II leads the Frankish conquest in the Frisian lands and he takes Dorestad. Between 690 and 692 A.D. Utrecht also falls into the hands of Pepin. Thereby controlling the important gateways of trade from the Frankish hinterland to the North Sea via the river Rhine. In 714 A.D. Pepin dies. Redbad takes advantage of this and he beats the Frankish armies under Charles Martel in716 A.D. at Cologne, thereby winning back the Frisian Empire. King Redbad dies in 719, leaving behind a Great and Heathen Friesland.

King Poppa (Hrodbad) (719 - 734) Fifteen years after Redbad's death Charles Martel reached the peak of his power and he saw the opportunity to deal with Friesland In 734 A D he sent his forces to Friesland In the heart of the Frisian land, on the river Boorne ('Middelsea'), the decisive battle was waged, with Poppa (in full Hrodbad) at the head of the Frisian land- and sea-forces. Poppa was the son of Redbad, but not as successful as his father. He was killed in battle and the Frisian forces (in disarray) were slain. Friesland, including and up to the Lauwers, was incorporated in the Frankish Empire. It lost its freedom and the church got a foothold. The son of Poppa, Abba (in full Alfbad), became the first Frisian count under Frankish rule (749 - 775A.D.). East-Friesland (east of the Lauwers) was conquered 50 years later. The East-Frisians had bonded with their Heathen neighbors the Saxons. Martel's son, Pepin the Short, was unable to defeat this coalition. Only under the leadership of Martel's grandson, Charlemagne (Charles the Great), is the Saxo-Frisian alliance defeated in 785 A.D. The legendary Widukind led this Saxo-Frisian heathen alliance. During the eight century the Frisian language is born. This birth can be traced by sound changes in the language. Thereby setting the Frisian language apart from other Inguaeonish languages.

Listen to the Friesian language

Translation: Butter,bread and green cheese, if you can’t say that you are not a real Friesian

HISTORY OF THE FRISIAN FOLK PART TWO - ( 785A.D. - 1498A.D.) The Frankish-period (785 A.D - 925 A.D.) Charlemagne ruled his Frankish Empire in a strong centralized manner. Frisians had to serve in his armies. They served under the Franks in the war against the Wilts (789 A.D.) and against the Avars (791 A.D.). When in 800 A.D. the first Scandinavian Viking attacks upon Friesland under Carolinian rule start, the Frisians are discharged from military service abroad. Instead they are left to organize their defenses against the Heathen Vikings. After Charlemagne defeated the Saxons in 785 A.D., the Frankish Empire bordered in the north to the Danish Empire. The Danes were very well aware of the terrible atrocities Charlemagne, in name of the Church, had inflicted on their Heathen kinfolk the Frisians and the Saxons. The Danish/Viking raids on Charlemagne's empire and on the wealthy churches and monasteries in it can be seen as a heathen reprisal. Next to the Franco/Christian invaders, another enemy of the Frisians reared its ugly head. In the Christmas of 838 A.D. an enormous storm flood flooded nearly all of Friesland, drowning lots of people and livestock. FRIESLAND COUNTY OF THE FRANKISH EMPIRE (749 - 840 AD) After Charlemagne victory in 785 A. D. the entire Frisian Empire became a county of the Frankish Empire. As seen before the grandson of the legendary Redbad, Abba, became the first Frisian count under Frankish rule (749 - 775 A.D.) over Friesland west of the Lauwers. The two main duties of a count were: to maintain the rule of law, and to organize the conscripts for the Frankish armies. From 734 until 1100 A.D. Frankish Emperors (and after them German Kings) have been represented by counts. These counts were feudal tenants. Very little is known about these counts. East-, West- and Middle Friesland have probably each had their own count.

