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| {{Short description|Frisian warrior, pirate, and rebel (1480–1520)}} | |||
| {{Infobox Monarch | |||
| {{Infobox person | |||
| | name = Pier Gerlofs Donia | |||
| |name = Pier Gerlofs Donia | |||
| | title = Self-declared ] | |||
| | |
|image = Grutte Pier (Pier Gerlofs Donia), 1622, book illustration.JPG | ||
| |image_size = 150px | |||
| | caption = Statue of Grutte Pier in his hometown of Kimswerd. The line of text on the foot of the statue simply reads in Friese "Grutte Pier". | |||
| |caption = ] of Grutte Pier, from ''Chronycke ofte Historische Geschiedenis van Frieslant'', published in 1622.<ref>{{illm|Pierius Winsemius|fy|Pier Winsemius|sv|Piërius Winsemius}}. Chronycke ofte Historische Geschiedenis van Vrieslant', published in 1622</ref> | |||
| | reign = 1515–1519 | |||
| |birth_date = {{birth year|1480}} | |||
| | wife = Rintze Syrtsema | |||
| | |
|birth_place = ], ], Holy Roman Empire | ||
| | |
|death_date = {{death date and age|1520|10|28|1480}} | ||
| | |
|death_place = ], ], Holy Roman Empire | ||
| |other_names = Grutte Pier, Grote Pier | |||
| |known_for = Leading a Frisian rebellion between 1515 and 1519 | |||
| |occupation = ], ], ] | |||
| |nationality = Frisian | |||
| |spouse = Rintsje Syrtsema | |||
| |children = Gerlof Piers Donia and Wobbel Piers Donia | |||
| |parents = Gerlof Piers Donia and Fokel Sybrants Bonga | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Pier Gerlofs Donia''' of ] (c.1480 – 1520) was a ]n ], ], ], ], and ]. He is best known by his ] nickname "''Grutte Pier''" ("''Greate Pier''" in the ] spelling), or by the ] translations "''Grote Pier''" and "''Lange Pier''", or, in Latin, "''Pierius Magnus''". The nickname refers to his legendary size and strength (historians today assume that he was impressively built, and remembered that way some 500 years after his death). His life is mostly shrouded in legend, but there is no doubt that he really existed. ] wrote of Grutte Pier, though more often criticism than praise of his exploits.<ref name="erasmus">The Age of Erasmus , Lectures Delivered in the Universities of Oxford and London, by P.S.Allen, Clarendon Press 1914</ref> | |||
| '''Pier Gerlofs Donia''' ({{circa|1480}} – 28 October 1520) was a Frisian ], ], and ]. He is best known by his ] nickname ''Grutte Pier'' ('Big Pier'; in the pre-1980 West Frisian spelling written as ''Greate Pier''), or by the ] translation ''Grote Pier'', which referred to his legendary size, strength, and bravery. | |||
| Based upon a description now attributed to Pier’s contemporary ], the 19th-century historian ] wrote that Grutte Pier was "''a tower of a fellow as strong as an ox, of dark complexion, broad shouldered, with a long black ] and ]. A natural rough humorist, who through unfortunate circumstances was recast into an awful brute. Out of personal revenge for the bloody injustice that befell him (in 1515) with the killing of kinsfolk and destruction of his property he became a freedom fighter of legendary standing.''"<ref>Cd. Busken Huet, Het land van Rembrand. Studiën over de Noordnederlandsche beschaving in de zeventiende eeuw (2 delen in 3 banden). H.D. Tjeenk Willink, Haarlem 1882-1884</ref> | |||
| His life is mostly shrouded in ]. Based upon a description now attributed to Pier's contemporary ], the 19th-century Dutch historian ] wrote that Grutte Pier was {{cquote|A tower of a fellow as strong as an ox, of dark complexion, broad shouldered, with a long black beard and moustache. A natural rough humorist, who through unfortunate circumstances was recast into an awful brute. Out of personal revenge for the bloody injustice that befell him (in 1515) with the killing of kinsfolk and destruction of his property he became a freedom fighter of legendary standing.<ref name="Huet1884">{{cite book|author=Conrad Busken Huet|title=Het land van Rembrand: studiën over de Noordnederlandsche beschaving in de zeventiende eeuw|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qt9CAAAAcAAJ|year=1884|publisher=Tjeenk Willink}}p. 15</ref> | |||
| }} | |||
| ==Early life and family== | ==Early life and family== | ||
| Pier Gerlofs was born around 1480 in ] near the city of ], ] (modern ], ]). Pier Gerlofs was one of at least four children born to Fokel Sybrants Bonga and Gerlof Piers.<ref name="archief2556">Archief Familie Van Sminia, inv. nr 2556. Opschrift: Copia. In dorso (= f. 2v): Last Will and Testament of Fokel, widow of Gerloff Piers</ref> Pier's mother Fokel was the daughter of the Schieringer noblemen Sybrant Doytsesz Bonga of Bongastate, Kimswerd.<ref name="Kalma-pg51">J.J. Kalma. ''Grote Pier Van Kimswerd'' (1970), p. 51. {{ISBN|90-70010-13-5}}.</ref> | |||
| 2556. Opschrift: Copia. In dorso (= f. 2v): Last Will and Testament of Fokel, widow of Gerloff Piers</ref> Pier's mother Fokel was the daughter of the Schieringer noblemen Sybrant Doytsesz. Bonga of Bongastate, Kimswerd.<ref name="Kalma-pg51">{{cite book |title=Grote Pier Van Kimswerd |last=Kalma |first=J.J. |editor=(ed.) de Tille |year=1970 |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-7001-013-5 |pages=51 }}</ref> Pier married Rintze Syrtsema and they had two children, a son and a daughter, Gerloff and Wobble who were born around 1510. In 1525, Fokel, Pier's mother, appoints in her will Pier's brother, Sybren, as guardian of Pier's children, who are still considered minors.<ref>Archief Familie Van Sminia, inv. nr 2556. Opschrift: Copia. In dorso (= f. 2v): Last Will and Testament of Fokel, widow of Gerloff Piers</ref><ref>Approaches to Old Frisian Philology, By Rolf Hendrik Bremmer, Thomas S. B. Johnston, Oebele Vries, Published 1998, ISBN 904200651X, page 299, Widows in Medieval Frisia</ref> Pier and Tijdt's husband, Ane Pijbes were partners in the farming estate of Meyllemastate in Kimswerd. | |||
