Hello one and all!
Pier Gerlofs Donia is a figure that is shrouded in mystery, but who also filled many roles. He was a pirate, rebel, warrior and as his tale grew he became embedded as a folk hero of his native Frisia.
Grutte Pier: The Giant Frisian Folk Hero
It's believed that Pier Gerlofs Donia was born circa 1480 CE, in the town of Kimswerd, which was located in Frisia. During the early sixteenth century CE this region was contested between the Duke of Saxony and the Duke of Guelders. Frisia was in the grips of a civil war as well, between the Schieringers (supported by the Duke of Saxony) and Vetkopers (supported by Duke of Guelders).
Pier didn't involve himself in this war though, and continued his life as a farmer, even though he was reputed to be around 2,13 meters tall and strong as an ox, hence his nickname Grutte Pier (Big Pier). In 1515 his town, Kimswerd, was raided by the Black Band, who were mercenaries in the employ of Saxony. In the chaos Pier's farm was destroyed, and his wife was raped and killed. The giant man was gripped with grief as well as rage. He rallied the poor around him and formed an army, which was called the Zwarte Hoop, with the sole aim of driving the Saxons out of Frisia.
Pier didn't have any military experience though and he took to the sea with his army. There he became a pirate, and captured ships in the Zuider Zee. In 1516/1517 Pier and his force of approximately 4000 soldiers captured Medemblik, then burned it to the ground. They also burned Nieuwburg and Middleburg; thereafter they killed the inhabitants of Asperen and used the settlement as a fortified base for a while.
After hearing of these attacks, the Stadhouder of Holland sent a war fleet after the farmer turned pirate. Although he was initially driven back, Pier then captured Dutch ships off the coast near Hoorn. The Zwarte Hoop raided Medemblik again in 1518/1519.
Pier was able to sink 132 enemy ships (and 28 on one certain day) in the two years he was active as a pirate. Disillusioned, and suffering from countless wounds, Grutte retired in 1519. He is reported to have died peacefully in bed in 1520. The Frisians would continue to fight for independence but Charles V assumed complete control over the region in 1524.
Pier's was reported to have used a Biedenhänder - a certain type of two-handed sword - and it is kept in the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden. The weapon is 2,13 meters tall and weighs 6,6 kilograms, but it is said the giant Frisian wielded it effortlessly. The size of the weapon also led to the growth of the stories surrounding Grutte Pier. For example, some say he was so strong he could bend coins with just three fingers, and that he could a horse above his head. As the stories expanded they became part of Frisian legends.
Thank you for reading!
Pier Gerlofs Donia is a figure that is shrouded in mystery, but who also filled many roles. He was a pirate, rebel, warrior and as his tale grew he became embedded as a folk hero of his native Frisia.
Grutte Pier: The Giant Frisian Folk Hero
It's believed that Pier Gerlofs Donia was born circa 1480 CE, in the town of Kimswerd, which was located in Frisia. During the early sixteenth century CE this region was contested between the Duke of Saxony and the Duke of Guelders. Frisia was in the grips of a civil war as well, between the Schieringers (supported by the Duke of Saxony) and Vetkopers (supported by Duke of Guelders).
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| "De Dapperheid van Grote Pier" by Johannes Hinderikus Egenberger. |
Pier didn't involve himself in this war though, and continued his life as a farmer, even though he was reputed to be around 2,13 meters tall and strong as an ox, hence his nickname Grutte Pier (Big Pier). In 1515 his town, Kimswerd, was raided by the Black Band, who were mercenaries in the employ of Saxony. In the chaos Pier's farm was destroyed, and his wife was raped and killed. The giant man was gripped with grief as well as rage. He rallied the poor around him and formed an army, which was called the Zwarte Hoop, with the sole aim of driving the Saxons out of Frisia.
 |
| Statue of Grutte Pier in Kimswerd. |
Pier didn't have any military experience though and he took to the sea with his army. There he became a pirate, and captured ships in the Zuider Zee. In 1516/1517 Pier and his force of approximately 4000 soldiers captured Medemblik, then burned it to the ground. They also burned Nieuwburg and Middleburg; thereafter they killed the inhabitants of Asperen and used the settlement as a fortified base for a while.
After hearing of these attacks, the Stadhouder of Holland sent a war fleet after the farmer turned pirate. Although he was initially driven back, Pier then captured Dutch ships off the coast near Hoorn. The Zwarte Hoop raided Medemblik again in 1518/1519.
Pier was able to sink 132 enemy ships (and 28 on one certain day) in the two years he was active as a pirate. Disillusioned, and suffering from countless wounds, Grutte retired in 1519. He is reported to have died peacefully in bed in 1520. The Frisians would continue to fight for independence but Charles V assumed complete control over the region in 1524.
 |
| Grutte Pier's alleged sword. |
Pier's was reported to have used a Biedenhänder - a certain type of two-handed sword - and it is kept in the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden. The weapon is 2,13 meters tall and weighs 6,6 kilograms, but it is said the giant Frisian wielded it effortlessly. The size of the weapon also led to the growth of the stories surrounding Grutte Pier. For example, some say he was so strong he could bend coins with just three fingers, and that he could a horse above his head. As the stories expanded they became part of Frisian legends.
Thank you for reading!
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