Ûleboerd

The counts of Friesland we know by name: o 754 count Abba (Boppa) is leader of the building of the Bonifatius Church in Dokkum o 791 count Diderik (Durk) leads the Frisians in the Frankish struggle against the Avars o 839 count Gerlof sides with the rebellious son of the Frank Louis the Pious o 873 count Aibdag defeats Vikings (Rudolf) in Westergo o 885 count Gerdolf is present at the murder of Godfried the Norwegian Count Gerlof is the father of Diderik I, the count of Holland, and of count Waltger in Teisterbant. The sons of count Waltger are named "Redbad" and "Poppa". These names highlight the fact that the counts in Friesland are Redbadings (kindred of Redbad). The counts of Middle Friesland: o 966 count Egbert of the Brunoanen dynasty; which by marriage and inheritance get Middle Friesland o 1038 count Liudolf of the Brunswik dynasty dies o 1038-1057 Bruno count of Middle Friesland o 1057-1068 Egbert I count of Middle Friesland o 1068-1088 Egbert II count of Middle Friesland The counts of West Friesland: o 885 count Gerlof o 922 count Diderik I (Durk I); for the first time this dynasty is called "House of Holland" count Diderik II (Durk II) o 993 count Arnulf dies in battle with West Frisians, count Durk III beats the army of emperor Hendrik II o 1049 count Durk IV is killed o 1049-1061 Count Floris I is killed 1076 Count Durk V; County Holland is born (also trough Flemish influences), and Count Durk V and his County Holland become the antagonists of West- and Middle Friesland. In East Friesland there is nearly no trace of counts.

Frankish Christianity (688 - 734/785 A.D.) The converting of Heathens to Christianity could only be realized in areas that were under Frankish rule. West Lauwers Friesland became a Frankish county in 734 A.D. The entire Frisian Empire came under Frankish rule in 785 A.D. The Christianization of Friesland started in 688 A.D. when Wigbert preached in Friesland and was completed in 800 A.D. when Friesland was firmly in the grip of Frankish ruler Charlemange. In 800 A.D. the Friesians "seem" to be converted. But only the ruling elite (the counts and other Frankish vassals) has become Catholic. Large portions of the population are still heathen, and will remain for a long time. But the voices of the Frisian Heathen priests and Frisian skalds of the epic poems (in the likes of Beowulf) are silenced. Thereby the chain of the oral tradition that connects the Frisians with their heathen past is broken, and Christianity -in the end-wins. Some (tragic) dates: o 688 A.D. Wigbert preaches in Friesland o 690 - 754 Willibrord and Bonifatius preach o 770-789 Willehad preaches 775 Liudger (a Frisian) preaches 800 A.D. Friesland has Christian social structures (diocese in Utrecht) but, the larger part of the population remains heathen. Highlights in Heathen terms are: o In 714-719 A.D. when Willibrord flees Utrecht after Redbad conquers the city; o In when 754 A.D. Bonifatius is killed in Dokkum; o In 782 A.D. when Liudger flees for Saxo-Frisian uprising under Widukind. In 793 A.D. Liudger meets the only Frisian skald known by name "Bernlef". Bernlef sang epic songs of the Frisian Heroic Age (like Beowulf). VIKING RAIDS AND DANISH RULE (800 - 1014 A.D.) In 807 A.D. a war starts between Charlemagne and the Danish king Godfried. Godfried raids Friesland with a fleet of 200 ships, mocking the Frankish defenses. Shortly after Godfried dies (810 A. D.). After Godfrieds death, the Danish raids concentrate mostly on the British Isles and less upon Friesland.

After the death of the Frankish emperor Lewis the Pious in 840 A.D., the Carolinian defense of Friesland had collapsed. Since there was no Frisian King to organize a defensive force, the Danish raids on this Carolinian outpost intensified. And in the rest of the 9th century the Frisians frequently lived under Danish rule and had to pay taxes to the Danish feudal-tenants. The Danes forced the weakened Carolinian Kings to give them Friesland as a feudal estate. Feudal tenants in Friesland were: o Harald (840 - 844 A.D.) o Rorik and Godfried (844 - 857 A.D.) o Rorik (a Christian) (862 -872 A.D.) o Godfried (881 - 885 A.D.) In 885 the last Scandinavian ruler of Friesland, Godfried the Norwegian, is murdered and the ruling Danes are evicted from Friesland by the Frisians. The great tidal waves of Heathenistic Viking raids (sometimes accompanied with occupation) in Friesland, had come to an end. Smaller raids still took place until 1014 A.D. when the Christian Knut the Great became king of Denmark, Norway and England. THE GERMAN PERIOD (925 A.D. - 1498 A.D.) In 843 A.D. Lotharius II became ruler of Friesland. In 925 A.D. most of the Lotharingian rulers accepted Henry I of Germany as king. Friesland became part of the "Heilige römische Reich deutscher Nation". The executive power was, until 1217 A.D., in hands of feudal tenants (counts). After 1217 A.D. Middle-Friesland did not have a count, no feudal tenant, almost no knights, no slaves and a few cities. They were a people of farmers, fishermen and bargemen. Since there was no overruling authority, everywhere indigenous administrative organs developed. It was a booming period; agriculture and trade flourished and raised it prosperity. Frisian cities joined the "Hanze" (West-European trade alliance). But already dark clouds were drifting over, which would eventually (1498 A.D.) end the Frisian Freedom.