| Pier married Rintsje Syrtsema and they had two children, a son named Gerlof and a daughter named Wobbel, who were born around 1510. Pier died in 1520, and in 1525, Pier's mother appointed in her will Pier's brother, Sybren, as guardian of Pier's children, who still were minors.<ref name="archief2556"/><ref>Approaches to Old Frisian Philology, By Rolf Hendrik Bremmer, Thomas S. B. Johnston, Oebele Vries, Published 1998, {{ISBN|90-420-0651-X}}, page 299, Widows in Medieval Frisia</ref> Pier and his brother-in-law, Ane Pijbes (husband of Tijdt Gerlofs), were partners in the farming estate of Meyllemastate in Kimswerd. | |||
| Pier is the direct descendant of the powerful Frisian chieftain ] (1323-1404), ] and ] of Westergo. Pier is also the third cousin of ].<ref></ref> Grutte Pier and Jancko Douwama are considered the heroes of Frisian freedom. <ref>Book review written in Dutch by Drs. W. Pelt, Lange Dreef 57, 2285 KA Rijswijk of :Een man van eer: Bloemlezing uít 'Jancko Douwama's Geschriften' , Uit het Nederduits vertaald, ingeleid en geannoteerd door Martha Kist en Harmen Wind, (Hilversum, Verloren 2003) ISBN 90-6550-769-8.</ref> | |||
| ] often is described by 18th and 19th-century authors as the nephew of Grutte Pier. Contemporary Worp van Thabor identifies him simply as Weird van Bolsward. Modern authors such as J.J. Kalma<ref>J.J. Kalma: ''Grote Pier Van Kimswerd'' (1970), p. 127–129. {{ISBN|90-70010-13-5}}.</ref> doubt the nephew connection, and Brouwer in the ''Encyclopedia of Friesland'' states that Wijerd was not Grutte Pier's nephew but instead his "lieutenant".<ref>Encyclopedia of Friesland, by Jelle Hindriks Brouwer, 1958, p. 333.</ref> | |||
| ==Rebellion== | |||
| ==Reasons for going to battle== | |||
| Approximately {{convert|7|km|mi|1}} to the north-east of Donia's village of Kimswerd, in the city of ],<ref name="Kalma-pg54–66">{{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=54–66 }}</ref> the ], a ] regiment in the service of ] was quartered. The regiment was charged with suppressing the ] between the Vetkopers, who opposed Burgundian and subsequently ] rule, and the Schieringers. The Black Band were notorious as a violent military force; when their pay was insufficient or lacking, they would extract payments from local villagers.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} On 29 January 1515, the Black Band plundered Donia's village, then allegedly raped and killed his wife, Rintze Syrtsema, burning to the ground both the village church and Donia's estate.<ref name="Kalma-pg67">{{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=67 }}</ref> Seeking revenge, Pier started a ] campaign against the ]s and allied himself with ] (1492–1538). | |||
| The Black Band were a brutal regiment of the ] and were quartered in ] a Frisian village approximately 7 km north-east of ].<ref name="Kalma-pg54-66">{{cite book |title=Grote Pier Van Kimswerd |last=Kalma |first=J.J. |editor=(ed.) de Tille |year=1970 |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-7001-013-5 |pages=54-66 }}</ref> | |||
| ==Peasant rebels== | |||
| The ] were in the employ of the ], and were in ] to suppress the civil war. The ] were notorious as a violent military force who when their pay was insufficient or lacking, which was not uncommon, would exact payment by any means from innocent local villagers. | |||
| ===Arumer Zwarte Hoop=== | |||
| During the sacking of ], Pier's wife, Rintze Syrtsema, was allegedly raped and killed, the village church was burnt to the ground as was Pier's residence at Doniastate. Seeking revenge Pier started a ] campaign against the ] and allied himself with ], Duke of ] (1492-1538), the foremost opponent of the Burgundian Duke ] (1494-1506), and later his son ] (1515 - 1555). | |||
| Pier's armed band, known as the ] (English: Black Hope (or heap) of ]), were pirates mainly active against the Hollanders and Burgundians at sea. He managed to capture many English{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} and Dutch ships, mainly on the ] (today's ‘]’). ] criticized Grutte Pier's exploits.<ref name="erasmus">The Age of Erasmus, Lectures Delivered in the Universities of Oxford and London, by P.S.Allen, Clarendon Press 1914</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2023}} | |||
| ], (] 1822 – ] 1897)]] | |||
| ==Band of warriors== | |||
| Pier's armed band, known as the ] (English: Arumer Black Heap, as in "group/mass of"), were pirates mainly active against the Dutch and the Burgundians at sea. He managed to captured many English and Dutch ships, mainly on the ] (today's ‘IJsselmeer’). In the biggest battle of his career, in 1515, he captured 28 Dutch ships, which earned him the nickname "Cross of the Dutchmen". He then bestowed the title "King of the Frisians" on himself. | |||
