Hessel Hermana is the fourth potestaat (or elected governor) of

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

in the

list of rulers of Frisia Of the first historically verifiable rulers of Frisia, whether they are called dukes or kings, the last royal dynasty below is established by the chronicles of Merovingian kings of the Franks, with whom they were contemporaries. In these contempo ...

. Supposedly from Sexbierum (chosen 869 - died c876), he does not appear in historical sources until the late 16th century. His name is then attached to the Dane Rudolf Haraldsson who invaded

Oostergo Eastergoa (also Ostergau, Ostergo, or Oostergo) was one of the seven areas and one of the three '' Gaue'' within what is today the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Area On its west side Eastergoa was bordered by the Middelsee with ...

in order to recover

Danegeld Danegeld (; "Danish tax", literally "Dane yield" or tribute) was a tax raised to pay tribute or protection money to the Viking raiders to save a land from being ravaged. It was called the ''geld'' or ''gafol'' in eleventh-century sources. It ...

(tribute) by force. These Danes were on the way back from France. A battle ensued with this gang of 800

Vikings Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and ...

involving the death of 500 Danes on the battlefield. Rudolf Haraldsson was killed in battle and the Frisians won, but Hessel also lost his life. His predecessor was Adelbrik Adelen and he was succeeded by Igo Galema as potestaat. His family crest exhibits 2

Frisian eagle A Frisian eagle is a specific kind of eagle in Dutch heraldry, consisting of half of a black double-headed eagle on the ''dexter'' side of a shield parted per pale. It originated as a mark of favour granted to certain Frisian noblemen by the Hol ...

References

Friesche Almanak 1892
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hermana, Hessel Potestaats of Friesland 876 deaths 9th-century rulers in Europe People from Franekeradeel Year of birth unknown