Saxon feud
Encyclopedia
The Saxon feud was a confrontation between the East Frisia
n Count Edzard I
and George, Duke of Saxony in the years 1514-1517. The war took place predominantly on East Frisian soil and destroyed large parts of the region.
, aiming to liberate Emperor Maximilian I
, who was held prisoner by the citizens of Bruges
. As a reward, Maximilian I appointed Albert III governor of the Netherlands
and, as compensation for the cost incurred, Albert was appointed in 1498 as hereditary governor of Frisia
, with an understanding that he'd have to subdue Frisia by force of arms before he could take up this post. After subduing the Frisians, Albert III rushed to Leipzig
to attend the Diet, the Frisians revolted and laid siege to Franeker
, where Albert's second son, Henry
had taken up the post of governor. Albert rushed back to Frisia and freed Henry. He then conquered Groningen before dying in Emden
in 12 September 1500. Henry inherited the post of governor of Frisia. However, the Frisians kept resisting his rule and he resigned on 30 May 1505 in favour of his brother George
, in exchange for two districts in the Ore Mountains
.
to him as "eternal governor". The City of Groningen refused. Count Edzard I
attempted to use the situation to extend his domain into the province of Groningen and in 1505, he proclaimed himself "protector" of the city. Twenty-four dukes and counts took up arms against Edzard and invaded East Frisia and devastated large parts of his territory. Edzard received and imperial ban from the Emperor and was excommunicated
by the Pope.
. In 1514, he attacked the Frisians in the Butjadingen
area, and finally defeated them in the Battle of Langwarden. Simultaneously, Duke Henry I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel invaded East Frisia with and army of 20,000 men. He besieged Fortress Leerort, which was only defended by a few peasants and soldiers. However, Henry I was killed on 23 June 1514 by a targeted gunshot. His troops were then without leader and they withdrew from East Frisia.
John V, in cooperation with Hero Oomkens von Esens
, captured the castle at Großsander. Hero moved on and destroyed all three castles in Dornum
; Stickhausen Castle
was thus lost. Edzard retreated, setting Meerhusen Abbey on fire to cover his retreat. The city of Aurich
was besieged and destroyed by the fighting and pillaging troops.
On another front, the Commandery at Dünebroek was plundered by soldiers of the Black Guard. They went on to destroy Burmönken, Marienhafe
, Leerhafe and Rispel; Friedeburg
surrendered. The castle at Altgödens was destroyed; Kniphausen Castle was captured. The Black Guard then attacked Oldersum. Their first attempt to capture the town, which was defended by Hicko of Oldersum and Baron Ulrich von Dornum failed on 14 june 1514. A second attempt to capture the town failed on 16 August 1514.
. Nevertheless, the conflict continued until 1517. The sconce
at Detern
was lost in 1516.
castle. Charles V began his reign in the Netherlands. Charles V lifted the Imperial ban against Edzard and invested him with East Frisia, thereby ending the Saxon feud.
of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Count John V of Oldenburg, in which he ceded the "Frisian Forest" ' onMouseout='HidePop("45037")' href="/topics/Zetel">Zetel
, Driefel and Schweinebrück) to Oldenburg.
It was also agreed that East Frisia would inherit Jever
. That is, Edzard son, Enno II
would marry Maria, the daughter of the Edo, who was the last chieftain of Jever. Edo had no male heir and it was agreed that Maria's husband would inherit Jever after Edo's death. Enno II, however, broke his promise and East Frisia lost Jever forever. Maria never married and ruled Jever until her death. In her will, she bequeathed Jever to Count John VII of Oldenburg.
The city of Aurich
was completely destroyed during the turmoil of the Saxon feud. After 1517, the city was rebuilt according to a plan, which was based on the fact that Aurich was an important livestock market. The livestock market was moved from the castle square to a newly created market square, which was unusually large for a city of that size and is still the central square in the today's city center.
The conflict between Edzard and Hero Oomkens continued until Hero died in 1522. The emperor had invested Edzard with the Harlingerland
and Edzard tried to subdue it. However, due to well-constructed fortifications at Wittmund
and Esens
, he met with limited success.
