Almenum
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
53°11′N 5°26′E
Midlum, Friesland
Midlum is a small village in Harlingen in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 600 citizens. Midlum-Herbaijum station was on the Harlingen - Stiens line of the North Friesland Railway, which opened on 1 October 1903 to Tzummarum and Harlingen on 2 May 1904. The passenger...
, which is in the municipality of Harlingen
Harlingen
Harlingen may mean:* Harlingen, Netherlands, a municipality and city in the province of Friesland* Harlingen, Texas, a city in the United States* Harlingen, New Jersey, an unincorporated village in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, United States...
in Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is located at the intersection of Zuidwalweg and Haulewei.
Almenum according to legend is the site of the first Christian church in Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
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
Harlingen
Harlingen may mean:* Harlingen, Netherlands, a municipality and city in the province of Friesland* Harlingen, Texas, a city in the United States* Harlingen, New Jersey, an unincorporated village in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, United States...
.
History
Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
granted Harlingen permission to include Almenum within its border in 1563. This caused a dispute with Barradeel
Barradeel
Barradeel is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Friesland. It was located north of Harlingen and Franeker, and is now largely a part of Franekeradeel. The municipality existed until 1984....
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
Friso
Friso is a legendary king of the Frisians who is said to have ruled around 300 BC. According to Martinus Hamconius in his 17th century chronicle Frisia seu de viris rebusque illustribus, and also the 19th century Oera Linda Book, Friso was a leader of a group of Frisian colonists who had been...
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
Willibrord
__notoc__Willibrord was a Northumbrian missionary saint, known as the "Apostle to the Frisians" in the modern Netherlands...
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
Magnus Forteman
Magnus Forteman , was the first potestaat and commander of Friesland which is now a province of Netherlands...
. 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
Jancko Douwama
Jancko Douwama was a Frisian nobleman who fought to free Friesland from foreign rule.He was born in 1482 into a Vetkoper 'hoofdelingen' or 'untitled noble' family near Oldeboorn, Friesland. He was the son of the chieftain Douwe Douwama and his wife Riem Eesckes...
recorded this legend, but also named Oldeboorn or Ferwoude
Ferwoude
Ferwoude is a small village in Wûnseradiel in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around 233 citizens ....
as possible locations. Ferwoude adopted a red background for its own flag in honour of this legendary flag.
53°11′N 5°26′E