The Bishop from Frisia Who Proceeded the Hunger Games

Hans Faber
Jan 13, 2024
7 min read

Updated: Sep 3

Katniss Everdeen, portrayed by American actress Jennifer Lawrence, is both a survivor and victor of The Hunger Games. She comes from District 12, the impoverished mining region of the country called Panem. In fact, Katniss was never meant to be a tribute in the games. Her younger sister was originally chosen, but Katniss volunteered to take her place. Each year, twenty-four residents—known as tributes—were selected by lottery from the twelve districts of Panem to fight to the death until only one remained. Katniss emerged as the winner. In the ninth century, during the violent era of Viking raids, a Frisian bishop named Hunger had to play a similar 'game.' He, too, was never meant to be part of it—yet he became the one who survived.

Bishop Hunger the Frisian, often recorded in medieval texts as Hungerus Frisius, lived in the ninth century AD. Little is known of his background, apart from his role as a priest in the bishopric of Utrecht and the fact that he had some visible physical deformity. It is tempting to draw associations with Notre Dame’s Quasimodo, though the nature of Hunger’s condition remains unknown. Rumour has it that actress Jennifer Lawrence was once asked to lose weight for the role of Katniss Everdeen; she refused, and still got the part—without any suggestion from our side of being misshapen, of course. Likewise, Hunger’s appearance was once used as an argument against making him bishop. Yet, as this blog post will show, just like Jennifer Lawrence, he got the job in the end. And that is not the only parallel.

From which region of Frisia Hunger originated, we do not know. Some speculate he may have come from the area around the River Stichtse Vecht in the current province of Utrecht.

Hunger is a typical Germanic name: bold, warrior-like, and composed of two elements. It has nothing to do with feeling hungry. The first element, hun, can mean ‘cub, young bear,’ or possibly refer to the Huns, as in ‘dark complexion.’ Most likely, however, it means ‘cub, young bear.’ The second element, ger, means ‘spear.’ So, 'young bear-spear.' The surname Hunger is still found today, particularly in Germany, the United States, and Switzerland. In Spanish, he is venerated as San Hung(u)ero de Utrecht.

After his death, Hunger was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, and his feast day is celebrated on December 22. He is remembered as a pious man with a modest character, seeking no gain—neither for himself nor for his family. Hunger is often depicted with a radiant wedding ring, the reason for which will become clear further below. He was not the only Frisian to serve as bishop of Utrecht. Other bishops, likely from early medieval noble Frisian families, include Alberik I, Frederick of Sexbierum (also canonized), Alberik II, Ricfried, Liudger, and Hartbert of Bierum. Though not born in Frisia, Bishop Radboud is said to have been a descendant of King Radbod of Frisia († 719)—a claim that, interestingly, is also made about Bishop Frederick, who likewise is supposed to have been of royal blood. In other words, the early history of the diocese of Utrecht is steeped in Frisian DNA.

Just like Katniss Everdeen, Hunger was never meant to be selected as the new bishop of Utrecht. After the death of Bishop Liudger, a struggle for power dominated the election of his successor. At that time, the bishopric itself elected a new bishop—only later would this prerogative belong solely to the Pope. Naturally, because a bishop was an influential political figure, various Frankish powers sought to sway the outcome. Moreover, since the bishopric of Utrecht bordered two realms—Lotharingia and East Francia—the interest of secular powers in the election was particularly strong. Initially, the provost named Craft was the intended successor, but he refused, citing the insecurity caused by Viking raids. It was the elderly priest Odulf, who had recently ministered in northern Frisia, who ultimately influenced Hunger’s selection. Odulf urged the electors not to judge Hunger by his unattractive and ugly appearance, but by his deeds. More plausibly, however, Craft may have been forced to step aside under political pressure from East Francia (Van der Tuuk 2003).

In the year 854, Hunger became bishop and remained in office until his death sometime in the mid-860s. The location of his grave is uncertain. According to tradition, he died at Prüm Abbey in Germany, just north of Luxembourg, but no confirmed grave exists. Another theory suggests he was buried on Estate Weeresteyn, located at the former border of the bishopric of Utrecht, which also marked the boundary between the provinces of Holland and Utrecht. The small stream called the Weere translates as ‘border.’ In the estate’s garden, a sarcophagus was discovered in 1760 containing, among other items, a crozier—an indication that it was the grave of a bishop. Estate Weeresteyn lies near the villages of Nieuwersluis and Breukelen along the River Stichtse Vecht, an area that, for much of the Early Middle Ages, was a heartland of influential Frisian nobility connected to the Frankish court (see our blog post Attingahem Bridge, NY). After being exhibited, the sarcophagus was smashed to pieces and discarded. No, we are not kidding.

