Hessel Martena
Encyclopedia
Hessel Martena was the tenth Potestaat (magistrate governor) of Friesland
a province of the Netherlands
. He succeeded Reinier Camminga
.
Martena was particularly praised for his clever policy, calming the existing dispute between the Schieringers and Vetkopers which had developed to an extreme extent in his time.
After three centuries, the Dutch count William III of Holland, made an attempt to take over Friesland during his administration. In 1309, William landed with a fleet of 1500 "heads" in Gaasterland. Hessel had Count William fleeing back to his ships.
After the death of Hessel on 16 August 1312, the conflict between the Vetkopers and Schieringers
erupted again. The parties could not even agree about the appointment of a next Potestaat.
Hessel's life is described by Johannes Vlieterp, the successor to the historian Occo Scarlensis.
Hessel had four daughters and no sons, so his surname was not inherited. The next Potestaat was Juw Juwinga
.
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 the 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...
. He succeeded Reinier Camminga
Reinier Camminga
Reinier Camminga was the ninth potestaat or governor of Friesland now a province of the Netherlands.Reijner Haijes Camminga was captain when the Danes made an incursion into Oostergo in 1306 because of disputes with the Frisians.Occo Scarlensis wrote about a drawn out battle after which the Danes...
.
Martena was particularly praised for his clever policy, calming the existing dispute between the Schieringers and Vetkopers which had developed to an extreme extent in his time.
After three centuries, the Dutch count William III of Holland, made an attempt to take over Friesland during his administration. In 1309, William landed with a fleet of 1500 "heads" in Gaasterland. Hessel had Count William fleeing back to his ships.
After the death of Hessel on 16 August 1312, the conflict between the Vetkopers and Schieringers
Vetkopers and Schieringers
The Schieringers and Vetkopers were two opposing Frisian factional parties from the medieval period. They were responsible for a bloody civil war that lasted for over a century and which eventually led to the end of the highly praised "Frisian freedom".These factional parties arose because of an...
erupted again. The parties could not even agree about the appointment of a next Potestaat.
Hessel's life is described by Johannes Vlieterp, the successor to the historian Occo Scarlensis.
Hessel had four daughters and no sons, so his surname was not inherited. The next Potestaat was Juw Juwinga
Juw Juwinga
Juw Juwinga of Bolsward was a Frisian chieftain that earned great fame in the struggle against the ‘infidels’. When Albrecht of Bavaria, count of Holland, threatened Friesland in 1396, Juw was chosen as potestate of Friesland. He advised luring the enemy into the land. The Schieringers limited...
.