Hessel Martena (appointed approximately 1306 to 1312) was the tenth '' Potestaat'' (magistrate governor) of Frisia. He succeeded Reinier Camminga. Martena was particularly praised for his clever policy, calming the existing dispute between the

Schieringers and Vetkopers The Vetkopers and Schieringers ( fry, Fetkeapers en Skieringers) were two opposing Frisian factional parties from the medieval period. They were responsible for a civil war that lasted for over a century (1350–1498) and which eventually led to t ...

which had developed to an extreme extent in his time. After three centuries, the Dutch count

William III of Holland William the Good ( nl, Willem, french: Guillaume; – 7 June 1337) was count of Hainaut (as William I), Avesnes, Holland (as William III), and Zeeland (as William II) from 1304 to his death. Career William, born , was the son of John II, Coun ...

, made an attempt to take over Friesland during his administration. In 1309, William landed with a fleet of 1500 "heads" in Gaasterland. Hessel had Count William fleeing back to his ships. After the death of Hessel on 16 August 1312, the conflict between the

Vetkopers and Schieringers The Vetkopers and Schieringers ( fry, Fetkeapers en Skieringers) were two opposing Frisian factional parties from the medieval period. They were responsible for a civil war that lasted for over a century (1350–1498) and which eventually led to t ...

erupted again. The parties could not even agree about the appointment of a next ''Potestaat''. Hessel's life is described by Johannes Vlieterp, the successor to the historian Occo Scarlensis. Hessel had four daughters and no sons, so his surname was not inherited. The next ''Potestaat'' was Juw Juwinga.

References

* Johannes Vlieterp, ''Midsieuske Skriuwer''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Martena, Hessel 1312 deaths Potestaats of Friesland Year of birth unknown