Haring Harinxma

Haring Harinxma (1323 – 1404) was a powerful Frisian chieftain and Schieringer who lived during the 13th and early 14th centuries. Haring also used the surname Donia, and is considered the patriarch of this well known Frisian family. Another title used by Haring was "thoe Heeg" meaning 'of Heeg', where he was born and lived. The Schieringers elected him potestate of Westergo (southwest corner of Friesland, modern Wymbritseradeel), together with Sjoerd Wiarda, van Gotum of Oostergo (eastern region of Friesland) in the struggle against the count of Holland in 1399. The appointment of Potestates aligned with the Schieringers lead to renewed factionalism between the Vetkopers and Schieringers.

Seventeen 'Landsheeren' (sovereign lords) or Potestates served Friesland, from Magnus Forteman in 809 until the last, Juw Dekama, van Baard in 1494. ["Beknopte geschiedenis van Friesland, in hoofdtrekken; bevattende een overzigt van de lotgevallen der Friezen en van de voornaamste gebeurtenissen, gedurende bijna tweeduizend jaren in dit land voorgevallen," by Wopke Eekhoff. Publisher: Te Leeuwarden, W. Eekhoff, 1851.]

Continued 'bloody' factionalism between the Schieringers and the Vetkopers finally resulted in the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, installing Albert, Duke of Saxony (b. 1443) as hereditary governor of Friesland in 1498.

The Monk/Historian Petrus Thaborita writes in 1500 about "Haghe Haringfma", who was a Commander ("houeling"). A famous descedendent of Harinxma was the Frisian freedom fighter Pier Gerlofs Donia.

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