Almenum

Almenum
—  Village  —
Country	Netherlands
Province	Friesland
gemeente	Harlingen
Population
– Total	c. 0

Almenum is a historic locality in the territory of the village of Midlum, Friesland, which is in the municipality of Harlingen in Friesland, Netherlands. It is located at the intersection of Zuidwalweg and Haulewei. Almenum according to legend is the site of the first Christian church in Friesland built in 777 AD by Gustavus Forteman. The church was the Cathedral Almenum. In 1157 Eilwardus Ludinga founded a monastery called Ludingakerke. The monks dug canals to provide access to trading vessels. Ludingakerk became one of the richest monasteries in Friesland. The area west of Almenum, became more important and turned into the city of Harlingen.

History

Philip II of Spain granted Harlingen permission to include Almenum within its border in 1563. This caused a dispute with Barradeel which also claimed the hamlet. This was only resolved in 1684 when Henry Casimir II, Prince of Nassau-Dietz decided that it belonged to Harlingen.

A legend says that a miraculous red banner called Magnusvaan was included in the walls of the St. Michaëlsdom church. This flag, according to legend, belonged to Friso the founder of the Frisian people. It had miraculous powers to avert lightning and storms, to repel evil spirits, and make one invincible. After Friso's death he was buried with the flag and no one knew of it. Willibrord the apostle to the Frisians, had a dream where an angel pointed out the spot where the red flag lay buried. The bishop Willibrord excavated it and gave it to Magnus Forteman. The flag was used when Magnus conquered Rome. After this it was hidden again in the wall of the church at Almenum. The Saxons searched for it and could not find it, and legend has it that no one will be able to find it.

Jancko Douwama recorded this legend, but also named Oldeboorn or Ferwoude as possible locations. Ferwoude adopted a red background for its own flag in honour of this legendary flag.^[1]

53°11′N 5°26′E / 53.183°N 5.433°E / 53.183; 5.433 (Almenum)

References

1. ^ Jancko Douwama's Geschriften, Boeck der Partijen p. 50 and 51, in Werken uitgegeven door het Friesch Genootschap van Geschied- Oudheid- en Taalkunde, Leeuwarden, 1849. digital version: [1] p. 126 and 127