Edzard I, Count of East Frisia
Encyclopedia
Edzard I, also Edzard the Great, (Greetsiel
, 1461 – Emden
, 14 February 1528) was count of East Frisia
from 1491 till his death in 1528.
Edzard succeeded his brother Enno in 1492. He fought with George, Duke of Saxony
over Friesland and Groningen. The city of Groningen accepted him as its lord in 1506, but in 1514 renounced him again in favor of Charles of Guelders.
After he returned from a pilgrimage
to Jerusalem in 1492, he took over the rule of East Frisia
together with his mother Theda. After his mother died in 1494, he ruled together with his less significant brother Uko.
Edzard's rule was characterized by his energetic approach against his opponents, the East Frisian leaders Hero Oomkens
from Harlingerland
and Edo Wiemken from Jever
, whom he quickly managed to subdue. He was also a supporter of the Protestant Reformation
in his territories, through the creation of new East Frisian laws, the reform of the coinage and the introduction of primogeniture
for his house, the house of Cirksena
.
His foreign policies led to a three-year war
(1514–1517) against Duke George of Saxony
. The war was mostly fought on East Frisian territory, and caused destruction in large areas. The city of Aurich
, for example, was burned to the ground.
Duke George of Saxony was appointed stadtholder
of all Frisian territories in 1514 by Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
. This was not accepted by the city of Groningen. Count Edzard saw this as a chance to expand his influence in the province of Groningen
, and proclaimed himself protector of the city. As a result 24 german dukes and counts invaded the Frisian lands with their troops and devastated the region. Edzard was proclaimed an outlaw (Reichsacht
) by the emperor.
During the three year war, Edzard eventually managed to keep the majority of East Frisia under his control. Only when Charles V
came to power in the Netherlands did Edzard manage to end the war by getting himself confirmed as ruler of East Frisia
.
Greetsiel
Greetsiel is a small port on the bight of Leybucht in western East Frisia, Germany that was first documented in letters from the year 1388. Since 1972, Greetsiel has been part of the municipality of Krummhörn, which has its administrative seat in Pewsum...
, 1461 – Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, 14 February 1528) was count of East Frisia
County of East Frisia
The County of East-Frisia was a county in the region of East Frisia in the north-west of the present day German state of Lower Saxony.-County:...
from 1491 till his death in 1528.
Edzard succeeded his brother Enno in 1492. He fought with George, Duke of Saxony
George, Duke of Saxony
George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony , was duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539.Duke George was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.-Early life:...
over Friesland and Groningen. The city of Groningen accepted him as its lord in 1506, but in 1514 renounced him again in favor of Charles of Guelders.
After he returned from a pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
to Jerusalem in 1492, he took over the rule of East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
together with his mother Theda. After his mother died in 1494, he ruled together with his less significant brother Uko.
Edzard's rule was characterized by his energetic approach against his opponents, the East Frisian leaders Hero Oomkens
Hero Oomkens von Esens
Hero Oomkens von Esens was a Frisian nobleman, Earl of Harlingerland, who inherited the title on the death of his father, Sibet Attena von Esens, in 1473. He is usually referred to as Hero Oomkens "the Younger" to distinguish him from his maternal grandfather, Hero Oomkens the Elder...
from Harlingerland
Harlingerland
The Harlingerland is a strip of land on the North Sea coast of East Frisia. Whilst, today, the whole of the district of district of Wittmund is usually described as Harlingerland, historically it is specifically used to refer to the northern part of the present district, which formed the old...
and Edo Wiemken from Jever
Jever
Jever is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer which is produced here, the city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted city status in 1536. Unofficially Jever is sometimes referred to as...
, whom he quickly managed to subdue. He was also a supporter of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in his territories, through the creation of new East Frisian laws, the reform of the coinage and the introduction of primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
for his house, the house of Cirksena
Cirksena
The Cirksena are noble East Frisian family descended from a line of East Frisian chieftains from Greetsiel.- The Cirksena in East Frisia :In 1439 in the wake of clashes between different lines of chieftains, the town of Emden was first placed by Hamburg under direct rule and then, in 1453, finally...
.
His foreign policies led to a three-year war
Saxon feud
The Saxon feud was a confrontation between the East Frisian Count Edzard I and George, Duke of Saxony in the years 1514-1517. The war took place predominantly on East Frisian soil and destroyed large parts of the region.- Background :...
(1514–1517) against Duke George of Saxony
George, Duke of Saxony
George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony , was duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539.Duke George was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.-Early life:...
. The war was mostly fought on East Frisian territory, and caused destruction in large areas. The city of Aurich
Aurich
Aurich is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Aurich.-History:The history of Aurich dates back to the 13th century, when the settlement of Aurechove was mentioned in a Frisian document called the Brokmerbrief in 1276. In 1517, Count Edzard from the house of...
, for example, was burned to the ground.
Duke George of Saxony was appointed stadtholder
Stadtholder
A Stadtholder A Stadtholder A Stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder [], "steward" or "lieutenant", literally place holder, holding someones place, possibly a calque of German Statthalter, French lieutenant, or Middle Latin locum tenens...
of all Frisian territories in 1514 by Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
. This was not accepted by the city of Groningen. Count Edzard saw this as a chance to expand his influence in the province of Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
, and proclaimed himself protector of the city. As a result 24 german dukes and counts invaded the Frisian lands with their troops and devastated the region. Edzard was proclaimed an outlaw (Reichsacht
Reichsacht
The imperial ban was a form of outlawry in the Holy Roman Empire. At different times, it could be declared by the Holy Roman Emperor, by courts like the Vehmgericht or the Reichskammergericht, or by the Reichstag....
) by the emperor.
During the three year war, Edzard eventually managed to keep the majority of East Frisia under his control. Only when Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
came to power in the Netherlands did Edzard manage to end the war by getting himself confirmed as ruler of East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
.