| ===Pirating in the Zuiderzee=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Pier targeted ships that travelled the Zuiderzee and was very active in 1517, when he used his "signal ships" to attack ships in the region of the ], to which he also transported Geldrian forces, setting them ashore at ]. Pier bore a personal enmity to Medemblik and its inhabitants as, in earlier years, soldiers from Medemblik had cooperated with the Holland army commanded by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwangburchten.nl/medembl/16grotep.htm |title=Kasteel van Medemblik in de 16e eeuw |publisher=Home.planet.nl |access-date=2008-10-13}}</ref> In March 1498, Medemblik was where representatives of the Schieringers met the Saxon ruler ] to request Saxon protection from the Vetkopers—a request that resulted in the Saxon occupation of Friesland, Netherlands.<ref>{{cite book|author=Johan Frieswijk|title=Fryslân, staat en macht 1450-1650: bijdragen aan het historisch congres te Leeuwarden van 3 tot 5 juni 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r_EU2Q4mDHAC|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Uitgeverij Verloren|isbn=90-6550-043-X}}{{page needed|date=November 2014}}</ref> On 24 June 1517, Grutte Pier and his Arumer Zwarte Hoop, consisting of some 4,000 soldiers from Frisia and ], sailed to West Frisia, passing ], landing near ] and advancing to Medemblik. They swiftly captured ], killing many inhabitants and taking many others prisoner. Some were released on payment of a high ransom. Some of the town's inhabitants fled and found safety at ]. The castle's governor, Joost van Buren, succeeded in keeping the aggressors outside the castle walls. Unable to take the castle, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop plundered the town and set it on fire. With most houses made of wood, the town, including the church, monastery and town hall, was razed. After this partial victory, Pier and his army stormed both Nieuwburg and Middleburg Castle near ], plundered and set them on fire, leaving only ruins. | |||
| ===Battles on land=== | |||
| Pier fought the ships that travelled the Zuider Zee and was very active in 1517, when he used his ‘signal ships’ to attack ships in the region of the West Frisian coast, to which he transported Geldrian forces, setting ashore at ]. Pier bore a great hatred for Medemblik and its inhabitants. In earlier years, soldiers from Medemblik collaborated with the army of Holland, then under the command of ]. It was in Medemblik in March 1498 that representatives of the Schieringers met with the Saxon ruler duke Albrecht to request Saxon protection from the Vetkopers — a request that resulted in the Saxon occupation of Friesland.<ref>Fryslan, staat en macht 1450-1650: Bijdragen aan het historisch congres te Leeuwarden van 3 tot 5 juni 1998. By Johan Frieswijk et al. Published 1999</ref> On June 24, 1517, Grutte Pier and his ], consisting of some 4,000 soldiers from Frisia and ], sailed to West Frisia, passing ], landing near ] and advancing to Medemblik. They swiftly captured Medemblik, killing many inhabitants and taking many others prisoner. Some were released on payment of a high ransom. Some of the town's inhabitants fled and found safety at ]. The castle's governor, Joost van Buren, succeeded in keeping the aggressors outside the castle walls. Realizing they would be unable to take the castle, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop plundered the town and set it on fire. As most houses were made out of wood, the town, including the church, monastery and town hall, were completely razed. With this partial victory, Pier and his army stormed ] and ], which they plundered and set on fire, leaving these mighty castles in ruins. | |||
| In 1517, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop captured the town of ], slaughtering virtually all its inhabitants. They then used the heavily fortified city as a base until driven out by Holland's ].<ref>Beekman, Martinus. Beschreiving van de Stad en Baronnie Asperen. Vertoonende haare oudheid, gebouwen, hooge, en verdere regeering, ens. Utrecht, Mattheus Visch, 1745.</ref> In response to the attacks on Medemblik and Alkmaar and the failure of the Captain General of Amstelland, Waterland and Gooiland to defend his territories, the Stadhouder of Holland agreed to outfit a war fleet in July 1517. The fleet came under the supreme command of ], Lord of Vleteren, appropriately titled "Admiral of the Zuiderzee". In the name of Charles V, van den Houte announced he would free the region of Frisian and Gelder piracy. Although van den Houte was initially successful, with some of the Frisian vessels being burnt near ], Grutte Pier responded by seizing 11 of Holland's ships in a battle off the coast near ] in 1518.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sicking |first=Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jdjsok-J5dYC |title=Neptune and the Netherlands: State, Economy, and War at Sea in the Renaissance |date=1 January 2004 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-13850-1 |page=294 |author-link=Louis Sicking}}</ref> | |||
| ]Shortly after this victory, Pier defeated 300 Hollanders in ].<ref name="Geldersche1853">Geldersche Volks-Almanak Published 1853</ref> According to a legend, Pier forced his captives to repeat a ] to distinguish Frisians from Holland and Lower German infiltrators: | |||
| In 1517, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop captured the city of ], slaughtering virtually all its inhabitants. They then used the heavily fortified city as a base until they were driven out by Holland's ]. <ref> Beekman, Martinus. Beschreiving van de Stad en Baronnie Asperen. Vertoonende haare oudheid, gebouwen, hooge, en verdere regeering, ens. Utrecht, Mattheus Visch, 1745.</ref> | |||
| <blockquote>Bûter, brea en griene tsiis: wa't dat net sizze kin, is gjin oprjochte Fries. | |||
| In response to the attacks on Medemblik and Alkmaar and the failure of the Captain General of Amstelland, Waterland and Gooiland to defend his territories, the Stadhouder of Holland agreed to fit out a war fleet in July 1517. The fleet came under the supreme command of ], Lord of Vleteren, appropriately titled "Admiral of the Zuider Zee". In the name of Charles V, van den Houte announced he would free the region of Frisian and Gelder piracy. Although van den Houte was initially successful, with some of the Frisian vessels going up in flames near ], Grutte Pier responded by seizing 11 of Holland's ships in a battle off the coast near ] in 1518. <ref> History of Warfare, Volume 23: Neptune and the Netherlands State, Economy, and War at Sea in the Renaissance. By Louis Sicking | |||