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
n Count Edzard I
Edzard I, Count of East Frisia
Edzard I, also Edzard the Great, was count of East Frisia from 1491 till his death in 1528.Edzard succeeded his brother Enno in 1492. He fought with George, Duke of Saxony over Friesland and Groningen...
and George, Duke of Saxony in the years 1514-1517. The war took place predominantly on East Frisian soil and destroyed large parts of the region.
Background
In 1488 Duke Albert III "the bold" of Saxony, the Margrave of Meissen, campaigned to against the rebellious FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, aiming to liberate Emperor Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
, who was held prisoner by the citizens of Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
. As a reward, Maximilian I appointed Albert III governor of the Netherlands
Burgundian Netherlands
In the history of the Low Countries, the Burgundian Netherlands refers to a number of Imperial and French fiefs ruled in personal union by the House of Valois-Burgundy and their Habsburg heirs in the period from 1384 to 1482...
and, as compensation for the cost incurred, Albert was appointed in 1498 as hereditary governor of Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
, with an understanding that he'd have to subdue Frisia by force of arms before he could take up this post. After subduing the Frisians, Albert III rushed to Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
to attend the Diet, the Frisians revolted and laid siege to Franeker
Franeker
Franeker is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Franekeradeel. It is located about 20 km west of Leeuwarden on the Van Harinxma Canal. As of 1 January 2006, it had 12,996 inhabitants. The city is famous for the Eisinga Planetarium from around...
, where Albert's second son, Henry
Henry IV, Duke of Saxony
Henry IV the Pious, Duke of Saxony was a Duke of Saxony from the House of Wettin.-Biography:Heinrich was the second son of Albert, Duke of Saxony and his wife Sidonie Podiebrad, princess of Bohemia...
had taken up the post of governor. Albert rushed back to Frisia and freed Henry. He then conquered Groningen before dying in 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:...
in 12 September 1500. Henry inherited the post of governor of Frisia. However, the Frisians kept resisting his rule and he resigned on 30 May 1505 in favour of his brother George
George, Duke of Saxony
George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony , was duke of Saxony from 1500 to 1539.Duke George was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece.-Early life:...
, in exchange for two districts in the Ore Mountains
Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...
.
Outbreak of the feud
Duke George of Saxony demanded in 1504 that all cities and districts in Frisia pay homageHomage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to him as "eternal governor". The City of Groningen refused. Count Edzard I
Edzard I, Count of East Frisia
Edzard I, also Edzard the Great, was count of East Frisia from 1491 till his death in 1528.Edzard succeeded his brother Enno in 1492. He fought with George, Duke of Saxony over Friesland and Groningen...
attempted to use the situation to extend his domain into the province of Groningen and in 1505, he proclaimed himself "protector" of the city. Twenty-four dukes and counts took up arms against Edzard and invaded East Frisia and devastated large parts of his territory. Edzard received and imperial ban from the Emperor and was excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
by the Pope.
1514
Count John V of Oldenburg saw this as an opportunity to provide the county of Oldenburg with access to the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. In 1514, he attacked the Frisians in the Butjadingen
Butjadingen
Butjadingen is a peninsula and municipality in the Wesermarsch districts, in Lower Saxony, Germany.-Geography:Butjadingen is situated on the German North Sea coast. It is bordered on the west and southwest by the Jade River and on the east by the Weser River. It forms the northern part of the...
area, and finally defeated them in the Battle of Langwarden. Simultaneously, Duke Henry I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel invaded East Frisia with and army of 20,000 men. He besieged Fortress Leerort, which was only defended by a few peasants and soldiers. However, Henry I was killed on 23 June 1514 by a targeted gunshot. His troops were then without leader and they withdrew from East Frisia.
John V, in cooperation with Hero Oomkens von Esens
Hero Oomkens von Esens
Hero Oomkens von Esens was a Frisian nobleman, Earl of Harlingerland, who inherited the title on the death of his father, Sibet Attena von Esens, in 1473. He is usually referred to as Hero Oomkens "the Younger" to distinguish him from his maternal grandfather, Hero Oomkens the Elder...
