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Leo Belgicus

This is my second attempt at a timeline and it's about the same PoD as the last one. This one however won't end so quickly and is hopefully not so bad.

Excerpt from: Frisian Freedom in the middle ages (Prof. Henry Clark University of Oxford History Magazine 1985)

Ever since Charlemagne granted Freedom to a Frisian warrior who helped defeating the uprising roman populace the Frisians were free and only answer to the emperor. Of course this is most likely a myth fabricated in later times. The actual origin lays in another Charles. The eastfrankish king Charles III. the fat released the Frisians from military service to defend their own lands against the Vikings in AD885. It was most likely made up to preserve the status quo in Frisia: one without Nobility, Knights and Feudalism.

While Central Europe fell in a state of feudalism and serfdom, Frisia was free. Well while nobility did not exist on paper rich farmers were basically the substitute. The Frisians organised themselves through a parliamentic institution at the Upstalsboom near Aurich and later in Groningen. The suffrage was defined through landownership so the envoyed were members of rich leading families.

This system declined when plague and flood ravaged the countryside and rich people became chieftains ruling over small territories. Their power based on dynastic possessions and stone houses which later developed into castles. They employed mercenaries. This lead to the employment of pirates like the Victual Brothers. The Hansa did not like that and lead several expeditions into East Frisia and Oldenburg.

(...)

The Frisian freedom was constantly in danger from envious lords of the empire. They wanted Frisia for themself. The Frisians defended their freedom against many lords especially against the counts of Holland. The first victim to it was Arnulf Count of Holland in 993 one of many lords who lost their life trying to undermine Frisian Freedom. The murder of Count Henri de Gras in 1101 is the de facto beginning of Frisian Freedom and the start of Lords trying to end it. Many nobles lost their lives or almost lost them in disastrous battles like William IV. of Holland who almost lost his life in 1345.[1]




"Arnie! Have you heard?" Arnulf heard his friend Bram calling his name. "No what happened my friend?" Arnulf replied. His friend always knew what new things happened in Amsterdam because he worked in a tavern near the port.
"Willem is back and many knights didn't return! They've lost in Frisia." said Bram. "Really? God bless that he survived. But I have to go back to work otherwise my master will discipline me." "Oh well good bye." And Arnulf and Bram went their ways.[2]


[1]That is the PoD
[2]My shitty attempt at writing
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