Upstalsboom

The origins of the Upstalsboom, including its name, are unclear, but as far back as the 8th century the meeting place was used as a burial ground for the members of important Frisian families.

Attested in writing as early as the first half of the 13th century, the assembly convened every year on the Tuesday after Pentecost to discuss issues pertinent to all Frisian lands.

Although marked by weak central authority and regular infighting, Frisian territories showed great success repelling foreign invaders.

In 1323, the Statutes of Upstalsboom were ratified, providing a legal framework for interaction between the Seven Sealands, such as prohibiting certain actions, prescribing punishments for crimes, establishing exchange rates for currencies, providing legal rights between citizens of different sealands, and establishing a defense pact.

[1][2] The assembly was a pan-Frisian alliance which met every year to discuss political and legal issues pertinent to the participating parties, known as the Upstalsboom League [Wikidata], especially those relating to foreign matters.

[6][7] During its earliest period as an assembly, laws were established to affirm the payment of fines (Old Frisian: frede) paid to local counts.

[16] In 1361, Groningen attempted and, at first failed, to play a more significant role in the league as it began to restructure its economic position in response to outside trade waning.

[32] In 1361, the statutes were reaffirmed and a clause adding a forty-mark payment to the heirs of a homicide victim by whomever hid a murder from justice in another sealand; this was twice the typical weregild.