Wijerd Jelckama
Wijerd Jelckama (also spelled Wierd and Wijard)
Early life and family
Jelckama was born in the year 1490 in a large family of farmers and petty noblemen. He was descended from knights who had participated in the Crusades. One of his ancestors from his father's side of the family had died at the Siege of Antioch.[4]
Rebellion
Together with Pier Gerlofs Donia, Jelckama fought against the Saxon warriors that occupied their homeland of Frisia, at the capture of Medemblik, and in the siege of Middelburg castle.
In addition to the area occupied by the Saxons, parts of Frisia were conquered by Denmark, Holland, and local duchies. Donia and Jelckama's goal was to rid Frisia of all foreign powers and regain independence.[1] Under the leadership of Donia, they used
The rebels received financial support from
Jelckama took over the command of the armies, then made up of over 4,000 soldiers. Jelckama also gained some minor victories, but proved to be a less competent commander and slowly lost men. Jelckama and his soldiers took part in acts of piracy and sacked many villages in the Frisian lands, losing the trust and support of their own people. The fact that Jelckama was less personable than Donia also cost him: he forged less fruitful alliances and lost more than he made. All this would lead to the defeat of Jelckama and his army.
Death
After a series of defeats, he and what was left of the Frisian army were captured in 1523 and taken to the city of Leeuwarden in Frisia. There they were publicly beheaded.[8] With the death of Jelckama and the rebels, the rebellion of Frisia came to an end. It was the last revolt in Frisian history and is remembered as such to this day.
Notes and references
- ^ a b Eekhoff, W.(1851). Beknopte geschiedenis van Friesland (in Dutch). Leeuwarden: W. Eekhoff. 138–139.
- ^ Kok, Jacobus (1791). "Pier Gerlofs Donia". Vaderlandsch Woordenboek (in Dutch). Vol. 24 (P-R). Amsterdam: Johannes Allart. pp. 17–21.
- ^ Kok, Jacobus (1791). "Pier Gerlofs Donia". Vaderlandsch Woordenboek. Vol. 24 (P–R). Amsterdam: Johannes Allart. pp. 17–21.
- ISBN 90-70010-13-5.
- ^ Beekman, Martinus. Beschreiving van de Stad en Baronnie Asperen. Vertoonende haare oudheid, gebouwen, hooge, en verdere regeering, ens. Utrecht, Mattheus Visch, 1745.
- ISBN 90-70010-13-5.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ Geldersche Volks-Almanak Published 1853
- ^ "Greate Pier fan Wûnseradiel" (in Western Frisian). Gemeente Wûnseradiel. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
See also
- Charles, Duke of Guelders
- Friso-Hollandic Wars
- History of the Netherlands
- Pier Gerlofs Donia
- Rulers of Frisia