, captured the castle at Großsander. Hero moved on and destroyed all three castles in Dornum
Dornum
Dornum is a village and a municipality in the East Frisian district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the North Sea coast, approx...
; 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 thus lost. Edzard retreated, setting Meerhusen Abbey on fire to cover his retreat. The city of 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...
was besieged and destroyed by the fighting and pillaging troops.
On another front, the Commandery at Dünebroek was plundered by soldiers of the Black Guard. They went on to destroy Burmönken, Marienhafe
Marienhafe
Marienhafe is a municipality in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
, Leerhafe and Rispel; Friedeburg
Friedeburg
Friedeburg is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 14 km southeast of Wittmund, and 20 km west of Wilhelmshaven....
surrendered. The castle at Altgödens was destroyed; Kniphausen Castle was captured. The Black Guard then attacked Oldersum. Their first attempt to capture the town, which was defended by Hicko of Oldersum and Baron Ulrich von Dornum failed on 14 june 1514. A second attempt to capture the town failed on 16 August 1514.
1515-1516
In 1515, the tide turned in favor Edzard I. He recaptured the castle at Großsander, while his liegeman Fulf of Kniphausen managed to capture Fortress Gutzwarden in Butjadingen. Duke George of Saxony sold his governorship for to Duke Charles of Burgundy, who later became Emperor as Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. Nevertheless, the conflict continued until 1517. The sconce
Sconce
Sconce may refer to any of the following:* Sconce , a military fortification* Sconce * Sconcing, imposing a penalty in the form of drink* SCoNCe, , University of California, Irvine...
at Detern
Detern
Detern is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany.The Battle of Detern was fought here in 1426....
was lost in 1516.
1517
At the beginning of the year 1517, Edzard I managed to recapture FriedeburgFriedeburg
Friedeburg is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 14 km southeast of Wittmund, and 20 km west of Wilhelmshaven....
castle. Charles V began his reign in the Netherlands. Charles V lifted the Imperial ban against Edzard and invested him with East Frisia, thereby ending the Saxon feud.
Aftermath
Edzard was forced to vacate and Groningen to give up his expansionist plans. Domestically, he was busy trying to pacify the East Frisian chieftains. On 3 December 1517, Edzard concluded the Peace of Zetel with Duke Henry IIHenry II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, , also called de Graecia or Henry the Peaceful, was the eldest son of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg....
of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Count John V of Oldenburg, in which he ceded the "Frisian Forest" ' onMouseout='HidePop("45037")' href="/topics/Zetel">Zetel
Zetel
Zetel is a municipality in the district of Friesland, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 15 km southwest of Wilhelmshaven, and 12 km west of Varel.-Noted inhabitants:* Wilhelm Kunst, wood sculptor...
, Driefel and Schweinebrück) to Oldenburg.
It was also agreed that East Frisia would inherit Jever
Jever
Jever is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name Jever is usually associated with a major brand of beer which is produced here, the city is also a popular holiday resort. Jever was granted city status in 1536. Unofficially Jever is sometimes referred to as...
. That is, Edzard son, Enno II
Enno II, Count of East Frisia
Enno II of East Frisia was the son of Edzard I of East Frisia. In 1528 he became count of East Frisia. For most of his life he ruled together with Johan I of East Frisia, who remained catholic, while Enno was lutheran....
would marry Maria, the daughter of the Edo, who was the last chieftain of Jever. Edo had no male heir and it was agreed that Maria's husband would inherit Jever after Edo's death. Enno II, however, broke his promise and East Frisia lost Jever forever. Maria never married and ruled Jever until her death. In her will, she bequeathed Jever to Count John VII of Oldenburg.
The city of 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...
was completely destroyed during the turmoil of the Saxon feud. After 1517, the city was rebuilt according to a plan, which was based on the fact that Aurich was an important livestock market. The livestock market was moved from the castle square to a newly created market square, which was unusually large for a city of that size and is still the central square in the today's city center.
The conflict between Edzard and Hero Oomkens continued until Hero died in 1522. The emperor had invested Edzard with the 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 Edzard tried to subdue it. However, due to well-constructed fortifications at 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...
and 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....
, he met with limited success.