- Igo Galema
.
Biography
Not much is known of his llfe. However the history of Friesland says that Galama was elected in 876 as potestaat. He would have been an excellent soldier, who did everything possible for the peace and prosperity of the Frisian people. He also reinforced the seawalls and erected several facilities to inhibit the incursion of the
Vikings . The old custom of coastal surveillance, which was neglected by his predecessors, was reintroduced by Galama.Sometimes, the name of Igo is written as Ygo II Galama, to avoid confusion with
Ygo Gales Galama , orYgo I Galama who would have been the Frisian kingBeroald (540-597), and according to the stories won a victory over Dagobert (born 603), the son of theMerovingian kingChlothar II (613 - 629).Also
Ezonstad would agree Galama residents have particularly to be on their guard against the Vikings. On that occasion, he would have said:"Haadet goede wacht tyan da Nordera oordt, Want vuyt da Grimma herna comt ws all quaed voort."
(He waits at the northerly place, because from this sector comes trouble for us all)
Galema probably died in 910. According to some sources he already died in the first years of his reign.
His coat of arms is seen in the shield of
Oudega (town inGaasterlân-Sleat ). It contains a fleur-de-lis and a stins.He was preceded by
Hessel Hermana and succeeded byGosse Ludigman References
*
Waling Dykstra , "Uit Friesland's Volksleven, van vroeger en later, volksoverleveringen, volksgebruiken, volksvertellingen, volksbegrippen", 1895, page 35
* Wopke Eekhoff: "Beknopte geschiedenis van Friesland, in hoofdtrekken" 1851 [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=kAwGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA490&lpg=PA490&dq=%22Igo+Galema&source=web&ots=ZbuBwIFPJT&sig=KM4oOJuDuV20TsitOdz3U_6zd_M&hl=en] p 490
* [http://www.friesscheepvaartmuseum.nl/index.php?option=com_adlib&Itemid=33&task=topview&CollectionID=1&RecordID=247&PhotoID=317 image]
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