Editing Friesland (section)

===Frisian freedom===
{{Main|Frisian freedom}}
[[File:Dapperheidgrotepier.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pier Gerlofs Donia]] in 1516 as depicted in a 19th-century painting by [[Johannes Hinderikus Egenberger]]]]

When, around 800, the [[Scandinavia]]n [[Vikings]] first attacked [[Frisia]], which was still under [[Carolingian]] rule, the Frisians were released from military service on foreign territory in order to be able to defend themselves against the heathen Vikings. With their victory in the [[Battle of Norditi]] in 884 they were able to drive the Vikings permanently out of [[East Frisia]], although it remained under constant threat. Over the centuries, whilst [[Feudalism|feudal lord]]s reigned in the rest of Europe, no aristocratic structures emerged in Frisia. This '[[Frisian freedom]]' was represented abroad by ''redjeven'' who were elected from among the wealthier farmers or from elected representatives of the autonomous rural municipalities. Originally the ''redjeven'' were all judges, so-called ''Asega'', who were appointed by the territorial lords.<ref>Heinrich Schmidt: ''Politische Geschichte Ostfrieslands.'' 1975, p. 22 ff.</ref>

After significant territories were lost to [[County of Holland|Holland]] in the [[Friso-Hollandic Wars]], Frisia saw an economic downturn in the mid-14th century. Accompanied by a decline in monasteries and other communal institutions, social discord led to the emergence of untitled nobles called ''haadlingen'' ("headmen"), wealthy landowners possessing large tracts of land and fortified homes<ref>Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia, John M. Deep, Pub. 2001, Germany.</ref> who took over the role of the judiciary as well as offering protection to their local inhabitants. Internal struggles between regional leaders resulted in bloody conflicts and the alignment of regions along two opposing parties: the [[Vetkopers and Schieringers|Fetkeapers and Skieringers]]. On 21 March 1498,<ref>Markus Meumann, Jörg Rogge (Hg.). Die besetzte "res publica". Zum Verhältnis von ziviler Obrigkeit und militärischer Herrschaft in besetzten Gebieten vom Spätmittelalter bis zum 18. Jahrhundert, Pg. 137. Papers from a conference held 20–21 Sep 2001, at the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. By Markus Meumann, Jörg Rogge. Published 2006 LIT Verlag Berlin -Hamburg-Münster.</ref> a small group of Skieringers from Westergo secretly met with [[Albert III, Duke of Saxony]], the [[List of governors of the Habsburg Netherlands|Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands]], in [[Medemblik]] requesting his help.<ref>The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Published by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 1993, p. 214.</ref> Albrecht, who had gained a reputation as a formidable military commander, accepted and soon conquered all Friesland. [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg]] appointed Albrecht hereditary potestate and gubernator of Friesland in 1499.<ref>''The Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century: The Golden Age'' by Maarten Prak, Pub 2005</ref>

In 1515, an army of haadlingen and peasants, with the help of mercenaries known as the [[Arumer Zwarte Hoop]], started a fight for freedom from oppression by the Habsburg authorities.<ref name="Wûnseradiel">{{cite web |url=http://www.wunseradiel.nl/index.php?simaction=content&pagid=289 |publisher=Gemeente Wûnseradiel |title=Greate Pier fan Wûnseradiel |language=fy |access-date=4 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907012626/http://www.gemeentesudwestfryslan.nl/ |archive-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> One of the leaders was [[Pier Gerlofs Donia]], whose farm had been burned down and whose kinfolk had been killed by a marauding [[Black Band (landsknechts)|''Landsknecht'' regiment]]. Since the regiment had been employed by the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]] authorities to suppress the civil war of the [[Vetkopers and Schieringers|Fetkeapers and Skieringers]], Donia put the blame on the authorities. After this he gathered angry peasants and some petty noblemen from Frisia and Gelderland and formed the ''Arumer Zwarte Hoop''.The rebels received financial support from [[Charles II, Duke of Guelders]], who claimed the Duchy of [[Guelders]] in opposition to the House of Habsburg. Charles also employed mercenaries under command of his military commander [[Maarten van Rossum]] in their support. However, when the tides turned against the rebels after the Donia's death in 1520, Charles withdrew his support, without which the rebels could no longer afford to pay their mercenary army.<ref name="Kalma-pg50">{{cite book |title=Grote Pier Van Kimswerd |last=Kalma |first=J.J. |editor=de Tille |year=1970 |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-70010-13-5 |pages=50}}</ref> The revolt was put to an end in 1523 and Frisia was incorporated into the [[Habsburg Netherlands]], bringing an end to the Frisian freedom.<ref name="Wûnseradiel"/>