| The Realms of the Karl der Große |
Europeans had to become financially independent at the time when Arabs
isolated northwest Europe from the trade routes into the Far East, and in order
to prosper, trade routes were extended from the English Channel to the North
Sea coasts, while ports grew along the way. Dorestad on the Rhine, not far
from the coast, was the major city of the dukes of Frisia, and it became an
important trading center by 680 AD., becoming the major port of the new
Empire that Charlemagne carved out on the lower Rhine.
isolated northwest Europe from the trade routes into the Far East, and in order
to prosper, trade routes were extended from the English Channel to the North
Sea coasts, while ports grew along the way. Dorestad on the Rhine, not far
from the coast, was the major city of the dukes of Frisia, and it became an
important trading center by 680 AD., becoming the major port of the new
Empire that Charlemagne carved out on the lower Rhine.
Charlemagne's clever negotiations and strategic alliances ensured these safe trade routes across
Western Europe and spurred prosperity in his lands, most of it coming from new trade with the
Middle East and Central Asia via Russia to the Black Sea, bypassing areas along the Mediterranean
blocked by Arabs or the Byzantines. Trade in northwest Europe at this time was based on silver
coinage that was used for 500 years. As goods went east, silver objects flowed northward and
westward where they were reminted in Dorestad into Charlemagne's coins, the silver denarius. He
controlled northern Germany and the North Sea coast as far as Hamburg by 800.
Western Europe and spurred prosperity in his lands, most of it coming from new trade with the
Middle East and Central Asia via Russia to the Black Sea, bypassing areas along the Mediterranean
blocked by Arabs or the Byzantines. Trade in northwest Europe at this time was based on silver
coinage that was used for 500 years. As goods went east, silver objects flowed northward and
westward where they were reminted in Dorestad into Charlemagne's coins, the silver denarius. He
controlled northern Germany and the North Sea coast as far as Hamburg by 800.
East Frisia, or Ostfriesland, inhabited since paleolithic times, is the coastal region in northwest
Germany's Frisia which includes Schleswig-Holstein, and it embraces the districts of Aurich, Leer,
Wittmund, the city of Emden and a string of East Frisian Islands. As early as 1000 BC, the Frisians
started building large dikes along the North Sea shore, and in 12 BC, Drusus sailed a Roman fleet up
part of the Ems river and returned. Ostfriesland remained independent of the German states until the
late Middle Age. Frisia was a kingdom for a short time, and East Frisia then became part of the
Frankish Empire under Charlemagne, who divided East Frisia into two counties and Christianized the
area. Later, the independent Frisians,with their self-governed districts, never established of a
feudalistic system during medieval times. Frisian representatives of the districts of the coastal areas
met annually. Later catastrophes and plague destabilized the local governments, and the area entered
into a period of clans and chieftains, somewhat like Scotland. Oldenburg tried to subjugate East Frisia
during the 12th century but the Frisians repeatedly defeated them, and when even Heinrich the Lion
failed to subjugate them, Oldenburg gave up and only randomly invaded.
Germany's Frisia which includes Schleswig-Holstein, and it embraces the districts of Aurich, Leer,
Wittmund, the city of Emden and a string of East Frisian Islands. As early as 1000 BC, the Frisians
started building large dikes along the North Sea shore, and in 12 BC, Drusus sailed a Roman fleet up
part of the Ems river and returned. Ostfriesland remained independent of the German states until the
late Middle Age. Frisia was a kingdom for a short time, and East Frisia then became part of the
Frankish Empire under Charlemagne, who divided East Frisia into two counties and Christianized the
area. Later, the independent Frisians,with their self-governed districts, never established of a
feudalistic system during medieval times. Frisian representatives of the districts of the coastal areas
met annually. Later catastrophes and plague destabilized the local governments, and the area entered
into a period of clans and chieftains, somewhat like Scotland. Oldenburg tried to subjugate East Frisia
during the 12th century but the Frisians repeatedly defeated them, and when even Heinrich the Lion
failed to subjugate them, Oldenburg gave up and only randomly invaded.
