Jancko Douwama

Who was Jancko Douwama?

Jancko Douwama was a Frisian nobleman who fought to free Friesland from foreign rule. He was born in 1482 into a Vetkoper 'hoofdelingen' or 'untitled noble' family near Oldeboorn, Friesland. He was the son of the chieftain Douwe Douwama and his wife Riem Eesckes. Jancko was married to Teth Luersma.

Jancko Douwama and his third cousin, Pier Gerlofs Donia, are considered heroes of Frisian nationalism. Jancko Douwama lived in much troubled times during the final stages of a civil war in Friesland between the monastical factions called the Vetkopers and Schieringers. The Schieringers employed the assistance of the Saxon ruler Albrecht in 1498 gaining the upper hand over the Vetkopers. Douwama, a supporter of the Vetkopers, then began his fight against the Saxon overlord. He did this firstly from Groningen, where his wife came from and where he also had lived. In 1502 he returned to Friesland and recognized duke Albrecht in 1504 as its lord. Following the assassination of Albrecht in 1512 by the Vetkopers he escaped to Gelre and became employed by Charles, Duke of Guelders. Charles had long held plans to conquer Friesland.