FROM GODDESS TO KING
A History of Ancient Europe from the
OERA LINDA BOOK
By Anthony Radford
CHAPTER 14
ADELA, THE UN-ELECTED MOTHER
The next sections of this book cannot begin with the traditional understanding of recorded history because it is all new stuff. Our only familiarity is in the origins of many proper names, several of which are described quite differently in this text from standard works on word origins.
After the murder of Frana in 586 BC, the people wanted the burgtmaid Adela to be their new Earth Mother but she refused because she wished to resign from her citadel and marry, which she did. For the next thirty years no Mother could be elected because each state supported its own Maiden. More land was lost to the Magy of the Finns and Magyars but not by conquest of arms. He used propaganda on children and bribes on the nobles, promising them permanent hereditary offices with special privileges. These were long term plans that undermined the very foundation of Friesland society.
Adela had studied this and advised the education of the young, particularly the girls who would grow up to instill values into their children. She wanted all their history recorded so that the next generation would grow up to be proud of their heritage. Adela was the real author of the Oera Linda Book and other lost volumes.
During Adela’s unofficial reign, nobles were then being mentioned but the meaning of such offices was changing. A count took the public inventory; he counted, initially the market sales which were taxed and the profits of the ships which were shared and later on, the military levy of armed men. It eventually became a position of privilege, even an hereditary one. A duke was a hearer of disputes like a local judge and it has already been mentioned that a king was an elected short-term commander.
Adela’s Advice:
Thirty years after the day on which the Earth Mother was murdered by the commander Magy, was a time of great distress. All the states that lie on the other side of the Weser had been wrested from us, and had fallen under the power of Magy, and it looked as if his power was to become supreme over the whole land. To avert this misfortune a general assembly of the people was summoned, which was attended by all the men who stood in good repute with the Maidens. Then at the end of three days the whole council was in confusion, and in the same position as when they came together.
Thereupon Adela demanded to be heard, and said: "You all know that I was three years Burgtmaid. You know also that I was chosen for Earth Mother, and that I refused to be Earth Mother because I wished to marry Apol; but what you do not know is, that I have watched everything that has happened, as if I had really been your Earth Mother. I have constantly traveled about, observing what was going on. By that means I have become acquainted with many things that others do not know. You said yesterday that our relatives on the other side of the Weser were dull and cowardly; but I may tell you that the Magy has not won a single village from them by force of arms; but only by detestable deceit, and still more by the rapacity of their dukes and nobles.
"Frya has said we must not admit among us any but free people; but what have they done? They have imitated our enemies, and instead of killing their prisoners, or letting them go free, they have despised the counsel of Frya, and have made slaves of them.
"Because they have acted thus, Frya cared no longer to watch over them. They robbed others of their freedom, and therefore lost their own.
"This is well known to you, but I will tell you how they came to sink so low. The Finn women had children. These grew up with our free children. They played and gamboled together in the fields, and were also together by the hearth.
"There they learned with pleasure the loose ways of the Finns, because they were bad and new; and thus they became denationalized in spite of the efforts of their parents. When the children grew up, and saw that the children of the Finns handled no weapons, and scarcely worked, they took a distaste for work, and became proud.
"The principal men and their cleverest sons made up to the wanton daughters of the Finns; and their own daughters led astray by a bad example, allowed themselves to be beguiled by the handsome young Finns in derision of their depraved fathers. When the Magy found this out, he took the most handsome of his Finns and Magyars, and promised them `red cows with golden horns’ to let themselves be taken prisoners by our people in order to spread his doctrines. His people did even more. Children disappeared, were taken away to the uplands, and after they had been brought up in his pernicious doctrines, were sent back.
"When these pretended prisoners had learned our language, they persuaded the dukes and nobles that they should become subject to the Magy - that then their sons would succeed to them without having to be elected. Those who by their good deeds had gained a piece of land in front of their house, they promised on their side should receive in addition a piece behind; those who had got a piece before and behind, should have a rounder, and those who had a rounder should have a whole freehold. If the seniors were true to Frya, then they changed their course, and turned to the degenerate sons. Yesterday there were among you those who would have called the whole people together, to compel the eastern states to return to their duty. According to my humble opinion, they would have made a great mistake. Suppose that there was a very serious epidemic among the cattle, would you run the risk of sending your own healthy cattle among the sick ones? Certainly not. Every one must see that doing that would turn out very badly for the whole of the cattle. Who, then, would be so imprudent as to send their children among a people wholly depraved?
