Johan II of East Frisia
Encyclopedia
Count Johan II of East Frisia (29 September 1538, Aurich
– 29 September 1591, Stickhausen Castle
) was a member of the House of Cirksena
and from 1561 until his death in 1591 co-regent of the county of East Frisia
. He ruled jointly with his brother Edzard II.
In 1558 the primogeniture
of John's mother, the Countess Anna
was abolished, presumably to stem the impact of the house Vasa
in the county, which was based on the marriage of her eldest son Edzard with Catherine, the eldest daughter of King Gustav I of Sweden
. This meant that she abolished Edzard right to be the sole ruler of the county. This led to a e facto division of East Frisia, because Johan, like his mother, was a Calvinist
, whereas Edzard II was a Lutheran.
, the daughter of King Gustav I Vasa
(and therefore his sister-in-law). He was caught and was nearly sentenced to death if it hadn't been for the intercession of the Queen Elizabeth I
. John has never married after that.
After the death of their brother Christoffel in 1566, the power struggle between Johan and Edzard worsened. Johan blocked Edzard's exercise of sovereign power and strengthened the nobility and the citizens of Emden. Ultimately, this struggle provided the foundation for the coexistence of faiths in East Frisia: since none of them could prevail over the other, the Lutheran Edzard failed to establish the Lutheran church as the only church allowed in the county.
After Johan died in 1591, Edzard finally became the sole ruler of the County of East Frisia, but his authority had been severely hit by the ongoing conflict. This was a substantial factor, which eventually contributed to the so-called Emden Revolution
Aurich
Aurich is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Aurich.-History:The history of Aurich dates back to the 13th century, when the settlement of Aurechove was mentioned in a Frisian document called the Brokmerbrief in 1276. In 1517, Count Edzard from the house of...
– 29 September 1591, Stickhausen Castle
Stickhausen Castle
Stickhausen Castle is located on the western edge of the village Stickhausen, a district of the East Frisian municipality Detern in the Landkreis of Leer in Lower Saxony.- Location :...
) was a member of the House of Cirksena
Cirksena
The Cirksena are noble East Frisian family descended from a line of East Frisian chieftains from Greetsiel.- The Cirksena in East Frisia :In 1439 in the wake of clashes between different lines of chieftains, the town of Emden was first placed by Hamburg under direct rule and then, in 1453, finally...
and from 1561 until his death in 1591 co-regent of the county of East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
. He ruled jointly with his brother Edzard II.
In 1558 the primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
of John's mother, the Countess Anna
Anna of Oldenburg
Anna of Oldenburg was a Countess consort of East Frisia as the spouse of Count Enno II of East Frisia. She was the Regent of East Frisia in 1540/42-1561 as the guardian for her minor sons. Her reign lasted until 1561 and was generally supported by the Estates...
was abolished, presumably to stem the impact of the house Vasa
House of Vasa
The House of Vasa was the Royal House of Sweden 1523-1654 and of Poland 1587-1668. It originated from a noble family in Uppland of which several members had high offices during the 15th century....
in the county, which was based on the marriage of her eldest son Edzard with Catherine, the eldest daughter of King Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
. This meant that she abolished Edzard right to be the sole ruler of the county. This led to a e facto division of East Frisia, because Johan, like his mother, was a Calvinist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, whereas Edzard II was a Lutheran.
Life
In 1559, his brother Edzard took Johan was taken to his wedding in Stockholm, where John had an affair with CeciliaPrincess Cecilia of Sweden
Cecilia of Sweden, , was Princess of Sweden as the daughter of King Gustav I and his second queen, Margareta Leijonhufvud, a Swedish noble and Margravine of Baden-Rodemachern through marriage with Christopher II, Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern...
, the daughter of King Gustav I Vasa
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
(and therefore his sister-in-law). He was caught and was nearly sentenced to death if it hadn't been for the intercession of the Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. John has never married after that.
After the death of their brother Christoffel in 1566, the power struggle between Johan and Edzard worsened. Johan blocked Edzard's exercise of sovereign power and strengthened the nobility and the citizens of Emden. Ultimately, this struggle provided the foundation for the coexistence of faiths in East Frisia: since none of them could prevail over the other, the Lutheran Edzard failed to establish the Lutheran church as the only church allowed in the county.
After Johan died in 1591, Edzard finally became the sole ruler of the County of East Frisia, but his authority had been severely hit by the ongoing conflict. This was a substantial factor, which eventually contributed to the so-called Emden Revolution