Focko Ukena ( Neermoor, 1360Genealogie van de families Jäger, Rappard, Bauermann, Rietbergen e.a.: ''UKENA, FOCKE''
/ref> or 1370 – 1435) was an

East Frisia East Frisia or East Friesland (german: Ostfriesland; ; stq, Aastfräislound) is a historic region in the northwest of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is primarily located on the western half of the East Frisian peninsula, to the east of West Frisia ...

n chieftain (''hovetling'') who played an important part in the struggle between the Vetkopers and Schieringers in the provinces of

Groningen Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...

and Friesland. Aside from this he was one of the leading figures in the resistance against the forts of stately authority in East-Frisia of the

tom Brok The tom Brok family (, also: tom Broke, tom Brook, tom Broek, ten Brok, ten Broke; equivalent to Dutch , "at the marsh") were a powerful East Frisian line of chieftains, originally from the Norderland on the North Sea coast of Germany. From the s ...

family.

Frisian freedom

Medieval and early modern

Frisia Frisia is a cross-border cultural region in Northwestern Europe. Stretching along the Wadden Sea, it encompasses the north of the Netherlands and parts of northwestern Germany. The region is traditionally inhabited by the Frisians, a West Ger ...

(roughly the modern Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland, and the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

coastal region of

) enjoyed what was known as the Frisian freedom, where virtually no state authority was exerted on the populace. This freedom was threatened from several sides. In what is now East Frisia, the family of tom Brok was attempting to establish a dynasty. In what is now the province of Friesland, the counts of Holland were expanding their influence. The city of

was also trying to expand its power. Through all of this the rivalry of the Vetkopers and Schieringers played out.

Role of Ukena

Ukena was originally a military commander under

Keno tom Brok Keno is a lottery-like gambling game often played at modern casinos, and also offered as a game in some lotteries. Players wager by choosing numbers ranging from 1 through (usually) 80. After all players make their wagers, 20 numbers (some va ...

. As such he defeated Sicka Sjaerda at

Noordhorn Noordhorn (Gronings: ''Noordhörn'') is a village in the Dutch province of Groningen. It is part of the municipality of Westerkwartier and is separated from Zuidhorn by the . History Noordhorn is located on a sandy ridge. The settlement on the n ...

in 1417, and conquered Dokkum in 1418. After the reconquest of Dokkum by the Schieringers, he disembarked at Hindeloopen and defeated the Schieringers at the Palesloot. Ukena took

Stavoren Stavoren (; fry, Starum; previously Staveren) is a city in the province of Friesland, Netherlands, on the coast of the IJsselmeer, about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Hindeloopen, in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. Stavoren had a population ...

and besieged Sloten, but was forced to withdraw by the troops of

John III, Duke of Bavaria John III the Pitiless (1374–1425), of the House of Wittelsbach, was first bishop of Liège 1389–1418 and then duke of Bavaria-Straubing and count of Holland and Hainaut 1418–1425. Family John was born in Le Quesnoy. He was the younges ...

, Count of Holland. Ukena was the first to sign the

Peace of Groningen Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...

on 1 February 1422, which was aimed against all foreign lords. Next he battled with the

Hansa Hansa may refer to: Places *Hanseatic League, a 13th–17th century alliance of European trading cities *Hansa (shopping centre), in Turku, Finland *Hansa-Park, a German attraction park *480 Hansa, a main-belt asteroid, a minor planet orbiting th ...

against the Likedelers, and expelled them from Ezumazijl and Dokkum. Afterwards he turned against tom Brok and was primarily active in East Frisia. Ukena was unable to sustain his resistance to tom Brok, and eventually retreated to the castle of

Dijkhuizen Dijkhuizen is a Dutch toponymic surname meaning "houses on the dike". Among variant forms are ''Dijkhuijsen'', ''Dijkhuis'' (singular) and ''Dykhuizen''.Appingedam, which was the property of his second wife, Hiddeke

Ripperda Ripperda is the name of an old and prominent family that belongs to the German, Austrian, Spanish and Dutch nobility. Members of this family have played a major role in European history as soldiers, politicians and diplomats. Origins The origins ...

. He died there in 1435. His resistance eventually prevented tom Brok from taking the much-wanted County of East Frisia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ukena, Focko 14th-century births 1435 deaths East Frisian chieftains History of Friesland History of Groningen (province) Year of birth uncertain People from Leer (district)