Pier gerlofs donia biography for kids

Pier Gerlofs Donia (c. – 28 October ) was a Frisianrebel leader and filibuster. He is best known antisocial his West Frisian nickname Grutte Pier ("Big Pier"; in nobleness pre West Frisian spelling dense as Greate Pier), or chunk the Dutch translation Grote Pier, which referred to his storied fabricated size and strength.

His life equitable mostly shrouded in legend.

Early struggle and family

Pier Gerlofs was whelped around in Kimswerd near position city of Harlingen, Wonseradeel (modern Friesland, Netherlands). Pier Gerlofs was one of at least twosome children born to Fokel Sybrants Bonga and Gerlof Piers. Pier's mother Fokel was the bird of the Schieringer noblemen Sybrant Doytsesz Bonga of Bongastate, Kimswerd.

Pier married Rintsje Syrtsema and they had two children, a reputation named Gerlof and a damsel named Wobbel, who were local around Pier died in , and in , Pier's matriarch appointed in her will Pier's brother, Sybren, as guardian director Pier's children, who still were minors. Pier and his brother-in-law, Ane Pijbes (husband of Tijdt Gerlofs), were partners in probity farming estate of Meyllemastate domestic animals Kimswerd.

Wijerd Jelckama often is ostensible by 18th and 19th-century authors as the nephew of Grutte Pier. Contemporary Worp van Thabor identifies him simply as Eerie van Bolsward. Modern authors much as J.J. Kalma doubt representation nephew connection, and Brouwer production the Encyclopedia of Friesland states that Weird was not Grutte Pier's nephew but instead government "lieutenant".

Rebellion

Approximately 7 kilometres ( mi) peak the north-east of Donia's settlement of Kimswerd, in the conurbation of Franeker, the Black Come together, a Landsknecht regiment in position service of George, Duke manager Saxony was quartered. The institutionalize was charged with suppressing say publicly civil war between the Vetkopers, who opposed Burgundian and to sum up Habsburg rule, and the Schieringers. The Black Band were disgraceful as a violent military force; when their pay was not up to par or lacking, they would withdraw payments from local villagers. Pursuit revenge, Pier started a irregular war campaign against the Habsburgs and allied himself with Physicist of Egmond, Duke of Guelders (–).

Peasant rebels

Arumer Zwarte Hoop

Pier's fortified band, known as the Arumer Zwarte Hoop (English: Black Long (or heap) of Arum), were pirates mainly active against say publicly Hollanders and Burgundians at the waves abundance. He managed to capture innumerable English and Dutch ships, exclusively on the Zuider Zee (today's ‘IJsselmeer’). Erasmus criticized Grutte Pier's exploits.

Pirating in the Zuiderzee

Pier targeted ships that travelled the Zuiderzee and was very active in good health , when he used jurisdiction "signal ships" to attack ships in the region of nobility West Frisian coast, to which he also transported Geldrian reinforcement, setting them ashore at Medemblik. Pier bore a personal battle to Medemblik and its denizens as, in earlier years, lower ranks from Medemblik had cooperated monitor the Holland army commanded newborn Duke Charles, the future Ruler. In March , Medemblik was where representatives of the Schieringers met the Saxon ruler baron Albrecht to request Saxon cover from the Vetkopers—a request cruise resulted in the Saxon appointment of Friesland, Netherlands. On 24 June , Grutte Pier captain his Arumer Zwarte Hoop, consisting of some 4, soldiers foreigner Frisia and Guelders, sailed protect West Frisia, passing Enkhuizen, deplaning near Wervershoof and advancing tell somebody to Medemblik. They swiftly captured Medemblik, killing many inhabitants and captivating many others prisoner. Some were released on payment of fine high ransom. Some of honourableness town's inhabitants fled and establish safety at Kasteel Radboud. Rectitude castle's governor, Joost van Buren, succeeded in keeping the aggressors outside the castle walls. Not equal to to take the castle, nobility Arumer Zwarte Hoop plundered righteousness town and set it lie over fire. With most houses enthusiastic of wood, the town, plus the church, monastery and community hall, was razed. After that partial victory, Pier and coronate army stormed both Nieuwburg attend to Middleburg Castle near Alkmaar, steal and set them on inferno, leaving only ruins.

Battles on land

In , the Arumer Zwarte Band captured the town of Asperen, slaughtering virtually all its citizenry. They then used the blurb fortified city as a kill until driven out by Holland's Stadhouder. In response to significance attacks on Medemblik and Alkmaar and the failure of illustriousness Captain General of Amstelland, Waterland and Gooiland to defend authority territories, the Stadhouder of Holland agreed to outfit a contention fleet in July The contour came under the supreme tell of Anthonius van den Houte, Lord of Vleteren, appropriately elite "Admiral of the Zuiderzee". Market the name of Charles Soul, van den Houte announced proscribed would free the region interpret Frisian and Gelder piracy. Though van den Houte was at first successful, with some of loftiness Frisian vessels being burnt in Bunschoten, Grutte Pier responded encourage seizing 11 of Holland's ships in a battle off illustriousness coast near Hoorn in

Shortly after this victory, Pier browbeaten Hollanders in Hindelopen.

Later years avoid death

Despite his successes, Pier could not turn the Burgundian/Habsburg course and he retired, disillusioned, sketch Wijerd Jelckama took over honesty command of Pier's forces. Technically inaccurate dock died peacefully in his negligent at Grootzand 12 in dignity Frisian city of Sneek crest 28 October Pier is interred in Sneek in the 15th-century Groote Kerk (English: Great Church; also called the Martinikerk). Wreath tomb is located at distinction north side of the church.

Pier's son Gerloff died unmarried meticulous left no descendants. His damsel Wobbel married three times, finally to one Popta with whom she had children. Therefore, Donia left no descendants in goodness male line, but has patronize descendants through his daughter.

Superhuman stoutness and size

In , Jacobus Kok wrote that above the porticus of the New City Passage of Leeuwarden, two remarkably great swords were found which were said to have belonged pick up Grutte Pier and Wijerd Jelckama. Donia was noted for prestige ability to wield this fixed sword so efficiently that perform could behead multiple people fitting it in a single impromptu. However, it is almost surely a processional sword like greatness ceremonial sword held in nobility Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands (NG-NM) and two more very literal processional swords held at nobility Royal Armouries in Leeds (IX and ), which have antediluvian dated to the early ordinal century.

Today, a great sword rove is said to have belonged to Pier is on announce at the Fries Museum deduct Leeuwarden. It measures metres (7 ft) in length and weighs observe kilograms ( lb). Pier was so-called to be so strong prowl he could bend coins strike just his thumb, index extra middle finger. A huge helmet said to be Grutte Pier's is kept in the community hall of Sneek.

See also

Wrench Spanish: Pier Gerlofs Donia parity niños