Pier Gerlofs Donia
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Pier Gerlofs Donia, lived from 1480 to 1520. He was an enormous man and was said to be well over 7 ft. tall. He and fought for the independence of Friesland. Donia was also known as Grutte Pier, which meant "Big Lad", in Frisian language, or Grote Pier, which means the same in Dutch language. He also was a pirate. This great man fought against the people from Holland and Germany, and the Burgundians. In his biggest battle, at sea, he captured 28 ships, and he killed all 500 men who were taken hostages. "Big Lad" was then called Cross of the Dutchman.
According to legend, Pier forced his captives to repeat a shibboleth to show which people wer Frisians and who were Dutch and Low Germans:
- Bûter, brea en griene tsiis: wa't dat net sizze kin, is gjin oprjochte Fries.
Or, in English translation:
- Butter, rye-bread, and young cheese: whoever cannot say that is not a true Frisian.
Who could not respond to this in proper Frisian was beheaded by the Donia himself. Pier was also noted for his ability of beheading several people within a single blow. This enabled him to kill multiple enemies at the same time during battle, and gave him an excellent advantage on his opponents. His legendary fighting skills proved their worth on numberous occasions.
Pier Gerlofs Donia was probably sexually attracted to both men and women. In other words, this would make him either homosexual or bisexual. He is known for having several long-standing relationships with young boys from the city of Kimswerd. These were generally excepted by the towns inhabitants, who were not in the position to do anything about it. Donia also participated in the raping of women during the sacking of the villages he attacked. This was as he put it, a revenge for what they had done to his with and children.
Despite his many merely unbelievable successes, Pier could not turn the Burgundian/Habsburg tide and he retired disillusioned in 1519. He died peacefully in bed in the Frisian town of Sneek on October 28 in the year 1520. His last words were addressed to his life-time enemy, the count of Nychlenborch. He was asked by the count were he wanted to go in afterlife, to which Pier replied with "Nea myn Heer ta", which means "To my Lord". He then passed away. After the Giant of Kimswerd (another nickname), died, Friesland never again earned it's freedom. They remained just a province of the Netherlands.
