John V, Count of Oldenburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John V |
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| Count of Oldenburg | |
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| Spouse(s) | Anna of Anhalt-Zerbst |
| Noble family | House of Oldenburg |
| Father | Gerhard VI, Count of Oldenburg |
| Mother | Adelheid of Tecklenburg |
| Born | 1460 Oldenburg |
| Died | 10 February 1526 (aged 65–66) Oldenburg |
John V (born 1460 in Oldenburg – died 10 February 1526 in Oldenburg) was an important ruler from the House of Oldenburg. He was the Count of Oldenburg from 1500 until his death in 1526. His parents were Gerhard VI, Count of Oldenburg and Adelheid of Tecklenburg.
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Becoming Count of Oldenburg
After his father stepped down, John V became the new Count of Oldenburg. He had to prove himself against his brothers to take on this role.
In April 1499, John V wanted to control more land. He led an army of paid soldiers, called mercenaries, into the marshlands of Stadland and Butjadingen. These areas were home to free farmers who were not under a lord. Another powerful leader, the Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, also claimed control over these lands.
John hired a group of mercenaries known as the Black Guard. These soldiers defeated the free farmers in two battles. However, John could not afford the Black Guard for long. Soon after, another ruler, Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg, hired them to conquer different lands.
Expanding His Territory
John V's actions started a series of wars. Many rulers wanted to bring the free farmers in the North Sea and river marshlands under their control. This system, where farmers worked for a lord, was called feudalism.
The Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, Johann Rode, tried to stop John V. He formed an alliance with the important cities of Bremen, Hamburg, and Stade. These cities relied on free trade along the Elbe and Weser rivers. They saw John's actions as a threat to their trade.
In April 1500, the free farmers in Stadland and Butjadingen fought back and gained their freedom. They received help from East Frisia, a nearby region.
Battles and Alliances
John V managed to keep his main rival, Edzard I, Count of East Frisia, in check by forming alliances with other rulers.
In January 1514, during a conflict known as the Saxon feud, John V and the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg attacked Edzard. John was then able to conquer Butjadingen, Stadland, and parts of the Frisian Wehde.
He wanted to keep the Stadland area as his own property, meaning he would own it completely. However, in 1517, he had to agree to hold it as a fief. This meant he would control the land, but it would officially belong to Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
The dukes of Brunswick first took control of Butjadingen. But after a failed uprising by the farmers in 1515, they slowly gave ownership to John V. By 1523, Butjadingen officially became part of Oldenburg.
John V passed away in 1526. After his death, his sons John VI, Christopher, George, and Anthony I ruled Oldenburg together.
Family Life
John V married Anna of Anhalt-Zerbst. She was the daughter of George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau.
Their children were:
- Johann VI von Oldenburg
- Anna von Oldenburg
- Georg von Oldenburg
- Christoph von Oldenburg
- Anton I von Oldenburg
- Moritz von Oldenburg
- Margaretha von Oldenburg
See also
- List of rulers of Oldenburg
