Gale Hania was the thirteenth potestaat (or ruler) of 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...

, a province of 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...

.

Biography

His name is also known written as Hanja or Hanya. Gale was born on the Hanya farm northeast of Pingjum

Pingjum

Pingjum is a village in the municipality of Wûnseradiel in Friesland, in the northern Netherlands and has around the 670 citizens...

, in the shire of Wonseradeel. The path alongside this farm is now called the Hanialaan.

On July 4 1380 around Arum

Arum, Friesland

Arum is a small village in the Dutch province of Friesland. It is located in the municipality Wûnseradiel, about 5 km southeast of the city of Harlingen.The village itself has about 850 inhabitants...

 a battle occurred between the monks of Ludingakerk (near Midlum

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...

) and those of Oldeklooster (near Hartwert), where a total of more than 130 men died. The nobles Sicke Gratinga and Gale Hania, were severely injured, and were taken back to Ludingakerk .

From the family Hania there are three signatories to the Covenant of the Nobles, Jorryt, Otto and Leo Hania.