page_title: Frisian freedom
section_title: The Struggle for East Frisia (1422–1464)
hierarchical_section_title: Frisian freedom / Freedom (1101–1523) / The Struggle for East Frisia (1422–1464)
caption_attribution_description: English: Otto tom Brok is, after the Battle on the Wild Fields, brought captive in front of Focko Ukena in 1427 (History painting) Deutsch: Ocko tom Brok wird nach der Schlacht auf den Wilden Äckern gefangen vor Focko Ukena geführt.
context_page_description: Friese Freedom or Freedom of the Frisians was the absence of feudalism and serfdom in Frisia, the area that was originally inhabited by the Frisians. Historical Frisia included the modern provinces of Friesland and Groningen, and the area of West Friesland, in the Netherlands, and East Friesland in Germany. During the period of Frisian freedom the area did not have a sovereign lord who owned and administered the land. The freedom of the Frisians developed in the context of ongoing disputes over the rights of local nobility.
  When, around 800, the Scandinavian Vikings first attacked Frisia, which was still under Carolingian rule, the Frisians were released from military service on foreign territory in order to be able to defend themselves against the Vikings. With their victory in the Battle of Norditi in 884 they were able to drive the Vikings permanently out of East Frisia, although it remained under constant threat. Over the centuries, whilst feudal lords reigned in the rest of Europe, no aristocratic structures emerged in Frisia.
context_section_description: After the war ended, most of Hisko Abdena's followers returned to their guarantors and Ocko II tom Brok now had to share his power in East Frisia. In 1424 Ocko demanded the return of the castle which his family had gifted Focko Ukena a decade earlier, Ocko won a court case to that effect in the city of Groningen dated 6 June 1426.  Focko rejected this decision and on 27 September 1426, the East Frisian peasantry rose up in rebellion against the tom Brok family's rule over East Frisia. The Bishop of Münster and many Frisian chiefs joined the Focko party, whereas Ocko received the support of the Abdenas, the Archbishop of Bremen and the counts of Hoya, Diepholz and Teklenburch. At Datern, Ocko lost to Focko in a first encounter and had to withdraw with his army to Brookmerland. At a second encounter in the Battle of the Wild Ackers between Oldeborg and Marienhafe, Ocko's army was defeated on 28 October. Ocko fled and was arrested and imprisoned in the city of Leer. After the battle, Focko Ukena tried to merge East Friesland under one rule. Focko's son Uko Fockena had even styled himself as 'Chieftain at Oldersum'. Focko Ukena himself now settled Frisian justice. The laws of Ukena were written in Middle Frisian, much like Old Frisian but already a Lower Saxon influence. Instead of the "common warfare", that was held in the city of Groningen, every 'goa', just like under the Opstalboom, got its own case law back. But these laws contained directions for judges regarding the wishes and desires of each country, clergy and community. The Frisian countries promised to assist each other so that Frisian freedom remained guaranteed. For the Frisians, the mutual movement of people was completely free, although some tolls remained.
  Focko's authoritarian behavior and high taxes, however, quickly aroused much opposition. In 1428 the city of Groningen had already made an alliance with Westerkwartier that was directed against Focko. Focko is said to have become so angry about this that he killed one of his own allies. After a failed attack on Bremen, the East Frisian chiefs also revolted against Focko and Uko. Focko just could not maintain his claim. Uko found himself besieged in Oldersum castle and on 2 November 1430, gave up his claim. The peasants that he had promised freedom turned against him in favor of the senior family Cirksena, who led the Freedom Union of the Seven East Frisian countries in opposition, and in 1431, under the leadership of Edzard Cirksena, they released Ocko II tom Brok from prison and besieged Focko in his castle near Leer. Focko managed to escape by crossing the river Eem in a barrel, and he went to Münster. From there he conducted robberies and plunderings in the areas of his opponents, but in 1433 his last army was defeated. Although he had prevented Okko from claiming the County of East Frisia, Focko was unable to sustain his resistance to tom Brok and Cirksena, Focko withdrew to his castle in Dijkhuizen and started a diplomatic effort to improve his position. Okko, Focko and Uko were all dead by 1436.
  East Frisians no longer interfered with the party politics to the West of the Lauwers. These started again in 1439, when the Vetkoper Galamas and the Schieringer Harinxmas vied for control of Gaasterland for nearly two decades. The Vetkoper town of Groningen, which had become the dominating force in Frisia, tried to interfere in Mid-Frisian affairs. The meddling met strong opposition in Skieringer held Westergo. However, in 1444, the three-year long Struggle in Oostergo was settled by a court in Groningen. The threat from Philip the Good drove the foundation of a "council of the Frisian countries" on 15 August 1456, under a new covenant against all landlords. Soon the Donia war (1458-1463) followed and one eruption after another; cities like Sneek, Dokkum and Leeuwarden now played a major role.
  The city of Hamburg wanted to put an end to the Frisian freedom and the piracy that came with it. Hamburg therefore supported Edzard Cirksena, to establish his power all over East Friesland. After the marriage of Edzard
caption: After his capture at the 'Battle on the Wild Fields' Ocko II tom Brok is brought before Focko Ukena. Romanticised history painting by Tjarko Meyer Cramer, 1803
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