Dyke Building (starts ± 1000 A.D.) After the terpbuilding, which was in fact a defensive measure against the sea level rising, the Frisians went on the offensive and started taking land out of the reach of the sea by dike building. Around 1000 A.D. larger parts of land were surrounded by dykes. This happened in Friesland on both sides of the Lauwers. Between 1000 and 1100 A. D. large parts of Friesland were protected by dykes, and there were extensive regulations concerning maintenance of dykes and watering sluices. These first dykes had a height of 1, 50 meters above field level. Behind the dyke there were roads with a width of approximately 4 meters, so that in case of an emergency two wagons could pass one and-other. In terms of total earth movement necessary for the dyke building one can speak of a world wonder. These large dyke building projects were first organized by so called 'skeltas'. In the 13th century the dykes became the responsibility of 'grietmannen' and 'asegas'. Despite the dyke building there were frequently storm floods that broke the dykes and flooded Frisian lands with all the tragic consequences. Opstalboom (± 1000 - 1327 A.D.) To the southwest of Aurich in East-Friesland, on a burial mound dating from the Bronze Age lies a place called the Opstalboom (Opstalboom; Upstallboom; Upstalesbame (Old Frisian)). In the 11th, 12th and 13th an alliance called the "Opstalboom" gathered on the burial mound. The alliance consisted of representatives of the 7 "Zeelanden" (lands by the sea). These representatives gathered once a year (on the Tuesday after Whit Sunday) and they drew up rules of law and. The alliance also joined forces if one of the individual of the 7 members was attacked. STRUGGLE AGAINST THE DUTCH COUNTS (993 - 26 September 1345 A.D.) ("Battle at Warns")The end of the West-Frisian freedom. After the period of the Scandinavian/Viking rule, the counts of the "House of Holland" become the ruling elite in the lands along the North Sea south of West-Friesland.

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These counts of the house of Holland were of Frisian origin. But after the birth of the province Holland in 1075 A.D. the Frankish influences dominated the Frisian. At this time a deep rift developed between the Frisians in West-Friesland and the counts of Holland. Several attempts were made by these counts to forcefully submit the West-Frisians. Count Arnuif: undertakes a military expedition; he gets killed in 993 A.D. Count Willem ll attacks West-Friesland in the winter of 1256 A.D. he falls through the ice while on horseback and is beaten to death by Frisians. Floris V, son of Willem II, is bent on revenging his father's death and attacks and defeats West Friesland. Around 1200 Frisians die in battle. The de-Friezing of West-Friesland starts. After the death of Floris V the West-Frisians arise again against Jan I. His successor, Jan II, defeated the West-Frisian uprising, killing 3000 Frisians. Middle-Friesland set troops to abide the West- Frisians, but they came too late. West-Friesians lost their freedom, and in the coming centuries also the Frisian language (their mother tongue) Battle of Warns After the defeat of West-Friesland, the counts of Holland set their eye on Middle-Friesland. In 1345 A.D. count Willem IV sets out on a military expedition to conquer Middle-Friesland. With a large fleet and with the help of French and Flemish knights he sailed over the "Zuiderzee". The approach of the aggressor united the Frisian fractions (the Upstallboom played a role in this unification). On 26 September 1345 A.D. Friesland had its finest hour. Willem IV and the cream of the Hollandish, Flemish and French knights were in the forefront of their army, and near Warns they were surrounded by Frisian land folk and beaten to death. In disarray the rest of the army fled, leaving the body of Willem IV behind. The 26 of September became an annual festive day in Middle-Friesland. SCHIERINGERS AND VETKOPERS (1217 - 1489 A.D.) In 1392 we first hear of the "Schieringers" and the "Vetkopers". These two infamous names indicate the end of the Frisian freedom. It came from the Frisian heart itself. The Schieringers and the Vetkopers were two rivaling parties of Frisian origin. They led Friesland into a civil war. Village fought against village, stins against stins and son against father.

