County of East Frisia

The County of East Frisia (German: Grafschaft Ostfriesland; Dutch: Graafschap Oost-Friesland; East Frisian Low Saxon: Gróófskup Oostfräisland; Saterland Frisian: Groafskup Aastfräislound), also known as the County of Emden or the County of Norden, Emden and Emisgonien in East Frisia, was an imperial county of the Holy Roman Empire in the region of East Frisia in the northwest of the present-day state of Lower Saxony in Germany.

At the beginning of the fifteenth century the chieftain families tom Brok and Ukena fought each other for power in East Frisia. Both subsequently damaged the privileges and freedoms that the citizens of East Frisia had enjoyed for centuries under the system of Frisian freedom. Under the leadership of the Cirksena dynasty, in cooperation with the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, Focko Ukena was expelled in 1433. While the south of East Frisia was occupied by Hamburg, the Cirksena's consolidated the northern part of the area. The Hamburgers were finally expelled in 1453 and Ulrich I laid the legal foundation for the foundation of a new imperial county; Emperor Frederick III raised Ulrich to the status of imperial count in 1464.

This new county was far from consolidated. Surrounding areas such as Friedeburg, Harlingerland and Jeverland were not yet part of the county and a bitter rivalry arose with the counts of Oldenburg. Under the leadership of Edzard 'the Great', the most famous ruler of the Cirksena dynasty, Groningen and the Ommelanden were conquered. This resulted in the Saxon feud (1514–1517). This seriously endangered his rule in East Frisia and he could barely maintain himself as imperial count. He made renewed attempts to conquer the lordships of Esens, Stedesdorf, Wittmund and Jever.

Around 1520 the Reformation began in East Frisia. Inactivity of the counts Edzard I and his successor Enno II led to a chaotic religious situation in which all kinds of Protestant denominations could take root in East Frisia. In the east, Enno II made a renewed attempt to take over the lordship of Jever. However, he did not honor his marriage treaty with Maria of Jever, after which she managed to free herself from the East Frisian counts through stubborn resistance. In 1575, East Frisia therefore definitively lost the Jeverland to Oldenburg. In the north, Balthasar Oomkens, with the help of the Duchy of Guelders, offered strong resistance, which also kept this area out of the hands of the Cirksena dynasty. Financial problems of the East Frisian counts increased the power of the East Frisian estates. This institution would play an increasingly important role in the history of the county. The rest of the sixteenth century was mainly characterized by religious division and fratricidal strife between Edzard II and Johan II. This even led to a temporary split of the county and further weakening of the count's authority. At the end of the sixteenth century this resulted in the Emden Revolution in which the East Frisian counts definitively lost their authority over Emden and East Frisia increasingly came under the influence of the Dutch Republic.

In the midst of the struggle between the East Frisian counts and the city of Emden, an important event took place in the history of the county of East Frisia. The lordships of Esens, Stedesdorf and Wittmund were permanently bound to East Frisia by the Treaty of Berum of 1600. In exchange for 300,000 Thalers, the sisters Sabina Catharina and Agnes sold the Harlingerland to their father Enno III of East Frisia. However, the area remained outside the power of the East Frisian estates and was only connected to East Frisia in a personal union. In the meantime, the struggle between the East Frisian estates and the city of Emden on the one hand and the counts of East Frisia on the other hand flared up again in all its intensity. This resulted in the Accord of Osterhusen in 1611. As a result, the highest sovereignty in East Frisia now lay with the estates and not with the count. East Frisia also became de facto a vassal state of the Dutch Republic. Dutch garrisons were stationed in Emden and Leerort. Attempts to have East Frisia included in the Dutch confederation failed several times, however.

The Thirty Years' War also didn't leave East Frisia untouched. East Frisia was ravaged by military occupation several times. Sometimes by troops of the Protestant Union and another time by troops of the Catholic League. This led to plundering and destruction throughout the county. Military leaders such as Ernst von Mansfeld tried to gain a position in East Frisia themselves and the county was increasingly exploited by the Dutch Republic. Meanwhile, the counts of East Frisia excelled in administrative incompetence. They were unable to resolve the internal divisions and were only guided by personal profit. Enno Louis of East Frisia succeeded in having himself elevated to the status of Imperial prince in 1654. After the unfortunate rule of him and his brother George Christian of East Frisia, Christine Charlotte of Württemberg, the widow of George Christian, succeeded her husband as ruler of East Frisia. Her efforts to establish an absolute monarchy led to fierce conflicts with the East Frisian estates and the city of Emden. As a result, they decided in 1682 to secretly enter into an alliance with Frederick William of Brandenburg, the powerful ruler of Brandenburg–Prussia.

In 1690, the rule in East Frisia was transferred to Christian Everhard. The Pietist Prince reconciled himself with the East Frisian estates and was even warmly welcomed in Emden. He tried to curb the influence of the House of Hohenzollern by concluding an inheritance treaty with Duke Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, however, blocked this treaty and in 1694 recognized the claim of Frederick III of Brandenburg on East Frisia. Brandenburg took possession of the castle in Greetsiel and increased its influence on the city of Emden. From then on, Emden became Brandenburg's most important naval base and the starting point for establishing overseas colonies.

In 1708, George Albert took over the rule of his father. He too reconciled with the East Frisian estates, which meant that his rule initially remained peaceful. However, due to his illness, the East Frisian chancellor Enno Rudolph Brenneysen gained increasing power and he chose a confrontational attitude towards the East Frisian estates. This attitude, as well as the consequences of the Christmas Flood of 1717, caused increasing tensions in the county. This erupted in the Appeal War of 1726–1727. George Albert achieved a Pyrrhic victory and the mutual relations and divisions reached a low point. George Albert was succeeded by his son Charles Edzard. He grew up in a stifling climate in which he enjoyed no freedom and when he had to succeed his father in 1734 he was absolutely unprepared for this. All kinds of forces in the background began preparations to transfer the county of East Frisia into Prussian hands. On 14 March 1744 the Emden Convention was signed to regulate the transition and only two months later Charles Edzard died as the last male descendant of the Cirksena dynasty. This put an end to the rule of this family over East Frisia that had lasted almost 300 years.