Saint Hunger Frisus — Saint Hungerus Frisus showing the wedding ring

Hunger lived in turbulent times. Pillaging Vikings had been active in the wider region during the decades leading up to his consecration. However, from 841 until around 876, the Danish warlord Rorik of Dorestad—also written as Hrœrekr or Roric—ruled most of West Frisia on behalf of King Lothar II of Lotharingia (Middle Francia). This benefice encompassed roughly the central river lands and the western coastal area of what is now the Netherlands. At some point, Rorik converted to Christianity, a precondition for service under the Franks, and he was largely successful in protecting the region from raids by Danish warbands. Bishop Hunger maintained direct relations with Rorik; together, they were the most powerful men in the area.

It is often thought that Hunger fled from Viking raids to the settlement of Sint Odiliënberg in the south of the Netherlands in 857 and never returned to Utrecht. This, however, is incorrect. It is more likely that Hunger left the episcopal see of Utrecht only temporarily during the few years when Rorik had departed for Denmark, leaving West Frisia insecure once again. Rorik was absent from Frisia between 857 and around 861 (Halbertsma 2000, Van der Tuuk 2003). We can reasonably assume that Hunger returned to Utrecht by 861 and remained there until his death. The exact year of his death is unknown; 866 is often cited, though the last record of Hunger dates from 863, when he was already too ill to travel. He may, therefor, have died shortly thereafter.

Sint Odiliënberg by Johannes Adrianus van der Drift (1808-1883)

When King Lothar II died in 869, King Charles of West Francia took possession of parts of Lotharingia. He kept Rorik in place as duke of West Frisia. A year later, with the Treaty of Meerssen, the borders between West Francia and East Francia were redrawn once more. Frisia north of the River Meuse became part of East Francia, making Rorik a vassal of King Louis the German.

Six years after Hunger was consecrated bishop of Utrecht, and thus became a player in the political 'Games,' he faced a particularly difficult situation. This was in the year 862 (Blok 1918). King Lothar wished to divorce his wife Teutberga, claiming she had borne him no children—a minor detail was that Lothar also had an affair with a woman named Waldrada with whom he had four children. The dissolution of the marriage required the sanction of the kingdom’s bishops. Initially, they resisted the king’s wishes, but in the end, all gave in—except for Bishop Hunger. He made the correct decision in this delicate matter, as Pope Nicholas later dismissed the other bishops of Trier and Cologne, leaving Hunger as the survivor.

An interesting anecdote—again involving marital matters—occurred in 863, when Bishop Hincmar of Rheims approached Bishop Hunger. He asked Hunger to use his influence over Rorik to prevent him from sheltering Margrave Baldwin I of Flanders and his wife Judith, daughter of King Charles of West Francia. Beautiful and desirable Judith had eloped with Baldwin and been married by the bishop of Tournai without her father’s consent (De Maesschalck 2019). The couple fled from West Francia to the north, to West Frisia. King Charles is said to have been furious for years, so angry at his daughter that not even the Pope could calm him. Whether Hunger disregarded Hincmar’s plea or simply lacked influence over Rorik, the Danish warlord nonetheless gave shelter to the lovers. The more one reads about this Viking on the Frankish payroll, the more fascinating he becomes. Note that Rorik resided in the kingdom of Lothar II, a king already embroiled in conflict with the Pope over the dissolution of his own marriage.

The wedding ring with which Saint Hunger the Frisian is depicted says it all. By sticking to his principles, he resisted one of the most powerful men of his time—the Frankish king of Lotharingia—much like Katniss Everdeen defied the Capitol. He did not, however, stop Rorik from giving shelter to the renegade couple, Judith and Baldwin.

Note 1 — Featured image Howall Papers.

Note 2 — It is not entirely sure Margrave Baldwin and Judith of Flanders stayed at Rorik. Baldwin threatened to do so, and had to flee from the jurisdiction of King Charles.

Note 3 — Saint Frederick from Frisia, bishop of Utrecht before Saint Hunger, also had to deal with family matters of his king. King Louis the Pious had married his cousin Judith of Bavaria. Not long after Bishop Frederick criticized the marriage he was murdered with a knife in the church while performing mass.

Suggested hiking

In the State of Vermont in the USA you can make a short hike up Mount Hunger. The trail is named Waterbury Trail. Some suggest the name of this mountain comes from a group of hungry hunters. Maybe the Hunger Mountain Christian Assembly at Waterbury can enlighten them.