Haggawaga - Oegawagga (talk | contribs) adding some |
Haggawaga - Oegawagga (talk | contribs) removing template |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{tone}} |
|||
<div align="center">'''This man was a real-life [[Goliath]]; sadly, there was no [[David]] who could stand up against him!'''</div> |
<div align="center">'''This man was a real-life [[Goliath]]; sadly, there was no [[David]] who could stand up against him!'''</div> |
||
Revision as of 12:32, 2 May 2007
From: Count of Nychlenborch
Pier Gerlofs Donia | |
---|---|
'Frisian freedom fighter and rebel-leader' | |
Reign | 1504–1519 |
Pier Gerlofs Donia of Kimswerd (1480? - October 28 1520) was a Frisian warrior, pirate, freedom fighter and folk hero. He is most well known by his Frisian nickname "Grutte Pier" (in the old Frisian spelling "Greate Pier"), or by his Dutch aliases of "Grote Pier" and "Lange Pier". These nicknames all refer to his legendary size and strength (at least all historians today are sure that he was impressively built, and that way remembered by many five-hundered years after his death). His life is for the most part shrouded in legends, but there is absolutely no doubt that he really existed.
Reasons for going to battle
He was a farmer in the West of Friesland at the beginning of the sixteenth century in the village of Kimswerd near the city of Harlingen. His village was plundered by a band of mercenaries in 1515 during a civil war between Schieringers and Vetkopers, the latter in favour of the Burgundian/Habsburg rule over the Low Countries, the others against. During the sacking of Kimswerd, Pier's wife, Rintze Syrtsema, was allegedly raped and killed. For this reason Pier started a guerrilla war against the Burgundian party and allied himself with Charles of Egmond, Duke of Gelre (1492-1538) the foremost opponent of the Burgundian Duke Philip the Handsome (1494-1506) and after him his son Charles V (1515 - 1555).
Piers' band of warriors
Pier's armed band, known as the Arumer Zwarte Hoop (Arumer Black Heap, as in group/mass of), was mainly active against the Dutch and the Burgundians at sea where he captured many English and Dutch ships. In the biggest battle of his career, in 1515, he captured 28 Dutch ships, which earned him the nickname: the "Cross of the Dutchmen". He bestowed the title "King of the Frisians" on himself, though. In 1517 he landed an army in the Dutch province of Holland and sacked the towns of Medemblik and Alkmaar. According to legend, Pier forced his captives to repeat a shibboleth to distinguish Frisians from Dutch and Low Germans:
Bûter, brea en griene tsiis: wa't dat net sizze ken, is gjin oprjochte Frys.
Butter, rye-bread, and young cheese: whoever cannot say that is not a true Frisian.
Despite his successes Pier could not turn the Burgundian/Habsburg tide and he retired disillusioned in 1519. He died peacefully in bed in the Frisian town of Sneek in the year 1520 on October 28.
After his death Pier grew into a hero of Frisian folklore and tales abound which relate of his superhuman strength.
Superhuman strength and size
A great sword which belonged to Pier is kept at the Frisian museum in Leeuwarden. It measures 2.15 meters in length and weighs over 7 kg. To have wielded such a weapon he must have been a man of unusual stature indeed (carrying such an enormous sword made it possibly for this warrior, to behead more than one enemy during battle, in just one hit).
Having Donia at your side (not even counting the men he brought), gave you a tactical advantage over the enemy, thanks to his balanced and well trained fighting skills. The helmet of Pier Gerlofs Donia has been kept in the mayors' house, Frisia, city of Sneek.
Facts\legends
Another strong fact of Pier Gerlofs was that he could lift a horse above his head, (a horse weighs almost 1000 pounds, for several seconds). Donia itself was, according to the size of his blade, possibly arround 2,50 meters(7.5 feet) in height, and he must have weighted about 400 to 500 pounds.
In his hometown of Kimswerd a statue reminds people of the village's hero. The line of text on the foot of the statue simply reads "Grutte Pier".
Last words
Pier Gerlofs last words were said to be Nae Myn Heer ta. It was an answer to the question of his former enemy, the count of Nychlenborch; where do you want to in go in the afterlife?, to which Pier replied in Frisian To my Lord I want to go.
In popular culture
In the 1970's, in the Dutch Floris series, Donia was a major character, plyed by actor Hans Boskamp. He acted in several episodes, and was by far, one of the most popular characters. Although he played a bad guy, and enemy of the leading character, he was adored by the watching people. It brought the men back in the spotlights, and many young children and other youngsters learned about the man in a (historically kinda uncorrect) way. In the German serie-version, he also played a major role, although he was less popular.
See also
External links
English
Genealogy - Pier Gerlofs Donia at BradandKathy.com