Battle of Norditi

In the second half of the 9th century, Danish Vikings established bases on the East Frisian coast, from which they harassed the local population.

Archbishop Rimbert of Bremen-Hamburg, who had had to break off his mission to the Vikings in Scandinavia, which had been begun by his predecessor Ansgar, was deeply concerned about this threat to the Church and the Empire.

In the course of the ensuing battle, the Frisian army succeeded in pushing the Vikings back into Hilgenried Bay near Norden (in the municipality of Hagermarsch) where many were surprised by the incoming tide and drowned as they fled.

According to Adam of Bremen, Rimbert's words and prayers played a vital part in the successful outcome, whilst local tradition also emphasized the courage and love of freedom of the Frisians.

The Battle of Norditi is thus the foundation story for the Theelacht of Norden, a co-operative tribal association and is one of the possible reasons behind the conferring of "Friesian Freedom" on the Frisian population by the Roman-German emperors.