Grutte Pier Donia

SCHIERINGERS AND VETKOPERS (1217 - 1489 A.D.) In 1392 we first hear of the "Schieringers" and the "Vetkopers". These two infamous names indicate the end of the Frisian freedom. It came from the Frisian heart itself. The Schieringers and the Vetkopers were two rivaling parties of Frisian origin. They led Friesland into a civil war. Village fought against village, stins against stins and son against father. It was Friesland darkest hour, and it started in 1217 A.D. At this time the rule of Charlemagnian counts in Middle Friesland ends. This results in the lack of one overruling authority eventually resulting in a severe weakening of law and order. The power of the civil service no longer came from above, but out of the community itself. The result of this was that the Grietman (judge) did not have anybody of authority to support him in his actions against disobedient people. In the 14th century this resulted in the partisanship of the Schieringers and Vetkopers. The Frisians remained in this stalemate because of a character trait; there strong individuality. Their personal freedom was more valuable than the freedom of the people as a whole. In 1489 A.D. the aid of a foreign authority, Albrecht of Saxony, was accepted to end the catastrophic partisanship. Thus ending the Frisian freedom!

End of the Frisian freedom (1498 A.D.) Albrecht of Saxony, on request of the Schieringers, created a centralist authority and installing Saxon civil servants. Law and order returned to Middle-Friesland, but culturally Middle Friesland impoverishes. The language of civil service is German, which results in the de Friesing of most cities. The de-Friesing was also hastened because after reformation in the 16th century the Bible and the preaching in churches was in Low German language only. A little about the Friesian Horses Friesian horses, are one of the oldest breeds in Europe. Today they are mainly found in the province of Friesland, where they are bred in the so-called meadow districts and in sandy soil areas. The Friesian horse is unique. It developed from a very old breed which was inherent to all of Western Europe. It's the only horse native to Holland. Historically speaking, the Friesian horse has been influenced by eastern bloodlines and has often been threatened with extinction. Armored knights found the Friesian Horse very desirable, having the strength, courage and heart to carry great weight and still maneuver precisely in the face of the enemy. The Friesian was used as a war horse by Friesian Soldiers fighting with the Roman Armies. Hungarian King Louis II used a Friesian Stallion on the battlefield on June 15, 1526.

THE FRISIAN LANGUAGE One of the most important cultural expressions of a people is their language. The Frisians mother tongue is 'Frisian'. Frisian is a 'Germanic' language. The Germanic languages can be divided in North, East and West Germanic. Frisian belongs to the 'West Germanic' language group. Other languages belonging to this group are High-low German, Dutch and English. Of these four languages Frisian is the closest in relation to English. Frisian, High and Low German, Dutch and English can also be classified as Inguaeonish languages. They have a common origin. In the 8th century A.D. Frisian starts to set itself apart from the other Inguaonish languages. This is the birth of the Frisian language. In the 8th century the Frisian language is spoken in the coastal areas from Holland up to Denmark. As any language, Frisian started to develop dialects. Three dialects can be distinguished: East, North and West Frisian. East Frisian In the 13th century East Frisian was spoken by the people who lived in an area between Lauwers and Weser and on the East Friesian Isles. Today it is spoken only by a thousand people in a small area called Saterland (near Oldenburg). North Frisian North Frisian was spoken in an area on the North Sea coast on the Danish /German border. Today it's spoken by about ten thousand people on the islands Amrum, Sylt, Four, the Hallingen and on the mainland of Sleeswijk. Today there are about 10.000 people in Germany who consider themselves to be Frisians first and German second. West Frisian Currently West Frisian is spoken by about 450.000 people in what is known as the province Fryslân in the Netherlands. The Frisian language has a long history of suppression by the Dutch government, and only in 1980 did it become a regular course on primary schools in Friesland (Dutch is still the first language). There is a lively literary and musical scene. Unlike English, which is a Germanic/Latin mixture, Frisian has kept much of its originality. Though there have been strong influences from High and Lower German and Diets.

