John II, Count of Rietberg
Encyclopedia
Count John II "the Mad" of Rietberg (born: after 1523; died: 11 December 1562 in Cologne
), called "the Great," was the son of Count Otto III of Rietberg and his second wife, Onna Esens.
After his uncle Balthasar Oomkens von Esens
died in 1540 without a male heir, John and his mother inherited the East Frisia
n Lordship of Harlingerland
and John assumed the title of Lord of Esens
, Stedesdorf
and Wittmund
.
When his father died in 1535, John had to share the County of Rietberg with his older half-brother Otto IV, Count of Rietberg. After Otto IV died childless in 1553, John II ruled Rietberg alone.
Also in 1556, John illegally beheaded one of his own his officials in Rietberg and schemed against the victim's relatives. The relatives fled to the neighbouring County of Lippe. From there, they and few faithful raided Rietberg. John then moved his mercenaries from Esens to Rietberg and attacked Count Bernhard VIII
of Lippe. The army of Lippe responded by laying siege to the town of Rietberg. The Bishopric of Paderborn
joined the attack on Rietberg. Lippe, Paderborn and East Frisia also sued each other in the court of the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle
. The Court found John guilty of a breach of the peace
.
John refused to give in. Imperial troops joined the siege of Rietberg and in June 1557, the city was starved and had to capitulate. John was taken prisoner. Initially, he was held at the Imperial castle at Büderich (near Wesel
); in 1560, he was transferred to Cologne
, where he died in captivity in 1562. He was buried in Cologne.
His pugnacity and power struggles earned him he nickname "John the Mad".
John II was thus the last male ruler of Rietberg from the Werl-Arnsberg-Cuyk family. After his death, his widow acted as regent for his daughters until in 1557, when the inheritance was divided: Armgard received Rietberg and Walburgis received the Harlingerland.
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
), called "the Great," was the son of Count Otto III of Rietberg and his second wife, Onna Esens.
After his uncle Balthasar Oomkens von Esens
Balthasar Oomkens von Esens
Balthasar Oomkens von Esens was an East Frisian nobleman who died during the siege of his castle in Esens by the Bremen army. He was described by his partisans as the last true Frisian freedom fighter, although some decried his seemingly insatiable appetite for violence.-Biography and...
died in 1540 without a male heir, John and his mother inherited the East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
n Lordship of Harlingerland
Harlingerland
The Harlingerland is a strip of land on the North Sea coast of East Frisia. Whilst, today, the whole of the district of district of Wittmund is usually described as Harlingerland, historically it is specifically used to refer to the northern part of the present district, which formed the old...
and John assumed the title of Lord of Esens
Esens
Esens is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the North Sea coast, approx. 14 km northwest of Wittmund, and 20 km northeast of Aurich....
, Stedesdorf
Stedesdorf
Stedesdorf is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and Wittmund
Wittmund
Wittmund is a town and capital of the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany.-Geography:Wittmund is a town of 21,000 inhabitants located in Germany's historic coastal district of East Frisia, between the towns of Aurich and Jever...
.
When his father died in 1535, John had to share the County of Rietberg with his older half-brother Otto IV, Count of Rietberg. After Otto IV died childless in 1553, John II ruled Rietberg alone.
Also in 1556, John illegally beheaded one of his own his officials in Rietberg and schemed against the victim's relatives. The relatives fled to the neighbouring County of Lippe. From there, they and few faithful raided Rietberg. John then moved his mercenaries from Esens to Rietberg and attacked Count Bernhard VIII
Bernhard VIII, Count of Lippe
Count Bernhard of Lippe VIII was from 1547 until his death in 1563 the ruling Count of Lippe.- Life :...
of Lippe. The army of Lippe responded by laying siege to the town of Rietberg. The Bishopric of Paderborn
Bishopric of Paderborn
The Archdiocese of Paderborn is an Archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany; its seat is Paderborn. It was a diocese from its foundation in 799 until 1802, and again from 1821 until 1930. In 1930, it was promoted to an archdiocese...
joined the attack on Rietberg. Lippe, Paderborn and East Frisia also sued each other in the court of the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle
Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle
The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised territories of the former Duchy of Lower Lorraine, Frisia and the Westphalian part of the former Duchy of Saxony....
. The Court found John guilty of a breach of the peace
Breach of the peace
Breach of the peace is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries, and in a wider public order sense in Britain.-Constitutional law:...
.
John refused to give in. Imperial troops joined the siege of Rietberg and in June 1557, the city was starved and had to capitulate. John was taken prisoner. Initially, he was held at the Imperial castle at Büderich (near Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
); in 1560, he was transferred to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, where he died in captivity in 1562. He was buried in Cologne.
His pugnacity and power struggles earned him he nickname "John the Mad".
Marriage and issue
John married Countess Agnes of Bentheim-Steinfurt. They had two daughters:- ArmgardArmgard, Countess of RietbergCountess Armgard of Rietberg was from 1562 to 1584 Countess of Rietberg in her own right. She was also Countess of Hoya by marriage from 1568 to 1575 and Countess of Lippe by marriage from 1578 until her death....
(died: 1584), Countess of Rietberg, married: Count Simon VI of LippeSimon VI, Count of LippeCount Simon VI of Lippe was an imperial count and ruler of the County of Lippe from 1563 until his death.- Life :... - WalburgisWalburgis, Countess of RietbergCountess Walburgis of Rietberg was 1565-1576 and 1584-1586 Countess of Rietberg.Walburgis was the second daughter of Count John II of Rietberg and Agnes of Bentheim-Steinfurt in Rietberg. After the birth of John Edzard, her youngest child and only son, Walburgis needed tot recover and moved from...
(born: in RietbergRietbergRietberg is a town in the district of Gütersloh in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located approx. 10 km south of Gütersloh and 25 km north-west of Paderborn in the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The town is located at the river Ems. There are 28,878 people living in...
, died: 26 May 1586 in EsensEsensEsens is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the North Sea coast, approx. 14 km northwest of Wittmund, and 20 km northeast of Aurich....
), Countess of Harlingerland, married Count Enno III of East Frisia
John II was thus the last male ruler of Rietberg from the Werl-Arnsberg-Cuyk family. After his death, his widow acted as regent for his daughters until in 1557, when the inheritance was divided: Armgard received Rietberg and Walburgis received the Harlingerland.