Eala Freya Fresena

"Eala Freya Fresena" was the motto for the coat of arms of east Frisia in northern Germany. The motto is often mistranslated as "Hail, free Frisians!", but it was the reversal of the feudal prostration and is better translated as "Stand up, free Frisians!". According to 16th century sources, it was spoken at the Upstalsboom in Aurich where Frisian judges meet in pentecost and it is traditionally answered with "Leaver dea os slaef", or in English, "rather dead than slaves".

The motto refers to the legendary "Frisian freedom," a right to accept no rule besides the Holy Roman Emperor and the Christian God. The right was in the Middle Ages supposed to have been granted by Charlemagne for Frisian support of Pope Leo IV (who was not contemporary with Charlemagne). It was said to have been renewed by Charles the Fat in 885 for saving him from Normans. The Frisian freedom basically meant a claim of freedom from tax and fief, to defend themselves against the Normans, Vikings and the northern sea. Friesland offered unclaimed land for everyone, however the unclaimed land of the country was under water half of the day. The daily fight against the northern sea ensured equality of the people who where living on warfs during this time. Tax and fief was therefore replaced by the duty to build dikes.

Motto

For the interjection "eala" compare Old English "éala" in "Crist" (104), :"éala éarendel engla beorhtast" "hail Earendel, brightest of angels!"

History

The number of Frisian sealands grew from the original seven up to 27 at their height in the early 14th century.Each Frisian sealand sent two seajudges during Pentecost to an annual meeting at Upstalsboom, to discuss disputes between the tribes. Friesland had a nearly democratic government, unlike most of Europe during Middle Ages. While the seajudges had been delegated to rule legally, the hovedlinge had been self elected by their wealth to rule military. Serval of them became known for supporting pirates to refinance their military wealth. For example the hoveling Keno ten Broke hosted the famous Klaus Störtebeker.

In the late Middle Ages, Friesland had no central government, but was ruled by either by their local chieftains or changing foreign powers. The Frisians revolted often against the foreigners. The Stedinger revolt 1233-34, that caused Pope Gregory IX to call on a crusade against them, marked the decline of Frisian freedom. Frisian freedom offially ended in 1498 when Emperor Maximilian I gave Friesland as a fief to Albert, Duke of Saxony to pay a 300.000 guilder debt, but Albert had to conquer Friesland himself first.

Additional links

*Frisia