| (''Butter, bread, and green cheese: if you can’t say that, you’re not a real Frisian.'')<ref>Kellman, Steven G. (2003), ''Switching Languages: Translingual Writers Reflect on Their Craft'', University of Nebraska Press, {{ISBN|0-8032-2747-7}}, Page 10</ref> </blockquote> | |||
| Published 2004 ISBN 9004138501 Page 294</ref> | |||
| ==Later years and death== | |||
| Shortly after, Pier defeated 300 Hollanders in ].<ref>Geldersche Volks-Almanak Published 1853</ref> | |||
| Despite his successes, Pier could not turn the Burgundian/Habsburg tide and he retired, disillusioned, in 1519. ] took over the command of Pier's forces.<ref name="KokPg17–21">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Jacobus |last=Kok |year=1791 |title=Pier Gerlofs Donia |encyclopedia=Vaderlandsch Woordenboek |publisher=Johannes Allart |volume=24 (P–R) |pages=17–21 |location=] }}</ref> Pier died peacefully in his bed at Grootzand 12<ref>Fries Scheepvaart Museum, Object number 1992-257</ref> in the Frisian city of ] on 28 October 1520.<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> Pier is buried in ] in the 15th-century ] (English: ''Great Church''; also called the Martinikerk).<ref name="Geldersche1853"/> His tomb is located at the north side of the church.<ref name="KokPg17–21"/> | |||
| Pier's son Gerloff died unmarried and left no descendants. His daughter Wobbel married three times, lastly to one Popta with whom she had children. Therefore, Donia left no descendants in the male line, but has many descendants through his daughter.<ref></ref> | |||
| According to legend, Pier forced his captives to repeat a ] to distinguish Frisians from Hollandic and Lower German infiltrators: | |||
| ==Extreme strength and size== | |||
| {{quotation|Bûter, brea en griene tsiis: wa't dat net sizze kin, is gjin oprjochte Fries.<br><br>Butter, bread, and green cheese: if you can’t say that, you’re not a real Frisian. <ref>Switching Languages: Translingual Writers Reflect on Their Craft | |||
| In 1791, Jacobus Kok wrote that above the porticus of the New City Hall of ], two remarkably large swords were found which were said to have belonged to Grutte Pier and Wijerd Jelckama. Donia was noted for the ability to wield this great sword so efficiently that he could behead multiple people with it in a single blow.<ref name="KokP21">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Jacobus |last=Kok |year=1791 |title=Pier Gerlofs Donia |encyclopedia=Vaderlandsch Woordenboek |publisher=Johannes Allart |volume=24 (P–R) |pages=21 |location=]}}</ref> | |||
| By Steven G. Kellman, Published 2003 University of Nebraska Press | |||
| ISBN 0803227477 Page 10</ref>}} | |||
| Today, a ] that is said to have belonged to Pier is on display at the ] in ]. It measures {{convert|2.13|m|ft|0}} in length and weighs {{convert|6.6|kg|lb|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.friesmuseum.nl/het-museum/collectie/iconen/zwaard-van-grutte-pier|title=Zwaard van Grutte Pier|access-date=2016-08-28|publisher=friesmuseum.nl|language=nl|archive-date=2014-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608121635/http://www.friesmuseum.nl/het-museum/collectie/iconen/zwaard-van-grutte-pier|url-status=dead}}</ref> Pier was alleged to be so strong that he could bend coins using just his thumb, index, and middle finger. A huge helmet said to be Grutte Pier's is kept in the ] of Sneek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sneekpromotion.nl/nl/Sneek/Bezienswaardigheden.html |title=SneekPromotion.nl - Bezienswaardigheden |publisher=Sneekpromotion.nl |access-date=2008-10-13|language=nl}}</ref> | |||
| Grutte Pier was also credited with coining the old Frisian slogan "''Leaver dea as slaef''" ("Better dead than slave"). | |||
| Despite his successes, Pier could not turn the Burgundian/Habsburg tide and he retired, disillusioned, in 1519. He died peacefully in bed at Grootzand 12 <ref>Fries Scheepvaart Museum, Object number 1992-257</ref> in the Frisian town of ] on ], 1520.<ref name="Kalma-pg50">{{cite book |title=Grote Pier Van Kimswerd |last=Kalma |first=J.J. |editor=(ed.) de Tille |year=1970 |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-7001-013-5 |pages=50 }}</ref> Pier is buried in Sneek in the 15th-century Groote Kerk (also called the Martinikerk). <ref>Geldersche Volks-Almanak Published 1853</ref> | |||
| His tomb is located on the north side of the church.<ref name="KokPg17-21">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Jacobus |last=Kok |year=1791 |title=Pier Gerlofs Donia |encyclopedia=Vaderlandsch Woordenboek |publisher=Johannes Allart |volume=24 (P-R) |pages=17-21 |accessdate=2007-09-18 |location=] |id=}}</ref> Pier’s nephew ] took over the command of Pier’s forces.<ref name="KokPg17-21"/> | |||
| ==Superhuman strength and size== | |||
| [[Image:Grutte Pier (Pier Gerlofs Donia), 1622, book illustration.JPG|thumb|Etching of Grutte Pier, from 'Chronycke ofte Historische Geschiedenis van | |||
| Frieslant' published in 1622.<ref>Pierius Winsemius. Chronycke ofte Historische Geschiedenis van Vrieslant', written published in 1622</ref>]] | |||
| In 1791, Jacobus Kok wrote that above the 'portaal', entrance or porticus, of the New City Hall of ], two remarkably large swords were found which were said to have belonged to Grutte Pier and his nephew Grutte Wierd.<ref name="KokP21">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Jacobus |last=Kok |year=1791 |title=Pier Gerlofs Donia |encyclopedia=Vaderlandsch Woordenboek |publisher=Johannes Allart |volume=24 (P-R) |pages=21 |accessdate=2007-09-23 |location=]|id=}}</ref> | |||
