Edzard I, Count of East Frisia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edzard I |
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| Count of East Frisia | |
Edzard I, count of East Frisia
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| Reign | 1491–1528 |
| Predecessor | Enno I |
| Successor | Enno II |
| Born | 15 January 1462 Greetsiel |
| Died | 14 February 1528 Emden |
| Spouse | Elisabeth von Rietberg |
| House | Cirksena |
| Father | Ulrich I |
| Mother | Theda Ukena |
Edzard I, also known as Edzard the Great, was an important ruler in a region called East Frisia. He was born on January 15, 1462, in Greetsiel and passed away on February 14, 1528, in Emden. Edzard was the Count of East Frisia from 1491 until his death. He helped shape East Frisia into a stronger territory and brought many changes during his time.
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Becoming Count
Edzard took over as Count of East Frisia in 1492 after his brother, Enno I, died. Before becoming count, he went on a special trip, a pilgrimage, to Jerusalem. When he returned, he started ruling East Frisia alongside his mother, Theda.
After his mother passed away in 1494, Edzard ruled with his younger brother, Uko. Edzard was the main leader, making most of the important decisions for their land.
Making Changes in East Frisia
Edzard was a very active and strong ruler. He quickly dealt with local leaders who opposed him, like Hero Oomkens and Edo Wiemken. This helped him make East Frisia more stable.
He also supported the Protestant Reformation. This was a big religious change happening in Europe. Edzard brought new laws to East Frisia. He also changed the money system to make it better.
One very important change he made was introducing primogeniture for his family, the Cirksena house. This meant that the oldest son would always inherit the title and lands. This helped avoid fights over who would rule next.
The Saxon Feud
Edzard's actions sometimes led to conflicts with other powerful rulers. He had a big disagreement with George, Duke of Saxony, which led to a three-year war from 1514 to 1517. This war is often called the Saxon feud.
The war mostly happened in East Frisia, causing a lot of damage. For example, the city of Aurich was completely burned down during this time.
The conflict started because Duke George of Saxony was given control over all Frisian lands by the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. But the city of Groningen did not agree with this. Count Edzard saw this as a chance to make his own power stronger in the area. He announced that he would protect the city of Groningen.
Because of this, many German dukes and counts joined forces against Edzard. They invaded East Frisia with their armies, causing widespread destruction. The emperor even declared Edzard an "outlaw," meaning he had lost the emperor's protection.
Ending the War
Even with so many powerful enemies, Edzard managed to keep most of East Frisia under his control during the three-year war. The war finally ended when Charles V became the new ruler in the Netherlands. Edzard was able to get Charles V to confirm him as the rightful ruler of East Frisia. This was a big victory for Edzard.
Family Life
In 1498, Edzard married Elisabeth of Rietberg-Arnsberg. She was born in 1470 and passed away in 1512. They had three children together:
- Margaret (born 1500, died 1537). She married Philipp IV, Count of Waldeck. Margaret became the mother of Margaretha von Waldeck. Some people believe that Margaretha von Waldeck was the inspiration for the famous fairy tale character, Snow White.
- Enno (born 1505, died 1540). He became the next Count of East Frisia after his father.
- Johan (born 1506, died 1574).
See also