"If I were to give you any advice, it would be to choose a new Earth Mother. I know that you are in a difficulty about it, because out of the thirteen Burgtmaid that we still have remaining, eight are candidates for the dignity; but I should pay no attention to that.
"Teuntia, the Burgtmaid of Medesblik, who is not a candidate, is a person of knowledge and sound sense, and quite as attached to our people and our customs as all the rest together. I should further recommend that you should visit all the citadels, and write down all the laws of Frya’s Tex, as well as the histories, and all that is written on the walls, in order that it may not be destroyed with the citadels.
"It stands written that every Earth Mother and every Burgtmaid shall have assistants and messengers - twenty-one maidens and seven apprentices.
"If I might add more, I would recommend that all the respectable girls in the towns should be taught; for I say positively, and time will show it, that if you wish to remain true children of Frya, never to be vanquished by fraud or arms, you must take care to bring up your daughters as true Frya’s daughters.
"You must teach the children how great our country has been, what great men our forefathers were, how great we still are, if we compare ourselves to others.
"You must tell them of the sea-heroes, of their mighty deeds and distant voyages. All these stories must be told by the fireside and in the field, wherever it may be, in times of joy or sorrow; and if you wish to impress it on the brains and the hearts of your sons, you must let it flow through the lips of your wives and your daughters." Adela’s advice was followed.
With the ever-encroaching tide of Finda’s descendants changing what Frya’s children considered their pure racial, ethnic, political and moral homeland, the inevitable loss of all their heritage to the Magi can be understood. Once they had held sway over all of Europe from as far as Atland to the Caucasus, but now only a remnant nation centered roundabout the mouth of the Rhine survived. This was still a formidable force in the sixth century BC consisting of thirteen citadels, each with a burgtmaid. Adela, seeing the trend of events, felt the need to record their story before it was totally lost or corrupted by the records of the new peoples who were both encroaching and supplanting the traditional makeup of Friesland society.
The story was initially written or begun by a number of maidens of whom we know nothing but their names. Adela’s fears were well justified as their history and the principles for which it stood would be lost in large part through the deliberate acts of the early Christian hierarchy in Europe. The tales of Frya and her maidens would be labeled as pagan beliefs of the land. They would be denigrated and fear would be instilled in every child about the evils of these "witches".
The differences between the Roman or Greek pantheon and that of the present day Hindu pantheon are not great. These are all spiritual people, that is, believing in something greater than themselves, but the word "pagan" has been given a connotation it does not deserve. Originally it simply meant a countryman or "of the land", then it would come to mean one who was not Christian but the Church learned to use pagan methods and became very adept in the use of propaganda. Most of their cunning was learned from the tactics of the Magi.
Adela advised that the inscriptions on the walls of the citadels and the great trading warehouses should be recorded. That there were several such books is referred to but only one has survived. Remember these are recordings on paper from a humid country. It has been hard enough for clay tablets to survive in dryer climates, but paper had to be recopied by descendants from time to time who had to be still dedicated to the project. It is remarkable that even one has been preserved for twenty-six hundred years especially through ages where simply possessing heathen works was punishable by fire. The following extract gives some indication to the later authors of the Book. See Plate 8 for the Oera Linda family tree, which shows some light on the authorship and date of the work.
These are the Grevetmen under whose direction this book is composed:
Apol, Adela’s husband; three times a sea-king; Grevetman of Ostflyland and Lindaoord. The towns Liudgaard, Lindahelm, and Stavia are under his care.
The Saxon Storo, Sytia’s husband; Grevetman over the Hoogefennen and Wouden. Nine times he was chosen as duke or heerman. The towns Buda and Mannagardaforde are under his care.
Abelo, Jaltia’s husband; Grevetman over the Zuiderflylanden. He was three times heerman. The towns Aken, Liudburg, and Katsburg are under his care.
Enoch, Dywcke’s husband; Grevetman over Westflyland and Texel. He was chosen nine times for sea-king. Waraburgt, Medesblik, Forana, and Fryasburgt are under his care.
Here in the writings of Adela is a postscript to this historical account, an anecdote to the circumstances of which we are not privy. The burgtmaid Medea is mentioned. The only other mention of Medea in the book is in regard to statues or idols of pagan gods. It could simply be a common name or it could be another story that we will never be told.
Following that postscript, the will of Frana was included in the Book from the writings of Della Hellenia by Wiljo, a contributor some two hundred years later about 290 BC. It was not found at the time Frana was killed.
When the sailors were in the creek, there was a wag from Stavern among them, who said, "Medea may well laugh if we rescue her from her citadel."