| Today, a ] that is said to have belonged to Pier is on display at the ] in ]. It measures 2.15 meters (7 ft) in length and weighs about 6.6 kg (14.5 lbs). To have wielded such a weapon, he must have been a man of unusual stature and physical strength. People who had met him often put his height at at least 7ft tall.<ref></ref> Pier was alleged to be so strong that he could bend coins using just his thumb, index and middle finger. A huge helmet said to be Grutte Pier's is kept in the ] of ]. | |||
| ==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
| ]. The line of text on the foot of the statue reads in ] "Grutte Pier".]] | |||
| The legendary status of Grote Pier as a hero or a villain has endured over the centuries his daring exploits retold in book, poetry, song and more recently in film. | |||
| ===Gysbert Japicx=== | ===Gysbert Japicx=== | ||
| The seventeenth century Friese poet ] (1603–1666) wrote in his composition "Tjesck Moars See Aengste" ("Grandmother's Sea Anguish")<ref>{{cite book|title=The Foreign Quarterly Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HIAAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA615|year=1829|pages=617–}}</ref> the following verse in reference to Grote Pier (eng. trans., Large Peter): | |||
| {{poemquote| | |||
| The seventeenth century Friese poet ] (1603-1666) wrote in his composition ‘Tjesck Moars See Aengste’ <ref>Foreign Quarterly Review, | |||
| Thee I'll follow, noble Peter, | |||
| Language and Literature of Friesland, page 617 | |||
| Thou wert nobler far and greater, | |||
| Tjesck Moars See Aengste | |||
| Than the noblest, home-kept lord, | |||
| Pub 1829 Harvard University v.3 (1828-29)</ref> the following verse in reverence to Grote Pier (eng. trans., Tall Peter): | |||
| Battling like an ancient Roman, | |||
| For his country with her foeman, | |||
| Whom he chased with fire and sword.}} | |||
| ===Fivefal=== | |||
| Grandmothers’s Sea Anguish | |||
| Stories about Pier grew into legends that often share themes with stories of other strong men in Germanic heroic literature. For example, one story says Pier ploughed his land by pulling the plough himself instead of using horses. Another story states that Pier could lift a horse above his head. ''Fivefal'' is the name in Frisian of a Frisian legend. It tells the story of Pier beating five strong men who came to fight him: the place where he beat them is known as Fivefal, (Lit. Five fall) for all five of them fell to the ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beleeffriesland.nl/en_meer---/typisch_fries/friese_volksverhalen/grutte_pier.htm?steID=6&itmID=15969|title=Grutte Pier|publisher=Fryslân Marketing|access-date=2008-10-19|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719060304/http://www.beleeffriesland.nl/en_meer---/typisch_fries/friese_volksverhalen/grutte_pier.htm?steID=6&itmID=15969|archive-date=2011-07-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| ===Television=== | |||
| :''Thee I’ll follow, noble Peter,'' | |||
| - In the 1970s, in the ] ], Donia was a major character played by actor ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grutte Pier: 2 meter 10 en schoenmaat 53|url=https://www.lc.nl/cultuur/Grutte-Pier-2-meter-10-en-schoenmaat-53-25157157.html|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Leeuwarder Courant|language=nl}}</ref> | |||
| :''Thou wert nobler far and greater,'' | |||
| :''Than the noblest, home-kept lord,'' | |||
| :''Battling like an ancient roman,'' | |||
| :''For his country with her foeman,'' | |||
| :''Whom he chased with fire and sword.'' | |||
| - In the 22nd episode of ] of ], originally aired in October 2022, "Supersized Swords", the final challenge was to have two contestants forge a replica of Grutte Pier's great sword. | |||
| ===Fiveval=== | |||
| - The life of Pier is featured in an episode of 'Dark Marvels' titled "Blades of Fury", originally aired August 7, 2023. | |||
| Stories about Pier grew into legends that often share themes with stories of other strong men in Germanic heroic literature. For example, one story says Pier ploughed his land by pulling the plough himself instead of using horses. Another story states that Pier could lift a horse above his head. Fiveval, a Frisian, told the story of Pier killing five Hollandic mercenaries sent to kill him: | |||
| :''Greate Pier wie in hiele sterke keardel. Op in kear wied er us oan 't ploeijen. Hy hie 't hynder foar de ploege spand. 't Wie noch in âlderwetske ploege mei in houten balke. Doe kom der in fremde man op him ta en dy frege: "Wite jo hwer't greate Pier wennet?" Doe sloech Pier it hynder foar de ploege wei. En hy naem de ploege yn 'e rjochterhân en tilde him in ein fan 'e groun en doe wiisde er mei de ploege op in hûs. En hy sei: "Sjoch, dêr wennet er." Mei de oare fûst sloech er himsels op it boarst en sei: "En hjir stiet er." | |||
| :''Grutte Pier was a very strong fellow. One time he was busy ploughing. He had hitched his horse in front of the plough. It was an old-fashioned plough with a wooden beam. Then a stranger approached and he asked "Do you know where Grutte Pier lives?" Then Grutte Pier undid the plough from the horse. And he took the plow in his right hand and lifted from the ground and then pointed with the plough to the house. And he said: "Look, he lives there." With his other fist he hit himself on the chest and said: "And here he stands."'' | |||
| ===Television=== | |||
| In the 1970s, in the ] ], Donia was a major character played by actor ]. Although he was a villain and the enemy of the leading character, many children learned about Donia, albeit in a historically incorrect way, and it brought Grutte Pier back into popular culture. He was also a major character in the ] remake of the series, although he was less popular than in the Netherlands. | |||
