Igo Galama (876 to 910) was the legendary fifth
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 ...
, now a province of the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. There is no evidence that he existed.
The history of Friesland says that Galama was elected in 876 as potestaat. He would have been an excellent soldier, who did everything possible for the peace and prosperity of the Frisian people. He also reinforced the seawalls and erected several facilities to inhibit the incursion of the
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 ...
. The old custom of coastal surveillance, which was neglected by his predecessors, was reintroduced by Galama.
Sometimes, the name of Igo is written as Ygo II Galama, to avoid confusion with
Ygo I Galama who would have been the Frisian king
Beroald (540-597), and according to the stories won a victory over
Dagobert
Dagobert or Taginbert is a Germanic male given name, possibly from Old Frankish ''Dag'' "day" and ''beraht'' "bright".
Alternatively, it has been identified as Gaulish ''dago'' "good" ''berxto'' "bright".
Animals
* Roi Dagobert (born 1964), ...
(born 603), the son of the
Merovingian
The Merovingian dynasty () was the ruling family of the Franks from the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gauli ...
king
Chlothar II
Chlothar II, sometime called "the Young" (French: le Jeune), (May/June 584 – 18 October 629), was king of Neustria and king of the Franks, and the son of Chilperic I and his third wife, Fredegund. He started his reign as an infant under the ...
(ruled 613 - 629).
Also
Ezonstad would agree Galama residents have particularly to be on their guard against the Vikings. On that occasion, he would have said:
''Haadet goede wacht tyan da Nordera oordt, Want vuyt da Grimma herna comt ws all quaed voort.''
(He waits at the northerly place, because from this sector comes trouble for us all)
Galama probably died in 910. According to some sources he already died in the first years of his reign.
His coat of arms is seen in the shield of
Oudega (town in
Gaasterlân-Sleat
Gaasterlân-Sleat is a former Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the northern Netherlands. Its official name is in West Frisian language, West Frisian, the Dutch language, Dutch name being Gaasterland-Sloten (). In 2014 it merged w ...
). It contains a fleur-de-lis and a stins.
He was preceded by
Hessel Hermana Hessel Hermana is the fourth potestaat (or elected governor) of Friesland in the list of rulers of Frisia. Supposedly from Sexbierum (chosen 869 - died c876), he does not appear in historical sources until the late 16th century.
His name is then ...
and succeeded by
Gosse Ludigman
Gosse Ludigman (elected 989 died in 1000) was a legendary potestaat (or elected governor) of Friesland, now a province of the Netherlands. He does not appear in sources until hundreds of years after his supposed life.
Gosse lived at Stavoren, Sta ...
References
*
Waling Dykstra, ''Uit Friesland's Volksleven, van vroeger en later, volksoverleveringen, volksgebruiken, volksvertellingen, volksbegrippen'', 1895, page 35
* Wopke Eekhoff: ''Beknopte geschiedenis van Friesland, in hoofdtrekken'' 185
p 490
image* Large general historical, geographically, genealogical, and judicious dictionary University Gent
Groot algemeen historisch, geographisch, genealogisch, en oordeelkundig woordenboek Universiteit Gent
* State And Power 1450-1650: Contributions To The Historical Congress For Leeuwarden 1998,
Staat En Macht 1450-1650: Bijdragen Aan Het Historisch Congres Te Leeuwarden
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galema, Igo
Potestaats of Friesland