Walburgis (Rietberg)

Countess Walburgis von Rietberg (* 1555/6 in Rietberg ; † May 26, 1586 in Esens ) was Countess of Rietberg from 1565–1576 and 1584–1586 .

Armgard and Walburgis von Rietberg, detail of a family portrait by Hermann tom Ring

Life

Walburgis was born in Rietberg in 1555/6 as the second daughter of Johann II and Agnes von Bentheim and Steinfurt . After the birth of their last child and only son, Walburgis had to recover and on May 7, 1586, moved together with the farm from Esens to Wittmund . Only a short time later she returned to Esens and died there at the age of 30 on May 26, 1586. She found her final resting place in the Magnuskirche in Esens. With it, the line of the County of Rietberg from the Werl-Arnsberg family died out.

After Walburgis' death the rumor surfaced that the countess had been served a poisoned beer soup. One of the three suspected women initially admitted the crime under torture. Although the doctors certified a natural cause of death, the three were brought to the place of execution on May 11, 1586 and publicly burned.

Marriage and offspring

Enno III. von Ostfriesland , husband of Walburgis

At the age of 21, Walburgis was given to Enno III on May 1, 1577, then 14 . , Son of Count Edzard II of East Frisia . The wedding took place on January 28, 1581 when Enno was 18 years old. From this marriage:

• Sabina Catharina (* August 11, 1582; ​​† May 31, 1618) ∞ on March 4, 1601 her uncle Johann III. of East Friesland (* 1566; † September 29, 1625)
• Agnes (January 1, 1584; † February 28, 1616) ∞ August 15, 1603 Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein (January 30, 1580; † August 5, 1658)
• Johann Edzard (March 2, 1586 - March 13, 1586), buried in Esens (St. Magnus).

See also

• Family portrait of Count Johann II von Rietberg

Web links

• Armgard and Walburgis ( Memento from February 17, 2015 in the Internet Archive )

predecessor	Office	successor
Armgard	Countess von Rietberg 1584 - 1586	Sabina Catharina