Johann I (East Frisia)
Johann I von Ostfriesland (* 1506 ; † 1572 ) from the house of Cirksena was the non-ruling Count of East Frisia and later the imperial governor of Limburg . His father, Edzard the Great , had introduced the Primogenitur in the county of East Friesland , so that Johann had to back off behind his older brother Enno II . However, despite great ambition, he did not challenge his brother's rule.
In contrast to his father and brother, Johann remained a Catholic. So after the death of his father he was able to serve the emperor. However, he soon returned to East Friesland and supported Enno in his actions. However, he could only have little positive influence on the unwise rule of his brother and was not characterized by wise and foresighted action (see also: Geldrische Feud ).
In 1538 Johann married Dorothea von Österreich, an illegitimate daughter of Emperor Maximilian I , with whom he then had a son, Maximilian. (His one daughter, Dorothea von Ostfriesland, was married to Jakob, the brother of the general Johann T'Serclaes von Tilly .)
It is also said that Johann had encouraged Count Enno in his alleged plan to recatholize the county of East Friesland. With the death of Enno in 1540, this endeavor was put to an early end. Johann was now in constant conflict with Enno's widow, Countess Anna , who was the guardian of his nephew Edzard 's government.
In 1543, however, the Roman-German Emperor Charles V remembered John's service. He put the Cirksena as governor general to Limburg , Falkenburg and Dalheim. From then on Johann carried the colloquial name "Count Johann von Falkenburg". His descendants kept Coldeborg in the Rheiderland for three generations and were financially supported by the East Frisian counts.
See also
Literature and Sources
- Martin Tielke (Ed.): Biographical Lexicon for East Frisia . 4 volumes. Ostfriesische Landschaftliche Verlags- und Vertriebsgesellschaft, Aurich 1993–1997, ISBN 3-925365-75-3 (Vol. 1), ISBN 3-932206-00-2 (Vol. 2), ISBN 3-932206-22-3 (Vol . 3), ISBN 3-932206-62-2 (vol. 4).
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Johann I. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Johann I of East Frisia; Johann I. Cirksena |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Governor of Limburg, non-ruling Count of East Friesland |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1506 |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1572 |