Meaning of the name "Friezen" The name "Friezen" (Frisians) can be traced back to the end of the first century A.D. The Roman writers Plinius and Tacitus write about the so-called Frisii. The Germanic word Freisias (Frisians) comes from the Indo-European Preisios. Preisios is a derivation of the root-word prei-, which means: to love. Freya is the Germanic goddess of fertility and love. Thus the meaning of the name. Frisian surnames (family names) Most non-Frisians (in the Netherlands) associate surnames ending on -a as typically Frisian. This is true; surnames ending on -a are plentiful in Friesland. Some of these names (e.g. Albada, Idsarda, Tjaarda, and Wybranda) are composed of old first names. Others of Frisian place-names (e.g. Baarda, Ferwerda, Hoiwerda). But surnames ending on -a are not the only ones that are typically Frisian. Other endings are: -i: The -i is a Latin ending that follows after a Germanic male-name. E.g. Adriani, Gerbrandy, Rudoiphi, Sybrandy. -ides: This is a Greek ending that follows after a first-name. E.g. Hilarides, Mensonides. Germanic endings of a surname are: e.g. Foppes, Gosses, Haukes, Poppes, Sikkes, Wumkes. -(e)n: e.g. Sipken, Popken -(e)ns: e.g. Sipkens -ma: A lot of Frisian place-names end on -urn (e.g. Deinurn, Dokkum). By putting -ma after these place-names, one gets surnames

like Deinuma, Dokkuma. The same thing can be done with first-names: e.g. Adema, Boukema, and Bartlema -sma: The same story as above. E.g. Jelsma from the place Jelsum and Jensma from the first-name Jens. -(e)na: An ending that can be found abundantly in East-Friesland(Germany). -inga: Surnames ending on -inga are the oldest. The ending -ing means "belonging to" or "related to" the person named in the name before. The -ing ending appears in most of the other Germanic languages (e.g. Witting (son of Witte) is Old-English; or Carolingi (Charlemagne and descendants) is Frankish; or Skil~Ofmgar is Old-Norse). Frisian names are Abbinga, Dekkinga, Eisinga, Osinga, Piebinga, and Tanirninga. This type of surname is plentiful in Friesland. -nia: This ending is the worn down form of -inga. E.g. Burmania, Tania, Sinia. Most of the endings named above followed a first-name. But there are also Frisian surnames that are derived from names of places. Places like in towns and cities (e.g. Deinum, Van Dokkum, Van Slooten (Van is a preposition)), or in Van Dam (Dam=dam) or Van der Wa! (Wal=embankment). The -stra ending is also plentiful. This -stra means to originate from somewhere. E.g. Balkstra, Beetstra, Boonstra. It is a striking fact that names ending on -stra can only be found in the current province Friesland and a western part the province Groningen (both in the Netherlands). The profession of Frisians has also been a reason to chose a surname: Bakker (baker), Brouwer (brewer), De Boer (farmer), and Visser (fisherman). De Vries is the most appearing surname in Friesland. This is probably due to the fact that, when in the years 1811/12 the Frisians were forced to take surnames by the French occupation force, nationalist sentiments drove them to take a name which was manifestation of their being different. De Vries means the Frisian. After De Vries, De Jong occurs the most, then Dykstra, then De Boer, and then Visser. But if we count all the surnames ending with an -a form (-a, -inga, -ma, -sma, -stra) we have 35% of the population of the province of Friesland, which is by far the most. So maybe after reading this article on Frisian surnames, you'll have discovered that you to have Frisian blood in your veins. Congratulations and welcome to the club of this "trochioftich folk".

