Rudolf Christian, Count of East Frisia

Rudolf Christian
Counts of East Frisia
Rudolf Christian, count of East Frisia
Reign	1625–1628
Predecessor	Enno III
Successor	Ulrich II
Born	2 June 1602 Hage
Died	17 April 1628 Hage
House	Cirksena
Father	Enno III
Mother	Anna of Holstein-Gottorp

Rudolf Christian of Ostfriesland, Count of East Frisia, was count of East Frisia, (Hage, 2 June 1602 – Hage, 17 April 1628) and the second son of Enno III of East Frisia and Anna of Holstein-Gottorp. During his reign, foreign troops participating in the Thirty Years' War began retreating into and quartering in East Frisia. Also during his reign, fen 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 did so. Under his leadership, the Harlingerland was finally incorporated in the county of East Frisia. This is visible in the county's coat of arms, 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 of the army of general Matthias Gallas, which was quartered in Berum Castle. 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

Ancestors of Rudolf Christian, Count of East Frisia

16. Edzard I, Count of East Frisia               8. Enno II of East Frisia                       17. Elisabeth of Rietberg               4. Edzard of East Frisia                             18. John V, Count of Oldenburg               9. Anna of Oldenburg                       19. Anna of Anhalt-Zerbst               2. Enno III, Count of East Frisia                                   20. Erik Johansson Vasa               10. Gustav I of Sweden                       21. Cecilia Månsdotter               5. Katarina Vasa                             22. Erik Abrahamsson Leijonhufvud               11. Margaret Leijonhufvud                       23. Ebba Eriksdotter Vasa               1. Rudolf Christian, Count of East Frisia                                         24. Christian I of Denmark               12. Frederick I of Denmark                       25. Dorothea of Brandenburg               6. Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp                             26. Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania               13. Sophie of Pomerania                       27. Anna Jagiellon               3. Anna of Holstein-Gottorp                                   28. William II, Landgrave of Hesse               14. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse                       29. Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin               7. Christine of Hesse                             30. George, Duke of Saxony               15. Christine of Saxony                       31. Barbara Jagiellon

References and sources

• Tielke, Martin (ed.): Biographisches Lexikon für Ostfriesland, Ostfriesisches Landschaftliche Verlag- u. Vertriebsgeschäft, Aurich, vol. 1 ISBN 3-925365-75-3 (1993), vol. 2 ISBN 3-932206-00-2 (1997), vol. 3 ISBN 3-932206-22-3 (2001)
• Heinrich Reimers: Ostfriesland bis zum Aussterben seines Fürstenhauses, Bremen, 1925
• Ernst Esselborn: Das Geschlecht Cirksena, Berlin, 1945