Character Relationship Map: Redbad

Characters

• Redbad (played by Gijs Naber) — protagonist

  A Frisian leader who rejects human sacrifice, survives being thrown into the sea, and returns to defend his people. He refuses to abandon his sister, attempts to rescue her from Frankish territory, ra...

• Pepijn (played by Jonathan Banks) — supporting

  A Frankish leader who offers peace on terms requiring a Frisian marriage alliance and baptism. He later faces Redbad as a captive and mockingly welcomes him to a family reunion.

• Fenne (played by Lisa Smit) — supporting

  An ally of Redbad who joins him in attempting to rescue his sister. She later becomes a potential bargaining target when Eibert argues that surrendering her and Redbad might prevent further disaster.

• Eibert (played by Derek de Lint) — supporting

  An elder who fears that Redbad’s doubts have brought a curse upon the land. He supports the judgment against Redbad and later argues that surrendering Redbad and Fenne could prevent further disaster b...

• Wulf (played by Mark van Eeuwen) — supporting
• Sinde (played by Britte Lagcher) — supporting

  Aldigisl’s daughter who is required to marry into a Frankish family and accept baptism as part of an attempted peace agreement. She is taken into Frankish territory, prompting Redbad to attempt her re...

• Aldigisl (played by Huub Stapel) — supporting

  Redbad’s father, who loves his son but accepts the traditional judgment against him. He orders Redbad to be taken to the sea as a sacrifice and is also the father of Sinde.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Pepijn → Sinde (Power Political Coercion) — Pepijn uses a diplomatic marriage and religious conversion to control Sinde's position.

  Pepijn sends a peace offer requiring Sinde to marry into the Frankish family and accept baptism.

• Redbad → Sinde (Family Sibling) — Redbad's loyalty to his sister motivates his rescue mission.

  Redbad refuses to abandon Sinde after learning that she has been taken into Frankish territory and attempts to rescue her.

• Aldigisl → Sinde (Family Father) — Aldigisl is Sinde's father within the Frisian leadership.

  The peace offer explicitly requires Sinde, identified as Aldigisl's daughter, to marry into the Frankish family.

• Redbad → Aldigisl (Family Son) — Redbad is Aldigisl's son, but their bond is tested by religious tradition.

  The plot identifies Aldigisl as Redbad's father and states that he loves his son before accepting the sacrificial verdict.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Pepijn → Redbad (Conflict Captive Adversary) — Pepijn treats Redbad as both a captured enemy and a significant political opponent.

  The account ends with Redbad captured and brought before Pepijn, who mockingly welcomes him and says he wants to see the famous Frisian leader.

• Redbad → Eibert (Conflict Ideological Opponent) — Eibert repeatedly opposes Redbad's rejection of sacrifice and resistance to the Franks.

  Eibert fears that Redbad's doubts caused the failed harvests and supports judgment against him; later, he argues that Redbad should be surrendered.

• Redbad → Wulf (Alliance Battle Ally) — Wulf is one of Redbad's battlefield allies during the Frisian defense.

  Redbad leads the Frisian defense while fighting beside Wulf.

• Redbad → Fenne (Alliance Rescue Partner) — Fenne becomes Redbad's partner in the effort to recover Sinde.

  After Sinde is taken, Redbad joins forces with Fenne and attempts to rescue her.

Story Analysis

A Frisian leader challenges sacrificial tradition and Frankish domination while fighting to protect his people and sister.

Plot Progression

1. Hunger Against Tradition — Four failed harvests bring hunger to the Frisian tribes. Redbad challenges the elders' sacrificial response and is declared guilty.
2. The Sea Rejects Him — Aldigisl accepts the traditional verdict despite loving Redbad as his son. Redbad is thrown into the sea but survives and disappears.
3. A Marriage Under Force — Frankish forces and missionaries arrive while Pepijn proposes peace through Sinde's marriage and baptism. The Frisian leaders accept because they fear the Frankish army.
4. Resistance Takes Arms — Redbad returns, learns that Sinde has been taken, and joins Fenne in a rescue attempt. The conflict expands into war, with Redbad and Wulf defending the Frisians.
5. The Captive Leader — After the battle, Frisian leaders debate surrender and resistance. Redbad is ultimately captured and brought before Pepijn, who greets him mockingly.