Upon this, the maidens gave to the creek the name Medea Meilakkia. The occurrences that happened after this everybody can remember. The maidens ought to relate it in their own way, and have it well inscribed. We consider that our task is fulfilled. Hail!
Thus runs Frana’s last will:
"All noble Frisians, Hail! In the name of Wr-Alda, of Frya, and of Freedom, I greet you; and pray you if I die before I have named a successor, then I recommend to you Teuntia, who is Burgtmaid in the citadel of Medesblik; till now she is the best."
The children of Adela and Apol continued the record. Here their daughter Apollonia writes her version of what transpired at the assembly called to elect a new Earth Mother after the death of Frana. Adela was chosen but refused to be the Mother because she chose marriage. A general misgiving of the whole national tradition had befallen the separate states as each of them forsook cooperation for individual short-term advantage.
Many lands were lost as a consequence of this attitude and Apollonia herself had given up hope that anything could restore them.
After the Magy was killed and Fryasburgt was restored, a Mother had to be chosen. The Mother had not named her successor, and her will was nowhere to be found. Seven months later a general assembly was called at Grenega, because it was on the boundary of Saxony. My mother was chosen, but she would not be the Mother. She had saved my father’s life, in consequence of which they had fallen in love with each other, and she wished to marry. Many people wished my mother to alter her decision, but she said an Earth Mother ought to be as pure in her conscience as she appears outwardly, and to have the same love for all her children.
"Now, as I love Apol better than anything else in the world, I cannot be such a Mother." Thus spoke and reasoned Adela, but all the other maidens wish to be the Mother. Each state was in favor of its own maiden, and would not yield. Therefore none was chosen, and the kingdom was without any restraint.
From what follows you will understand Liudgert, the king who had lately died, had been chosen in the lifetime of the Mother, and seemingly with the love and confidence of all the states. It was his turn to live at the great court of Dokhem, and in the lifetime of the Mother great honor was done to him there, as there were more messengers and knights there than had ever been seen there before. But now he was lonely and forsaken, because everyone was afraid that he would set himself above the law, and rule them like the slave kings.
Every headman imagined that he did enough if he looked after his own state, and did not care for the others. With the burgtmaidens it was still worse. Each of them depended upon her own judgment, and whenever a Grevetman did anything without her, she raised distrust between him and his people. If any case happened which concerned several states, and one maiden had been consulted, the rest all exclaimed that she had spoken only in the interest of her own state. By such proceedings they brought disputes among the states, and so severed the bond of union that the people of one state were jealous of those of the rest, or at least considered them as strangers; the consequences of which was that the Gauls or Triuwenden took possession of our lands as far as the Scheldt, and the Magy as far as the Wesara.
How this happened my mother has explained, otherwise this book would not have been written, although I have lost all hope that it would be of any use. I do not write in the hope that I shall win back the land or preserve it: in my opinion that is impossible. I write only for the future generations, that they may all know in what way we were lost, and that each may learn that every crime brings its punishment.
Adela’s advice to copy the records inscribed on the walls throughout the land was made before the congress that was called to elect a new Earth Mother. These people made paper from flax and even pumpkin leaves, parchments called skrivfilt so naturally there has been no lasting records of any originals. Adela advised the choice of the Burgtmaid Teuntia as the successor, actually the recommendation made in the will of the previous Earth Mother Frana that had been lost, but politics then was not unlike politics today. A jealous burgtmaid spoke eloquently enough to confound the elections. Her name is not known but she was the Mother of Texland, a place from where earth mothers were often chosen and she had expected to be next. This burgtmaid even fled to the Magy, who made her a mother in Scandinavia, and tried to combine her influence with his own in order to return her to Texland as the new Earth Mother.
The consequences of this aborted election were a self-imposed exile and rebellion by the jealous Maiden with the ever-willing help of the Magy followed by an invasion of Texland itself.
These are the writings left by Bruno, who was the recorder of this burgt. After the followers of Adela had made copies, each in his kingdom, of what was inscribed upon the walls of the burgt, they resolved to choose a Mother. For this purpose a general assembly was called at this farm.
By the first advice of Adela, Teuntia was recommended. That would have been arranged, only that my Burgtmaid asked to speak: she has always supposed that she would be chosen Mother, because she was at the burgt from which mothers had generally been chosen.
