Poppo (Frisian)

Poppo (* 674, † 734 ) was the last ruler of the Grand Frisian kingdom ( reign of 719-734 ), which is also known by the Latin name " Magna Frisia ". He was the successor of Radbod. Poppos death in the Battle of the Boorne marks the end of the Frisian empire.

The territory of the Frisians extended over a long coastline on the North Sea of Bruges, via the Rhine-Meuse delta to the Weser. The core area was located between the present IJsselmeer and the Ems.

Poppos Radbod predecessor had led against the neighboring Franks war. In the battle of Wijk bij Duurstede on the banks of the Rhine, he succumbed to the ruler of the Frankish Empire Pippin the Middle and had the western part of Friesland cede to the Franks. In the Frankish dominated areas continued from 690 the conversion of the pagan Frisians by Willibrord one.

After the death of Pippin the Middle Radbod gathered his troops and captured 716, the previously lost territories in a battle against the Frankish house Meier Charles Martel back. Radbod died 719 Poppo and became his successor. Under his rule the Franks put on to retake the western Friesland and already 720 of the fleeces were all formerly Frisian parts of the country to the west again in Frankish hands.

734 Charles Martel sent his troops again to Friesland and a battle took place at the Boorne in which the Franks were able to beat the Frisian troops devastating. Poppo was in the battle of death and the Franks annexed also the Frisian area between the fleeces and the Lauwers.

The Frisians remained so only a significantly scaled- rule area. By the time he went to the ever growing Frankish Empire.