#redbad

Redbad, the last pagan king of Frisia (Northern Netherlands) refused to convert to Christianity because "preferred spending eternity in Hell with his pagan ancestors than in Heaven with his enemies."

Redbad

Redbad, the king of Frisians (c. 680- c. 719) was known in early medieval history for his contribution to keeping the ardent nature of the Frisian culture alive. He refused to convert to the new religion and fevered the followers of the pagan ways to revolt. During his reign, the enormous uprisings led to the dominion of the Frisian kingdom.

Redbad

Redbad was king of the Frisians between 680 and 719AD. There is a photo of him going around in other heathen groups with information on it that is incorrect. Redbad is his Frisian name, in Dutch he is called Radboud.

Nothing is known about his youth nor do we know who his parents were. There are rumours that Aldgisl was his father, Aldgisl was also a Frisian king. This theory however has no evidence yet but it must be certain that he was born in an elite family.

In the year 680AD he became the ruler of Frisia. The Frankish Christian empire to the south posed a real dangerous threat to the Frisians. They often clashed with each other. King Redbad was defeated by Pepin of Herstal in 695AD at the (now Dutch) city of Dorestad. This battle is also visible in a film made about him (called Redbad). After the battle, the Franks claimed Frisian territory up to the Rhine river.

Pepin died on 16th December 714AD. Chaos broke out amongst the Franks, Redbad tried to take advantage of this situation to expand his territory again. He succeeded in this, the river area around the Rhine became Frisian again. He managed to reach Cologne and gained an important victory there over Charles Martel, son of Pepin. The (now Dutch) city of Utrecht became the capital of Frisia again. All Christian preachers were banned and churches were destroyed. Redbad made plans to invade the Franks but before he could execute his plan, he fell ill and died in 719AD.

He is however mostly famous for a completely different thing. According to a medieval source, Vita Vulframni Episcopi Senonici, Redbad wanted to convert to Christianity. During the baptism however he changed his mind. He heard that his unbaptized ancestors would never enter heaven so he chose to remain pagan. This event probably never happened because public baptisms were always registered.

Redbad was not the last king of Frisia. The picture that went viral about him claims that he was. Poppo was his successor, he was still pagan as well. He was however defeated by the Franks after a short war.

The Frisians rebelled several times against the Frankish invaders with Poppo leading the rebellion until Poppo was killed in combat in 734AD. The death of Poppo also meant the death of Germanic paganism in Frisia. Charles Martel ordered every Germanic temple and shrine to be destroyed, all holy oaks were cut down as well, every trace of paganism was to be erased.

Redbad himself is still a popular historical figure in the Netherlands and (West/East) Frisia. He is viewed here as a national hero. I myself live close near Redbad castle, a medieval castle built on the foundations of Redbad's stronghold according to legends.

The photo is from the film Redbad (2018). It is an interesting film to watch but incredibly historically inaccurate. Don't watch it if you intent to learn more about Redbad. In my opinion, the style of this film is way too much based on the tv show vikings.