John III of Rietberg
Encyclopedia
John III of Rietberg was a member of the Cirksena
family. He founded the Catholic side line of the Cirksena in the Westphalian County of Rietberg, the so-called house of East Frisia.
He was a son of Count Edzard II
of East Frisia and Princess Katarina of Sweden, and ayounger brother of Count Enno III of East Frisia.
John married in 1601 with Sabina Catherine
, the daughter of his brother Enno III. Under the Treaty of Berum
, Sabina Catherine had been awarded the County of Rietberg, which her mother Walburgis
had brought into the Cirksena family. John had converted to the Roman Catholic faith at an early age, and needed papal dispensation
) to marry his niece.
Sabina Catherine converted to Catholicism in 1601. Together, they reverted the reformation
in the county of Rietberg. That he didn't convert only for political reasons, was made evident when he founded a Franciscan
monastery in Rietberg. Being a catholic, John could make his career in the imperial service. He became an officer in the imperial army and later in the Spanish army. John conquered the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn, which had turned protestant, committing atrocities against the population in the process.
After Sabina Catherine died in childbirth giving birth to her eleventh child, in 1618, John ruled Rietberg alone until his death in 1625.
, heiress of the county of Rietberg. They had eleven children:
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...
family. He founded the Catholic side line of the Cirksena in the Westphalian County of Rietberg, the so-called house of East Frisia.
He was a son of Count Edzard II
Edzard II, Count of East Frisia
Edzard II, Count of East Frisia was count of East Frisia, and the son of Enno II of East Frisia and Anna of Oldenburg....
of East Frisia and Princess Katarina of Sweden, and ayounger brother of Count Enno III of East Frisia.
John married in 1601 with Sabina Catherine
Sabina Catherine of East Frisia
Sabina Catherine of East Frisia or Sabina Catherine Cirksena was a Countess of Rietberg.- Life :...
, the daughter of his brother Enno III. Under the Treaty of Berum
Treaty of Berum
The Treaty of Berum was one a treaty concluded on 28 January 1600 at Berum Castle between the Count Enno III of East Frisia and the County of Rietberg, which regulated the sale of the Harlingerland to East Frisia.- Background :...
, Sabina Catherine had been awarded the County of Rietberg, which her mother Walburgis
Walburgis, Countess of Rietberg
Countess 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...
had brought into the Cirksena family. John had converted to the Roman Catholic faith at an early age, and needed papal dispensation
Dispensation
Dispensation may refer to:* Dispensation , the suspension, by competent authority, of general rules of law in particular cases in the Catholic Church* Dispensation , a period in history according to various religions...
) to marry his niece.
Sabina Catherine converted to Catholicism in 1601. Together, they reverted the reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
in the county of Rietberg. That he didn't convert only for political reasons, was made evident when he founded a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery in Rietberg. Being a catholic, John could make his career in the imperial service. He became an officer in the imperial army and later in the Spanish army. John conquered the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn, which had turned protestant, committing atrocities against the population in the process.
After Sabina Catherine died in childbirth giving birth to her eleventh child, in 1618, John ruled Rietberg alone until his death in 1625.
Marriage and issue
John III was married to Sabina Catherine CirksenaSabina Catherine of East Frisia
Sabina Catherine of East Frisia or Sabina Catherine Cirksena was a Countess of Rietberg.- Life :...
, heiress of the county of Rietberg. They had eleven children:
- Edzard (born 2 February 1602, died 28 March 1603)
- Anna Walburgis (born: 27 October 1603; died: 29 November 1604)
- Maria Catherine (born: 28 October 1604), married to the Margrave of Warenbon
- Ernest Christopher, (born: 1 April 1606, died: 31 December 1640), Count of Rietberg 1625-1640, Vice Marshal, married Margravine Albertine Maria of St. Martin
- Philip Enno (born: 23 March 1608; died: 14 May 1636), a canon of Cologne, Strasbourg and Paderborn
- Leopold (born: 23 November 1609; died: 14 November 1635), a canon of Cologne, Strasbourg and Paderborn
- Walburgis Maria (born: 8 May 1612; died: 13 June 1613)
- Francis Ferdinand (born: 4 October 1613, died: 27 June 1648), a canon of Cologne, Magdeburg, Strasbourg and Halberstadt
- Clara Sophia (born: 7 March 7, 1615)
- Anna Clara (born: 30 May 1616, †?)
- John IV (born: 31 May 1618; died: 7 August 1660), 1640–1660, Count of Rietberg 1640-1660, married to Countess Anna Catherine of Salm-Reifferscheidt