| ===Sport=== | ===Sport=== | ||
| The ] rugby club in ], which plays on a regional level, is named after Donia in Friesland.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112090746/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/greatepier/?primary=theclub&secondary=history |date=2009-01-12 }} history {{in lang|nl}}</ref> Many other clubs and several ships are named after him.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} | |||
| ===2020 Omrop Fryslân study=== | |||
| The ] rugby club in ] is named after Donia. The club plays on regional level. Many other clubs are named after him and quite a few ships. There is also a ] sailing cup named after him which is held annually in Friesland. | |||
| - In 2020, the Frisian-language broadcasting company ] conducted a research study, which revealed that 70% of respondents in Friesland considered Donia to be one of the greatest Frisian historical heroes, but more half of respondents erroneously connected his name to the ] (1345), about two centuries before Donia's time. A further 40% of respondents believed he had served in the army of ], which predated Donia by more than 700 years.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Halink | first=Simon | title=“Almost Like Family. Or Were They?” Vikings, Frisian Identity, and the Nordification of the Past | journal=Humanities | volume=11 | issue=5 | date=9 October 2022 | issn=2076-0787 | doi=10.3390/h11050125 | doi-access=free | page=125}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| == |
==Further reading== | ||
| * {{cite book|author=R. S. Roarda|title=Ut it selde skaei as Greate Pier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jNbnGwAACAAJ|year=1961|publisher=Fryske Akademy}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{cite book|author=Sjoerd Pieter Leiker|title=2 fersen: De âlde Dreit en Greate Pier (yn: Yn ús eigen tael)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-myyMwEACAAJ|year=1902}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{cite book|author=Onno Sytstra|title=Greate Pier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uIfpOwAACAAJ|year=1884}} | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| {{Portal|Biography|Netherlands}} | |||
| {{wikiquote}} | |||
| * {{wikiquote-inline}} | |||
| * at | |||
| * {{Commons category-inline}} | |||
| *, see | |||
| * on the saga {{languageicon|Dutch}} | |||
| {{Pirates of the Modern Age}} | |||
| * {{languageicon|Dutch}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| *]s' village of origin] {{languageicon|Dutch}} | |||
| * {{languageicon|Dutch}} | |||
| * | |||
| * {{languageicon|Dutch}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Donia, Pier Gerlofs}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Donia, Pier Gerlofs}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 20:13, 9 November 2024
Frisian warrior, pirate, and rebel (1480–1520)| Pier Gerlofs Donia | |
|---|---|
,_1622,_book_illustration.JPG) Etching of Grutte Pier, from Chronycke ofte Historische Geschiedenis van Frieslant, published in 1622. | |
| Born | 1480 (1480) Kimswerd, Frisia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | October 28, 1520(1520-10-28) (aged 39–40) Sneek, Lordship of Frisia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Nationality | Frisian |
| Other names | Grutte Pier, Grote Pier |
| Occupation(s) | farmer, rebel leader, pirate |
| Known for | Leading a Frisian rebellion between 1515 and 1519 |
| Spouse | Rintsje Syrtsema |
| Children | Gerlof Piers Donia and Wobbel Piers Donia |
| Parent(s) | Gerlof Piers Donia and Fokel Sybrants Bonga |
Pier Gerlofs Donia (c. 1480 – 28 October 1520) was a Frisian farmer, rebel leader, and pirate. He is best known by his West Frisian nickname Grutte Pier ('Big Pier'; in the pre-1980 West Frisian spelling written as Greate Pier), or by the Dutch translation Grote Pier, which referred to his legendary size, strength, and bravery.
His life is mostly shrouded in legend. Based upon a description now attributed to Pier's contemporary Petrus Thaborita, the 19th-century Dutch historian Conrad Busken Huet wrote that Grutte Pier was
A tower of a fellow as strong as an ox, of dark complexion, broad shouldered, with a long black beard and moustache. A natural rough humorist, who through unfortunate circumstances was recast into an awful brute. Out of personal revenge for the bloody injustice that befell him (in 1515) with the killing of kinsfolk and destruction of his property he became a freedom fighter of legendary standing.
Early life and family
Pier Gerlofs was born around 1480 in Kimswerd near the city of Harlingen, Wonseradeel (modern Friesland, Netherlands). Pier Gerlofs was one of at least four children born to Fokel Sybrants Bonga and Gerlof Piers. Pier's mother Fokel was the daughter of the Schieringer noblemen Sybrant Doytsesz Bonga of Bongastate, Kimswerd.
Pier married Rintsje Syrtsema and they had two children, a son named Gerlof and a daughter named Wobbel, who were born around 1510. Pier died in 1520, and in 1525, Pier's mother appointed in her will Pier's brother, Sybren, as guardian of Pier's children, who still were minors. Pier and his brother-in-law, Ane Pijbes (husband of Tijdt Gerlofs), were partners in the farming estate of Meyllemastate in Kimswerd.
Wijerd Jelckama often is described by 18th and 19th-century authors as the nephew of Grutte Pier. Contemporary Worp van Thabor identifies him simply as Weird van Bolsward. Modern authors such as J.J. Kalma doubt the nephew connection, and Brouwer in the Encyclopedia of Friesland states that Wijerd was not Grutte Pier's nephew but instead his "lieutenant".
