Rudolf Christian of Ostfriesland, Count of East Frisia, was

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

East Frisia East Frisia () or East Friesland (; ; ; ) is a historic region in the northwest of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is primarily located on the western half of the East Frisia (peninsula), East Frisian peninsula, to the east of West Frisia and to the ...

, (

Hage Hage (East Frisian language, East Frisian: ''Haag'') is a small East Frisian town (''Flecken'') in Lower Saxony, Germany. Located in the Aurich (district), district of Aurich close to the North Sea, approximately 5 km east of Norden, Lower S ...

, 2 June 1602 –

, 17 April 1628) and the second son of

Enno III, Count of East Frisia Enno III of Ostfriesland or Enno III of East Frisia (30 September 1563, Aurich – 19 August 1625) was a Count of Ostfriesland from 1599 to 1625 from the Cirksena family. His reign was marked by political conflict with the estates and the cit ...

and Anna of Holstein-Gottorp. During his reign, foreign troops participating in the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...

began retreating into and quartering in East Frisia. Also during his reign,

fen A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetland along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires ...

exploitation in East Frisia begins. He reached a settlement with the East Frisian Estates, who them paid him homage, ultimately even the city of

Emden Emden () is an Independent city (Germany), independent town and seaport in Lower Saxony in the north-west of Germany and lies on the River Ems (river), Ems, close to the Germany–Netherlands border, Netherlands border. It is the main town in t ...

did so. Under his leadership, the

Lordships of Esens, Stedesdorf and Wittmund The Lordships of Esens, Stedesdorf and Wittmund (German language, German: ''Herrlichkeiten Esens, Wittmund und Stedesdorf'') formed a contiguous area in the old district of Harlingerland in the north of the East Frisia (peninsula), East Frisian ...

were finally incorporated in the county of East Frisia. This is visible in the county's

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

, which was introduced under his rule in 1625 and remained in use until the county was annexed by Prussia in 1744. At the age of just 26, he got embroiled in a fight with a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

of the army of general

Matthias Gallas Matthias Gallas, Graf von Campo und Herzog von Lucera (Count of Campo, Duke of Lucera) (Matteo Gallasso; 17 October 1588 in Trento – 25 April 1647 in Vienna) was an Italian professional soldier during the Thirty Years' War. He distinguished him ...

, which was quartered in

Berum Castle Berum Castle is located in the Berum district the East Frisian town of Hage in Germany. It is one of the most important sites in East Frisian history. History The castle is first mentioned in a document of 1310, as the seat of a member of ...

. He was stabbed in the left eye, and died of his wound. Since Rudolf Christian was childless, he was succeeded as Count of East Frisia by his brother Ulrich II.

Ancestors

References and sources

* Tielke, Martin (ed.): ''Biographisches Lexikon für Ostfriesland'', Ostfriesisches Landschaftliche Verlag- u. Vertriebsgeschäft, Aurich, vol. 1 (1993), vol. 2 (1997), vol. 3 (2001) * Heinrich Reimers: ''Ostfriesland bis zum Aussterben seines Fürstenhauses'', Bremen, 1925 * Ernst Esselborn: ''Das Geschlecht Cirksena'', Berlin, 1945 East Frisia, Rudolf Christian of East Frisia, Rudolf Christian of Counts of East Frisia 17th-century German people {{EastFrisia-stub