FRISIAN RUNES The runes are an ancient alphabet used by the Germanic peoples. They were in use by the peoples of Northern Europe since the beginning of the Christian era (1 A.D.). Inscriptions were initially carved in wood, hence their angular shape. Inscriptions of the 'old' runic script (100 A.D. till 700 A.D.) are very rare, and are found on only 200 items. The first runes were carved in Southern Juteland in Denmark (also the place of origination of the proto-Frisians).The Germanic tribes called the runic alphabet after the sound value of the first six letters, Futhark. The Futhark comprises a 24 letter alphabet arranged in a unique order. This is the Germanic futhark: The runes were used for two purposes: to send messages of a plain nature, and for religious, ritual and magical purposes. In areas populated by Angles, Saxons and Frisians, new letters were developed, to a total of 26 runes. This alphabet is known as the Anglo-Frisian Futhorc. This is Frisian In Friesland only 21 runic inscriptions (Frisian) have been found on items of wood, bone, antler, ivory and gold. These inscriptions date from 450 A.D. to 750 A.D. CHARACTER OF THE FRISIANS Talents Apart from their literary talents, the Frisians are not very artistic. There is a saying in Latin: "Frisia non cantat, Frisia ratiocinatur" (Friesland doesn't sing, Friesland counsels). A talent that sets Frisians apart from other Dutch people is their intellect. No part of the Netherlands has produced as many intellectuals, autodidacts and inventors. A result of this talent is that Frisians can't be bluffed into an opinion, but want to be convinced. Only logic evidence can convince the Frisian.

Temperament Concerning temperament, we can classify the Frisian as the emotional, non-active type. There is a fire in every Frisian person, but it smolders. Only in certain instances, mostly unfavorable, this fire rages out and it becomes uncontrollable. On the other hand this "ever smoldering fire" is the fuel of the Frisian idealism, which is highly developed. The Frisian person is very sensitive, but has great problems in showing his inner feelings. This inner physical tension can lead to great feelings of discontent. This feeling of discontent can lead to melancholy. In Friesland there are comparatively much more people with melancholia than in other regions of the Netherlands. Also severe depression at a youthful age is not uncommon. Aspirations Ambition is the most important motivation for the Frisian person to act. This can be seen in the public sports as speed skating on ice and sailing. If one follows a Frisian skater closely (on his heels), no matter his or her age, every one of them will start to glow inside and speed up. The downside of this ambition is that larger relations fall apart because of the large drive for personal gratification. The Frisian is a very proud person. Their nature forces them to be so. The national anthem illustrates this fact when it says: "trochloftich folk fan dizze alde nãmme" (illustrious folk of this old name). Individualism is a strong trade of the Frisian's character. In this individualism he/she is very opinionated. The Friesian has to personally reflect opinions of others before he acts or speaks on them. Frisian principles and norms Even today one can say Frisians live according their own norms. These norms differ considerably from other regions in the Netherlands (especially the Randstad). They love a fair fight and they hate humbug. There is a saying that goes: "Act normal, that's strange enough". Other principles they live by are their loyalty to a given word, feeling of right and wrong and their social caring.

1. Frysk bloed tsjoch op! wol no ris brûze en siede, En bûnzje troch ús ieren om! Flean op! Wy sjonge it bêste lân fan d'ierde, It Fryske lân fol eare en rom. CHORUS: Klink dan en daverje fier yn it rûn Dyn âlde eare, o Fryske grûn! Klink dan en daverje fier yn it rûn Dyn âlde eare, o Fryske grûn! 2. Hoe ek fan oermacht, need en see betrutsen, Oerâlde, leave Fryske grûn, Nea waard dy fêste, taaie bân ferbrutsen, Dy't Friezen oan har lân ferbûn. Chorus

3. Fan bûgjen frjemd, bleau by 't âld folk yn eare Syn namme en taal, syn frije sin; Syn wurd wie wet; rjocht, sljocht en trou syn leare, En twang, fan wa ek, stie it tsjin. Chorus 4. Fan bûgjen frjemd, bleau by 't âld folk yn eare Syn namme en taal, syn frije sin; Syn wurd wie wet; rjocht, sljocht en trou syn leare, En twang, fan wa ek, stie it tsjin.

Frisia "It Fryske Folksliet" (The Frisian anthem)