Rebellion
Approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the north-east of Donia's village of Kimswerd, in the city of Franeker, the Black Band, a Landsknecht regiment in the service of George, Duke of Saxony was quartered. The regiment was charged with suppressing the civil war between the Vetkopers, who opposed Burgundian and subsequently Habsburg rule, and the Schieringers. The Black Band were notorious as a violent military force; when their pay was insufficient or lacking, they would extract payments from local villagers. On 29 January 1515, the Black Band plundered Donia's village, then allegedly raped and killed his wife, Rintze Syrtsema, burning to the ground both the village church and Donia's estate. Seeking revenge, Pier started a guerrilla war campaign against the Habsburgs and allied himself with Charles of Egmond, Duke of Guelders (1492–1538).
Peasant rebels
Arumer Zwarte Hoop
Pier's armed band, known as the Arumer Zwarte Hoop (English: Black Hope (or heap) of Arum), were pirates mainly active against the Hollanders and Burgundians at sea. He managed to capture many English and Dutch ships, mainly on the Zuider Zee (today's ‘IJsselmeer’). Erasmus criticized Grutte Pier's exploits.
Pirating in the Zuiderzee
Pier targeted ships that travelled the Zuiderzee and was very active in 1517, when he used his "signal ships" to attack ships in the region of the West Frisian coast, to which he also transported Geldrian forces, setting them ashore at Medemblik. Pier bore a personal enmity to Medemblik and its inhabitants as, in earlier years, soldiers from Medemblik had cooperated with the Holland army commanded by Duke Charles, the future Emperor. In March 1498, Medemblik was where representatives of the Schieringers met the Saxon ruler duke Albrecht to request Saxon protection from the Vetkopers—a request that resulted in the Saxon occupation of Friesland, Netherlands. On 24 June 1517, Grutte Pier and his Arumer Zwarte Hoop, consisting of some 4,000 soldiers from Frisia and Guelders, sailed to West Frisia, passing Enkhuizen, landing near Wervershoof and advancing to Medemblik. They swiftly captured Medemblik, killing many inhabitants and taking many others prisoner. Some were released on payment of a high ransom. Some of the town's inhabitants fled and found safety at Kasteel Radboud. The castle's governor, Joost van Buren, succeeded in keeping the aggressors outside the castle walls. Unable to take the castle, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop plundered the town and set it on fire. With most houses made of wood, the town, including the church, monastery and town hall, was razed. After this partial victory, Pier and his army stormed both Nieuwburg and Middleburg Castle near Alkmaar, plundered and set them on fire, leaving only ruins.
Battles on land
In 1517, the Arumer Zwarte Hoop captured the town of Asperen, slaughtering virtually all its inhabitants. They then used the heavily fortified city as a base until driven out by Holland's Stadhouder. In response to the attacks on Medemblik and Alkmaar and the failure of the Captain General of Amstelland, Waterland and Gooiland to defend his territories, the Stadhouder of Holland agreed to outfit a war fleet in July 1517. The fleet came under the supreme command of Anthonius van den Houte, Lord of Vleteren, appropriately titled "Admiral of the Zuiderzee". In the name of Charles V, van den Houte announced he would free the region of Frisian and Gelder piracy. Although van den Houte was initially successful, with some of the Frisian vessels being burnt near Bunschoten, Grutte Pier responded by seizing 11 of Holland's ships in a battle off the coast near Hoorn in 1518.
Shortly after this victory, Pier defeated 300 Hollanders in Hindelopen. According to a legend, Pier forced his captives to repeat a shibboleth to distinguish Frisians from Holland and Lower German infiltrators:
Bûter, brea en griene tsiis: wa't dat net sizze kin, is gjin oprjochte Fries. (Butter, bread, and green cheese: if you can’t say that, you’re not a real Frisian.)
Later years and death
Despite his successes, Pier could not turn the Burgundian/Habsburg tide and he retired, disillusioned, in 1519. Wijerd Jelckama took over the command of Pier's forces. Pier died peacefully in his bed at Grootzand 12 in the Frisian city of Sneek on 28 October 1520. Pier is buried in Sneek in the 15th-century Groote Kerk (English: Great Church; also called the Martinikerk). His tomb is located at the north side of the church.
Pier's son Gerloff died unmarried and left no descendants. His daughter Wobbel married three times, lastly to one Popta with whom she had children. Therefore, Donia left no descendants in the male line, but has many descendants through his daughter.
Extreme strength and size
In 1791, Jacobus Kok wrote that above the porticus of the New City Hall of Leeuwarden, two remarkably large swords were found which were said to have belonged to Grutte Pier and Wijerd Jelckama. Donia was noted for the ability to wield this great sword so efficiently that he could behead multiple people with it in a single blow.
Today, a great sword that is said to have belonged to Pier is on display at the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden. It measures 2.13 metres (7 ft) in length and weighs 6.6 kilograms (14.6 lb). Pier was alleged to be so strong that he could bend coins using just his thumb, index, and middle finger. A huge helmet said to be Grutte Pier's is kept in the town hall of Sneek.
In popular culture
Gysbert Japicx
The seventeenth century Friese poet Gysbert Japicx (1603–1666) wrote in his composition "Tjesck Moars See Aengste" ("Grandmother's Sea Anguish") the following verse in reference to Grote Pier (eng. trans., Large Peter):
Thee I'll follow, noble Peter,
Thou wert nobler far and greater,
Than the noblest, home-kept lord,
Battling like an ancient Roman,
For his country with her foeman,
Whom he chased with fire and sword.
