Poppo (Frisian)
Encyclopedia
Poppo also known as Bubo or Bobba, was a king (or duke) of Frisia
from the 8th century. After Aldgisl
and Radboud he is the third Frisian ruler mentioned in the literature. He is possibly the last Frisian king. However Adgillis II
, possibly Poppo's brother also ruled during the same period but no contemporary accounts of his rule exist.
, and he was often absent he was probably Radboud's son and successor.
The Frisian kingdom gained its maximum extent during the reign of king Radboud. These increases in territory were at the expense of the Frankish Realm. These gains came to an end in 719 with Radboud's death when the Frankish major-domo Charles Martel
in turn attacked the Frisian kingdom
and the Frisians were defeated.
From 720 the Frisian area west of the Vlie
(Zeeland
, Holland and Utrecht) was in Frankish hands. The written sources are briefly silence on the period after this. Nevertheless, there are indications that the local elite was involved in power sharing with the Franks. Presumably they chose the side of the Franks and no longer supported the Frisian king. Some people assume that after the defeat, Poppo agreed a treaty with Charles Martel. In any case, after 720 the territory west of the Vlie was in Frankish hands.
Then there is a brief period of peace with the Franks. This, however, came to an end when Charles Martel again attacked the Frisians in 733. With a fleet he stuck to the current Friesland and hit back against the Frisian territory of Oostergo. The following year (734), he returned and fought the Frisian army led by Poppo in the Battle of the Boarn
, with the Frisian king being killed. And with this Frankish victory, the power of the Frisian kings was broken.
Rulers of Frisia
Of the first historically verifiable rulers of Frisia, whether they are called dukes or kings, the last royal dynasty below is established by the chronicles of Merovingian kings of the Franks, with whom they were contemporaries...
from the 8th century. After Aldgisl
Aldgisl
Aldegisel, Aldegisl, Aldgillis, Aldgisl, Aldgils or Eadgils was the ruler of Frisia in the late seventh century contemporarily with Dagobert II and a very obscure figure...
and Radboud he is the third Frisian ruler mentioned in the literature. He is possibly the last Frisian king. However Adgillis II
Adgillis II
Adgillis II was an obscure historical figure who may have been Ruler of Frisia between 734 and 741. No contemporary accounts of his rule exist, but the scanty information available suggests that King Poppo was succeeded by someone called Adgillis. Eggerik Benninga made a brief record in his...
, possibly Poppo's brother also ruled during the same period but no contemporary accounts of his rule exist.
King or Duke
What the exact title of the Frisian rulers was depends on the source. Frankish sources tend to call them dukes; other sources often call them kings.History
The literature from the early Middle Ages is silent on the successor to King Radboud. Because Poppo was the leader of the Frisian army in the battles against the FranksFranks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
, and he was often absent he was probably Radboud's son and successor.
The Frisian kingdom gained its maximum extent during the reign of king Radboud. These increases in territory were at the expense of the Frankish Realm. These gains came to an end in 719 with Radboud's death when the Frankish major-domo Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
in turn attacked the Frisian kingdom
Frisian kingdom
The Frisian Kingdom , also known as Magna Frisia, was a kingdom in what is now the Netherlands and northern Germany, established around 600 AD...
and the Frisians were defeated.
From 720 the Frisian area west of the Vlie
Vlie
The Vlie or Vliestroom is the seaway between the Dutch islands of Vlieland, to its southwest, and Terschelling, to its northeast. The Vlie was the estuary of the river IJssel in medieval times...
(Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, Holland and Utrecht) was in Frankish hands. The written sources are briefly silence on the period after this. Nevertheless, there are indications that the local elite was involved in power sharing with the Franks. Presumably they chose the side of the Franks and no longer supported the Frisian king. Some people assume that after the defeat, Poppo agreed a treaty with Charles Martel. In any case, after 720 the territory west of the Vlie was in Frankish hands.
Then there is a brief period of peace with the Franks. This, however, came to an end when Charles Martel again attacked the Frisians in 733. With a fleet he stuck to the current Friesland and hit back against the Frisian territory of Oostergo. The following year (734), he returned and fought the Frisian army led by Poppo in the Battle of the Boarn
Battle of the Boarn
The Battle of the Boarn was an eighth century battle between the Franks and the Frisians near the mouth of the river Boarn in what is now the Dutch province of Friesland....
, with the Frisian king being killed. And with this Frankish victory, the power of the Frisian kings was broken.