Frisians set foot in Britain as early as the Roman Invasion

As I argued in a recent post that regarded Roman Londinium, the first component ‘Lond-‘ in the name recommends a potential Germanic and more likely Frisian influence so poses the question whether the Romans actually deployed Germanic troops in their military campaigns over Britain.

The Romans were known to have already drafted in good numbers of Germanic troops by the late first century BC and early first century AD in their campaigns against Germania, a trend that increased with time.

As it turns out, the Romans indeed employed Frisian mercenaries as cavalry along their invasion of Britain (43 – 87 AD) so there is a possibility that some might have been stationed in Londinium during early Roman occupation.

Later on, the presence of Frisian auxiliary units (Cuneus Frisionum) is attested at Vercovicium⁽¹⁾, Housesteads in Hexham, between at least 222 and 235 AD and the Vinovia, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, potentially starting even earlier among others in nowadays northeast England.

Cavalry units of the ala Vettonum, a Frisian cohort, could have also been stationed at the latter fort whilst the finding of terp Tritzum, trademark earthenware⁽²⁾ fashioned in fourth century Frisia, in Kent suggests the settling of Frisian laeti⁽³⁾ therein.

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(1) The mention of Tuihanti, Germanic people likely settled around nowadays Twente (Netherlands), on two memorial stones has them apparently as part of the formation of the Frisian force stationed there.

(2) Pottery made of baked clay.

(3) People from outside the Roman Empire allowed to settle within Roman territory on condition that they would provide recruits for the Roman army.

The meaning of the days of the week in English

Let’s have a little look at the names of the days of the week, as appear nowadays, in the English language as well as their (substantially Norse/Scandinavian) origins and meaning now:

Monday, to begin the week with, means ‘Day of the Moon’ and likely derives via the Middle English Monenday on the Old English Mōnandæg, which in turn most likely comes from the Old Frisian Mōna(n)deig.

That said, the Middle English version looks very much identical to the Old Frisian alternate form of Mōnendei, so it may well have been obtained directly from the latter instead.

Tuesday is ‘Tīw’s Day’ or ‘Týr’s Day’ where Týr (Tiwar in Proto-Norse) is a Norse god of war. The English name of the day comes likely via the Old Frisian Tiesdei, which is almost identical.

Wednesday, in turn, means ‘Day of Woden’ where Woden is no other than the mighty Norse king of the gods Odin. The English name apparently comes via the effectively identical Old Frisian Wednesdei.

Thursday is ‘Thor’s Day’ where Thor is no other than the well-known Norse god of Thunder. Its deep root lies in the Norse Þórsdagr (Thor’s Day, where ‘Þ’ is pronounced as ‘θ’) apparently as an influence on Old Frisian Thuner (Thor) and Thunersdei, with a loss of the ‘n’ through time.

Friday means ‘Day of Frig’ and Frig is no other than Odin’s consort goddess Frigg. The English name comes apparently either through the Old Saxon (Low German) name for the goddess of Fri or Old Frisian Frīadei or Fredei for the day.

Saturday has got its origins in the Roman Latin Sāturni diēs that means ‘Saturn’s Day’ but most likely came via the Old Frisian Sāterdei, with which the Middle English form (Saterday) is effectively identical.

Finally, Sunday means ‘Sun’s Day’ as can easily be made out. Its older form (Middle English) is Sunedai likely to have come in its turn from the Old Frisian Sunnandei.