Charles Edzard, Prince of East Frisia
Encyclopedia
Charles Edzard was the last prince of East Frisia
. He ruled from 12 June 1734 until his death. He was the fourth child of the reigning prince George Albert
and Princess Christine Louise, née Princess of Nassau-Idstein
and was born at the castle in Aurich
.
and ascetic
piety, which did not leave the child any freedom or opportunities for self development. The fact that all of his siblings died during their first year of life, had caused the father to panic and fear of the extinction of the male line of the Cirksena
. He was meticulously planning the daily schedule. Every week, every day, every hour has been prescribed by a precise timetable to be followed to the prince. Even the recovery phase, the hours to ride and to walk were scheduled exactly.
Charles Edzard was taught Roman law
, medieval history and French. He never received a military training, even though he was appointed colonel and chief of the small princely militia by his father at the age of 10. Due to his father's early death, no time remained for studying. His travels were limited on the court in Aurich, the hunting lodge in Sandhorst
and the princely Berum Castle
. He never even visited Emden
, the largest city of his territory, though he once looked at it from a distance.
before Charles Edzards's 18th birthday. A wedding was hastily arranged for the man who was never allowed to decide anything in his life. This time it was probably his step-mother who decided for him. She selected Princess Sophie Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Kulmbach-Bayreuth (1714–1749), the daughter of her oldest sister, and arranged the betrothal between Charles Edzards and his cousin Sophie Wilhelmine, who was just sixteen years old. They married on 25 May 1734 at Berum castle.
Three weeks later, on 12 June 1734, the father died, and Charles Edzard was ruler of East Frisia
, without being really prepared for this task. After years of conflicts of recent years between the Princely House and the Estates
, the Prince had hardly any prestige left. The city of Emden
and other rebellious Estates refused to pay him homage. Whether Charles Edzard contributed at all to the administration of his country, is at least doubtful. It is likely that "his" decisions were in fact made by other people.
Charles Edzard died unexpectedly on 25 May 1744, just 28 years old, four days after his wife, Princess Sophia Wilhelmina, had had a miscarriage. He was the last sovereign Prince of East Frisia. The circumstances of his death, whether natural or not, can no longer be ascertained. Without doubt, Charles Edzard was one of the unhappiest people in the East Frisian history.
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
. He ruled from 12 June 1734 until his death. He was the fourth child of the reigning prince George Albert
George Albert, Prince of East Frisia
George Albert was a member of the family of the Cirksena and was the fourth Prince of East Frisia. He ruled from 1708 to 1734.- Life :He was the second son of Prince Christian Eberhard...
and Princess Christine Louise, née Princess of Nassau-Idstein
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
and was born at the castle in Aurich
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...
.
Youth
Charles Edzard was received a harsh, authoritarian education from his father George Albert, in an atmosphere of bigotryBigotry
A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs...
and ascetic
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
piety, which did not leave the child any freedom or opportunities for self development. The fact that all of his siblings died during their first year of life, had caused the father to panic and fear of the extinction of the male line of the 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...
. He was meticulously planning the daily schedule. Every week, every day, every hour has been prescribed by a precise timetable to be followed to the prince. Even the recovery phase, the hours to ride and to walk were scheduled exactly.
Charles Edzard was taught Roman law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
, medieval history and French. He never received a military training, even though he was appointed colonel and chief of the small princely militia by his father at the age of 10. Due to his father's early death, no time remained for studying. His travels were limited on the court in Aurich, the hunting lodge in Sandhorst
Sandhorst
Sandhorst is a district of Aurich, the county town of Aurich in East Frisia, Lower Saxony.The formerly independent municipality Sandhorst existed for several hundred years. It was annexed in 1972 by Aurich in the wake of the Lower Saxon local government reform. It covers an area of...
and the princely Berum Castle
Berum Castle
Berum Castle is located in the Berum district the East Frisian town of Hage. It is one of the most important sites in East Frisian history.- History :...
. He never even visited Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, the largest city of his territory, though he once looked at it from a distance.
Prince
The Charles Edzards's father had been ill for a long period. He had a strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
before Charles Edzards's 18th birthday. A wedding was hastily arranged for the man who was never allowed to decide anything in his life. This time it was probably his step-mother who decided for him. She selected Princess Sophie Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Kulmbach-Bayreuth (1714–1749), the daughter of her oldest sister, and arranged the betrothal between Charles Edzards and his cousin Sophie Wilhelmine, who was just sixteen years old. They married on 25 May 1734 at Berum castle.
Three weeks later, on 12 June 1734, the father died, and Charles Edzard was ruler 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....
, without being really prepared for this task. After years of conflicts of recent years between the Princely House and the Estates
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
, the Prince had hardly any prestige left. The city of Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
and other rebellious Estates refused to pay him homage. Whether Charles Edzard contributed at all to the administration of his country, is at least doubtful. It is likely that "his" decisions were in fact made by other people.
Charles Edzard died unexpectedly on 25 May 1744, just 28 years old, four days after his wife, Princess Sophia Wilhelmina, had had a miscarriage. He was the last sovereign Prince of East Frisia. The circumstances of his death, whether natural or not, can no longer be ascertained. Without doubt, Charles Edzard was one of the unhappiest people in the East Frisian history.