When she was allowed to speak, she opened her false lips and said: "You all seem to place great value on Adela’s advice, but that shall not shut my mouth. Who is Adela, and whence comes it that you respect her so highly? She was what I am now, a Burgtmaid of this place; is she, then, wiser and better than I and all the others? Or is she more conversant with our laws and customs? If that had been the case, she would have become Mother when she was chosen; but instead of that she preferred matrimony to a single life, watching over herself and her people. She is certainly very clear-sighted, but my eyes are far from being dim. I have observed that she is very much attached to her husband, which is very praiseworthy; but I see, likewise, that Teuntia is Apol’s niece. Further I say nothing."
The principal people understood very well which way the wind blew with her; but among the people there arose disputes, and as most of the people came from here, they would not give the honor to Teuntia. The conferences were ended, knives were drawn, and no Mother was chosen.
Shortly afterwards one of our messengers killed his comrade. As he had been a man of good character hitherto, my Burgtmaid had permission to help him over the frontier; but instead of helping him over to Germany, she fled with him herself to Wesara, and then to the Magy.
The Magy, who wished to please his sons of Frya, appointed her Mother of Godaburgt, in Scandinavia; but she wished for more, and she told him that if he could get Adela out of the way he might become master of the whole of Frya’s land. She said she hated Adela for having prevented her from being chosen Mother. If he would promise her Texland, her messenger should serve as guide to his warriors. All this was confessed by her messenger.
In spite of the loss of huge territories in the east, south and north, Frya’s land was still a formidable nation, one that the Magyars and the Finns could not openly attack. Apollonia later gives us a description of the country when she becomes a burgtmaid herself, but first the story of Adela continues. She was no longer a burgtmaid but yielded considerable influence from her farm. A description of this powerful influence, and its loss, has just been given concerning the old king Liudgert at Dokhem where it was shown that popular appeal was essential regardless of merit.
At the time of the harvest festival when everyone was merrymaking, the Magy sent an assassin into Adela’s house and killed her with a poisoned arrow. No assailant survived the attack but this political opposition, this rallying focus was removed. Adela was a seven-foot giant skilled in the use of arms. Her seven-foot sword dispatched several of the assassins before the poison did its work.
Even with the help of the treacherous burgtmaid that he appointed to the foreign post of Mother of Godaburgt in Sweden, the Magy failed to prevail at that time. Frya’s land did not fall from invasion but eventually they did fall by sedition from within. The external influences and weakness of character described earlier took its inevitable toll but not for several hundred years; a story yet to be told. This was still the sixth century BC; the golden age of Greece was not yet underway, Rome was about to throw out its kings and was considered part of the Celtic empire and the sea-kings had many voyages to make.
But the seeds of a new age had been planted. Even so the Matriarchal Age would have one more glorious era before falling to the age of male dominance and Christian suppression.
Fifteen months after the last general assembly, at the festival of the harvest month, everybody gave himself up to pleasure and merrymaking, and no one thought of anything but diversion; but Wr-Alda wished to teach us that watchfulness should never be relaxed. In the midst of the festivities the fog came and enveloped every place in darkness. Cheerfulness melted away, but watchfulness did not take its place. The coast-guard deserted their beacons, and no one was to be seen on any of the paths.
When the fog rose, the sun scarcely appeared among the clouds; but the people all came out shouting with joy, and the young folks went about singing to their bagpipes, filling the air with their melody. But while every one was intoxicated with pleasure, treachery had landed with its horses and riders. As usual, darkness had favored the wicked, and they had slipped in through the paths of Linda’s wood.
Before Adela’s door twelve girls led twelve lambs and twelve boys led twelve calves. A young Saxon bestrode a wild bull which he had caught and tamed. They were decked with all kinds of flowers, and the girls’ dresses were fringed with gold from the Rhine.
When Adela came out of her house, a shower of flowers fell on her head; they all cheered loudly, and the fifes of the boys were heard over everything. Poor Adela! poor people! how short will be your joy!
When the procession was out of sight, a troop of Magyar soldiers rushed up to Adela’s house. Her father and her husband were sitting on the steps. The door was open, and within stood Adelbrost, her son. When he saw the danger of his parents, he took his bow from the wall and shot the leader of the pirates, who staggered and fell on the grass. The second and third met a similar fate.
In the meantime his parents had seized their weapons, and went slowly to Jon’s house. They would soon have been taken, but Adela came. She had learned in the burgt to use all kinds of weapons. She was seven feet high, and her sword was the same length. She waved it three times over her head, and each time a knight bit the earth. Reinforcements came, and the pirates were made prisoners; but too late - an arrow had penetrated her bosom. The treacherous Magy had poisoned it, and she died of it.
