Lütet Attena
Encyclopedia
Lütet Attena was a 14th century East Frisian chieftain
of Dornum
and Nesse in the Norderland
area.
and Foelke Kampana from the adjacent Brokmerland
. They had two daughters named Etta and Hebe.
Modern research suggests that, although there may be a grain of truth in some parts of the legend, the story about the execution is definitely incorrect: Hero and Lüten were executed much later, in 1410 or 1411, on the order's of Foelke's son Keno II. For that matter, there is no historic evidence that she deserved her nickname os "evil Foelke".
East Frisian chieftains
The East Frisian chieftains assumed positions of power in East Frisia during the course of the 14th century, after the force of the old, egalitarian constitution from the time of Frisian Freedom had markedly waned.- Early history :...
of Dornum
Dornum
Dornum is a village and a municipality in the East Frisian district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the North Sea coast, approx...
and Nesse in the Norderland
Norderland
The Norderland was a historic territory, set on the northwestern edge of East Frisia immediately next to the Wadden Sea off North Germany, which embraced a wide area around the town of Norden...
area.
Life
Lütet Attena was a son of Hero Attena. His brothers were Eger and Enno Attena. In 1395 Lütet married Ocka tom Brok, the daughter of the chieftain Ocko I tom BrokOcko I tom Brok
Ocko I tom Brok followed his father Keno I tom Brok as chieftain of the Brokmerland and the Auricherland in East Frisia, a former territory on Germany's North Sea coast....
and Foelke Kampana from the adjacent Brokmerland
Brokmerland
The Brokmerland is a landscape and an historic territory, located in western East Frisia, which covers the area in and around the present-day communities of Brookmerland and Südbrookmerland. The Brokmerland borders in the east on the Harlingerland and in the north on the Norderland. The historic...
. They had two daughters named Etta and Hebe.
Legend
Legend has it that when Lütet complained to Foelke, his mother-in-law about the infidelity of his wife Ocka, Foelke advised him to kill Ocka. When Lütet again caught Ocka in an act of adultery, he did just tat. Foelke then sought revenge and tried to utilize the situation to expand the influence of her family on the Attena's territory. Lütet fled to his father's castle in Dornum, Norderburg Castle. Foelke besieged the castle and conquered it. In 1397, Hero was executed in the courtyard of Norderburg Castle on her orders. This earned her the nickname ("evil Foelke").Modern research suggests that, although there may be a grain of truth in some parts of the legend, the story about the execution is definitely incorrect: Hero and Lüten were executed much later, in 1410 or 1411, on the order's of Foelke's son Keno II. For that matter, there is no historic evidence that she deserved her nickname os "evil Foelke".
External links
- "Culture circle tom Brok", with information on the history of tom Brok