From the late eleventh century onward, warriors from the Frisian coastal regions, a region stretching along the North Sea coast from the northern Netherlands to the mouth of the Weser, became a recurring presence in crusading expeditions. Contemporary observers repeatedly praised them as effective and reliable fighters, particularly in overseas campaigns. This is striking, since medieval warfare and crusading ideology are usually associated with feudal elites and mounted knights, while Frisia lacked both strong feudal structures and a cavalry tradition. How can the prominent role of a largely infantry-based, non-feudal society in the crusades between roughly 1097 and 1270 be explained?