At the funeral of Adela, this elegy was spoken. It was the final tribute to the Mother that was never elected. It gives us an insight into the life of this highly regarded heroine of a forgotten culture.
Yes, departed friend, thousands are arrived, and more are coming. They wish to hear the wisdom of Adela. Truly, she was a princess, for she had always been the leader. O Sorrow, what good can you do!
Her garments of linen and wool she spun and wove herself. How could she add to her beauty? Not with pearls, for her teeth were more white; not with gold, for her dresses were more brilliant; not with precious stones, for her eyes, though soft as those of a lamb, were so lustrous that you could scarcely look into them. But why do I talk of beauty? Frya was certainly not more beautiful; yes, my friends, Frya, who possessed seven perfections, of which each of her daughters inherited one, or at most three.
But even if she had been ugly, she would still have been dear to us. Is she warlike? Listen, my friend. Adela was the only daughter of our Grevetman. She stood seven feet high. Her wisdom exceeded her stature, and her courage was equal to both together. Here is an instance.
There was once a turf-ground on fire. Three children got upon yonder gravestone. There was a furious wind. The people were all shouting, and the mother was helpless. Then came Adela.
"What are you standing still here for?" she cried. "Try to help them, and Wr-Alda will give you strength." Then she ran to the Krylwood and got some elder branches, of which she made a bridge. The others then came to assist her, and the children were saved. The children bring flowers to the place every year.
There came once three Phoenician sailors, who began to ill-treat the children, when Adela, having heard their screams, beat the scoundrels till they were insensible, and then, to prove to them what miserable wretches they were, she tied them all three to a spindle.
The foreign lords came to look after their people, and when they saw how ridiculously they had been treated they were very angry, till they were told what had happened. Upon that they bowed themselves before Adela, and kissed the hem of her garment.
But come, distant living friend. The birds of the forest fled before the numerous visitors. Come, friend, and you shall hear her wisdom. By the gravestone of which mention has already been made her body is buried. Upon the stone the following words are inscribed:
"Tread Softly, for Here Lies Adela"
Following the death of Adela, the story is briefly taken up by Adelbrost, son of Apol and Adela, but he was not to live much longer in those troubled times. After a short passage his sister, Apollonia, continues the book. Apol and Adela had founded the Oera Linda family, a new surname that meant "over the lime trees", initially a reference to the location of their farm but soon to become a name of distinction for their descendants.
The tragic circumstances of Adela’s family generated a reaction against the Magy that caused him much trouble for many years particularly after a citadel named Lindasburgt was built in present day Norway, the heart of the Finn’s territory. It was built by Apol, another brother, and was used in raids against the Magy.
Adelhirt, the youngest son of Adela, was fifty years of age when he was elected a Grevetman, an elder or a leader of a city. It shows how the Friesland society used men or women, old or young for positions that they could best serve in contrast to the hereditary systems of privilege which nobles would impose in the coming ages. Apollonia went to the maidens and by age thirty was chosen as burgtmaid of Liudgaard. She found many portions of what was to become The Oera Linda Book including the Book of Adela’s Followers as well as adding valuable descriptions of her times. She was a major contributor to the Book.
My name is Adelbrost, the son of Apol and Adela. I was elected by my people as Grevetman over the Lindaoord. Therefore I will continue this book in the same way as my mother has spoken it.
My name is Apollonia. Two-and-thirty-days after my mother’s death, my brother Adelbrost was found murdered on the wharf, his skull fractured and his limbs torn asunder. My father, who lay ill, died of fright.
Then my younger brother, Apol, sailed from here to the west side of Scandinavia. There he built a citadel named Lindasburgt, in order there to avenge our wrong. Wr-Alda accorded him many years for that. He had five sons, who all caused fear to Magy, and brought fame to my brother.
After the death of my mother and my brother, all the bravest of the land joined together and made a covenant, called the Adelbond. In order to preserve us from injury, they brought me and my youngest brother, Adelhirt, to the burgt, myself to the maidens, and he to the warriors.
When I was thirty years old I was chosen as burgtmaid, and my brother at fifty was chosen Grevetman. From mother’s side my brother was the sixth, but from father’s side the third. By right, therefore, his descendants could put "Oera Linda" after their names, but they all wished to do it in honor of their mother.
In addition to this, there was given to us also a copy of "The Book of Adela’s Followers." That gave me the most pleasure, because it came into the world by my mother’s wisdom. In the burgt I have found other writings also in praise of my mother. All this I will write afterwards.