Fivefal
Stories about Pier grew into legends that often share themes with stories of other strong men in Germanic heroic literature. For example, one story says Pier ploughed his land by pulling the plough himself instead of using horses. Another story states that Pier could lift a horse above his head. Fivefal is the name in Frisian of a Frisian legend. It tells the story of Pier beating five strong men who came to fight him: the place where he beat them is known as Fivefal, (Lit. Five fall) for all five of them fell to the ground.
Television
- In the 1970s, in the Dutch Floris series, Donia was a major character played by actor Hans Boskamp.
- In the 22nd episode of Season 9 of Forged in Fire, originally aired in October 2022, "Supersized Swords", the final challenge was to have two contestants forge a replica of Grutte Pier's great sword.
- The life of Pier is featured in an episode of 'Dark Marvels' titled "Blades of Fury", originally aired August 7, 2023.
Sport
The Greate Pier rugby club in Leeuwarden, which plays on a regional level, is named after Donia in Friesland. Many other clubs and several ships are named after him.
2020 Omrop Fryslân study
- In 2020, the Frisian-language broadcasting company Omrop Fryslân conducted a research study, which revealed that 70% of respondents in Friesland considered Donia to be one of the greatest Frisian historical heroes, but more half of respondents erroneously connected his name to the Battle of Warns (1345), about two centuries before Donia's time. A further 40% of respondents believed he had served in the army of Radbod of Frisia, which predated Donia by more than 700 years.
References
- Pierius Winsemius [fy; sv]. Chronycke ofte Historische Geschiedenis van Vrieslant', published in 1622
- Conrad Busken Huet (1884). Het land van Rembrand: studiën over de Noordnederlandsche beschaving in de zeventiende eeuw. Tjeenk Willink.p. 15
- ^ Archief Familie Van Sminia, inv. nr 2556. Opschrift: Copia. In dorso (= f. 2v): Last Will and Testament of Fokel, widow of Gerloff Piers
- J.J. Kalma. Grote Pier Van Kimswerd (1970), p. 51. ISBN 90-70010-13-5.
- Approaches to Old Frisian Philology, By Rolf Hendrik Bremmer, Thomas S. B. Johnston, Oebele Vries, Published 1998, ISBN 90-420-0651-X, page 299, Widows in Medieval Frisia
- J.J. Kalma: Grote Pier Van Kimswerd (1970), p. 127–129. ISBN 90-70010-13-5.
- Encyclopedia of Friesland, by Jelle Hindriks Brouwer, 1958, p. 333.
- Kalma, J.J. (1970). de Tille (ed.). Grote Pier Van Kimswerd. Netherlands. pp. 54–66. ISBN 90-70010-13-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Kalma, J.J. (1970). de Tille (ed.). Grote Pier Van Kimswerd. Netherlands. p. 67. ISBN 90-70010-13-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - The Age of Erasmus, Lectures Delivered in the Universities of Oxford and London, by P.S.Allen, Clarendon Press 1914
- "Kasteel van Medemblik in de 16e eeuw". Home.planet.nl. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- Johan Frieswijk (1 January 1999). Fryslân, staat en macht 1450-1650: bijdragen aan het historisch congres te Leeuwarden van 3 tot 5 juni 1998. Uitgeverij Verloren. ISBN 90-6550-043-X.
- Beekman, Martinus. Beschreiving van de Stad en Baronnie Asperen. Vertoonende haare oudheid, gebouwen, hooge, en verdere regeering, ens. Utrecht, Mattheus Visch, 1745.
- Sicking, Louis (1 January 2004). Neptune and the Netherlands: State, Economy, and War at Sea in the Renaissance. BRILL. p. 294. ISBN 90-04-13850-1.
- ^ Geldersche Volks-Almanak Published 1853
- Kellman, Steven G. (2003), Switching Languages: Translingual Writers Reflect on Their Craft, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-8032-2747-7, Page 10
- ^ Kok, Jacobus (1791). "Pier Gerlofs Donia". Vaderlandsch Woordenboek. Vol. 24 (P–R). Amsterdam: Johannes Allart. pp. 17–21.
- Fries Scheepvaart Museum, Object number 1992-257
- Kalma, J.J. (1970). de Tille (ed.). Grote Pier Van Kimswerd. Netherlands. p. 50. ISBN 90-70010-13-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Donia-Popta link
- Kok, Jacobus (1791). "Pier Gerlofs Donia". Vaderlandsch Woordenboek. Vol. 24 (P–R). Amsterdam: Johannes Allart. p. 21.
- "Zwaard van Grutte Pier" (in Dutch). friesmuseum.nl. Archived from the original on 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- "SneekPromotion.nl - Bezienswaardigheden" (in Dutch). Sneekpromotion.nl. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- The Foreign Quarterly Review. 1829. pp. 617–.
- "Grutte Pier" (in Dutch). Fryslân Marketing. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
- "Grutte Pier: 2 meter 10 en schoenmaat 53". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- RC Greate Pier Leeuwarden Archived 2009-01-12 at the Wayback Machine history (in Dutch)
- Halink, Simon (9 October 2022). ""Almost Like Family. Or Were They?" Vikings, Frisian Identity, and the Nordification of the Past". Humanities. 11 (5): 125. doi:10.3390/h11050125. ISSN 2076-0787.
Further reading
- R. S. Roarda (1961). Ut it selde skaei as Greate Pier. Fryske Akademy.
- Sjoerd Pieter Leiker (1902). 2 fersen: De âlde Dreit en Greate Pier (yn: Yn ús eigen tael).
- Onno Sytstra (1884). Greate Pier.
External links
Quotations related to Pier Gerlofs Donia at Wikiquote
Media related to Pier Gerlofs Donia at Wikimedia Commons