The East Frisian chieftains protected pirates, and this led the Hanseatic League
to send an expedition against Frisia in 1400, and it successfully discouraged the
chieftains from harboring the pirates. Emperor Friedrich III made one of the last
chieftains a count in 1465, and he accepted the sovereignty of the Holy Roman
Empire. East Frisians, meanwhile, had come into an abundance of gold through the
years, and jewelry makers learned the Byzantine filigree technique from traders
bringing such jewellery home from their journeys. Long before, Charlemagne had
permitted them to adorn themselves with as much gold as they could carry without
having to pay taxes, and so they did, even when notoriously "armor like" in weight.
to send an expedition against Frisia in 1400, and it successfully discouraged the
chieftains from harboring the pirates. Emperor Friedrich III made one of the last
chieftains a count in 1465, and he accepted the sovereignty of the Holy Roman
Empire. East Frisians, meanwhile, had come into an abundance of gold through the
years, and jewelry makers learned the Byzantine filigree technique from traders
bringing such jewellery home from their journeys. Long before, Charlemagne had
permitted them to adorn themselves with as much gold as they could carry without
having to pay taxes, and so they did, even when notoriously "armor like" in weight.
In 1514, unhappily for the East Frisians, the emperor ordered that a duke of Saxony should be the
heir to the count of East Frisia, and Count Edzard of East Frisia refused to accept this order. Frisia
was invaded by the German dukes with their armies, but they failed to defeat Edzard, and in 1517,
the emperor had to accept Edzard and his descendants as counts of East Frisia, and by 1654, the
counts were elevated to the rank of princes. During the reformation, the Frisians' love of gold
declined. In 1744, East Frisia came under Prussian rule, ending its independence. Their last prince
died without issue. The Frisian language is almost extinct, and found only in a remote district where it
is spoken by about 1000 people.
heir to the count of East Frisia, and Count Edzard of East Frisia refused to accept this order. Frisia
was invaded by the German dukes with their armies, but they failed to defeat Edzard, and in 1517,
the emperor had to accept Edzard and his descendants as counts of East Frisia, and by 1654, the
counts were elevated to the rank of princes. During the reformation, the Frisians' love of gold
declined. In 1744, East Frisia came under Prussian rule, ending its independence. Their last prince
died without issue. The Frisian language is almost extinct, and found only in a remote district where it
is spoken by about 1000 people.
This system allowed access to better trade between interior regions and to the existing cities such as
Aachen which had grown up around old Roman garrison cities dependent on neglected old Roman
road systems. Cities could now grow around the newly founded monasteries, and the monasteries
and churches in turn would accumulate great wealth and large pieces of land. For the sake of
organization and profit, Charlemagne introduced a system whereby large areas were given to
followers trusted to govern as they wished, as long as they paid for the privilege in hefty taxes.
Aachen which had grown up around old Roman garrison cities dependent on neglected old Roman
road systems. Cities could now grow around the newly founded monasteries, and the monasteries
and churches in turn would accumulate great wealth and large pieces of land. For the sake of
organization and profit, Charlemagne introduced a system whereby large areas were given to
followers trusted to govern as they wished, as long as they paid for the privilege in hefty taxes.
From 760 to 820 AD, Dorestad's houses, wharves, and warehouses stretched a long way along the
banks of the Rhine, and Frisian traders shipped goods coming down the Meuse and the Rhine from
Strasbourg, out of Dorestad all over the Rhine delta, west along the French coast, east via coastal
cities such as Emden and Hamburg, to Denmark and into the Baltic, then north along the coast of
Britain as far as Northumbria. Dorestad exported pottery, glass, bronze goods, wine, and silver coin
in exchange for wool and fur. Problems with the Danes after Charlemagne's death, and then the
Viking incursions on northwest Europe drained money and ruined trade. The Vikings had burned
and looted every seaport between Hamburg and Bordeaux. The Frisian trade from Dorestad was
destroyed. Dorestad was sacked in 834, and repeatedly raided until it vanished.
banks of the Rhine, and Frisian traders shipped goods coming down the Meuse and the Rhine from
Strasbourg, out of Dorestad all over the Rhine delta, west along the French coast, east via coastal
cities such as Emden and Hamburg, to Denmark and into the Baltic, then north along the coast of
Britain as far as Northumbria. Dorestad exported pottery, glass, bronze goods, wine, and silver coin
in exchange for wool and fur. Problems with the Danes after Charlemagne's death, and then the
Viking incursions on northwest Europe drained money and ruined trade. The Vikings had burned
and looted every seaport between Hamburg and Bordeaux. The Frisian trade from Dorestad was
destroyed. Dorestad was sacked in 834, and repeatedly raided until it vanished.
| Frisia: One of the Frankish Kingdoms |
