Ulrich II, Count of Ostfriesland
Encyclopedia
Ulrich II of East Frisia, was count of East Frisia
, (6 July 1605 – Aurich
, 1 November 1648) was the fifth child and the third son of Enno III of East Frisia and Anna of Holstein-Gottorp
. He inherited the East Frisia after the unexpected death of his brother Rudolf Christian
on 17 April 1628. He reigned during the Thirty Years' War
. East Frisia did not participate in the war, but general Ernst von Mansfeld
quartered his troops in East Frisia, causing great distress. The only exception was Emden
because of the recently completed city wall, the city of Emden was protected against foreign troops.
Matthias Gallas
quartered at Berum Castle
. He accepted the position of Count of East Frisia only reluctantly. He was said to prefer to enjoy himself about town, deriving great pleasure from alcohol and well-prepared meals. In the face of the foreign troops quartered in East Frisia during the Thirty Years' War
, he was rather passive and let his chancellors Wiarda and Bobart manage the country. He even went so far as to build a Lustschloss
, the Julianenburg in Sandhorst, for his wife Landgravine Juliana
, in the middle of the war, while the population of East Frisia was suffereing bitterly. However, he also made some major decisions. He leased out parcels of bog
around Timmel in 1633; this is regarded as the starting point of the fen
cultivation, which led to the creation of the Großefehn
. He also founded Latin schools, the Ulrichsgymnasium
in Norden
in 1631 and the Gymnasium
Ulricianum in Aurich
in 1646. These still exist and bear his name today.
He died on 1 November 1648. After his death his widow Juliana
took over the regency because their children were still minors.
County of East Frisia
The County of East-Frisia was a county in the region of East Frisia in the north-west of the present day German state of Lower Saxony.-County:...
, (6 July 1605 – 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...
, 1 November 1648) was the fifth child and the third son of Enno III of East Frisia and Anna of Holstein-Gottorp
Anna of Holstein-Gottorp
Anna of Holstein-Gottorp was a German noblewoman.She was a daughter of Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp and Langravine Christine of Hesse ....
. He inherited the East Frisia after the unexpected death of his brother Rudolf Christian
Rudolf Christian, Count of East Frisia
Rudolf Christian of Ostfriesland, Count of East Frisia, was count of East Frisia, and the second son of Enno III of East Frisia and Anna of Holstein-Gottorp. During his reign, foreign troops participating in the Thirty Years' War began retreating into and quartering in East Frisia...
on 17 April 1628. He reigned during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. East Frisia did not participate in the war, but general Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld , was a German military commander during the early years of the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:...
quartered his troops in East Frisia, causing great distress. The only exception was 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:...
because of the recently completed city wall, the city of Emden was protected against foreign troops.
Life
Historian tend to have a negative view of Ulrich II. His brother Rudolf Christian died unexpectedly, from a stab in his left eye during an argument with a lieutenant in the army of generalGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Matthias Gallas
Matthias Gallas
Matthias Gallas, Graf von Campo und Herzog von Lucera , was an Austrian soldier, who first saw service in Flanders, then in Savoy with the Spaniards, and subsequently joined the forces of the Catholic League as captain during the Thirty Years' War.On the general outbreak of hostilities in Germany,...
quartered at 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 accepted the position of Count of East Frisia only reluctantly. He was said to prefer to enjoy himself about town, deriving great pleasure from alcohol and well-prepared meals. In the face of the foreign troops quartered in East Frisia during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, he was rather passive and let his chancellors Wiarda and Bobart manage the country. He even went so far as to build a Lustschloss
Lustschloss
A Lustschloss is a small palace which served the private pleasure of its owner, usually the ruler of the area. It is located in, and was inhabited for court, ceremonial, and state duties.A Lustschloss is often coupled with a Jagdschloss...
, the Julianenburg in Sandhorst, for his wife Landgravine Juliana
Juliana of Hesse-Darmstadt
Juliana of Hesse-Darmstadt was the wife of Count Ulrich II of East Frisia and was regent for her minor son Enno Louis from 1648 to 1651...
, in the middle of the war, while the population of East Frisia was suffereing bitterly. However, he also made some major decisions. He leased out parcels of bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
around Timmel in 1633; this is regarded as the starting point of the fen
Fen
A fen is a type of wetland fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. Fens are characterised by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline, with relatively high dissolved mineral levels but few other plant nutrients...
cultivation, which led to the creation of the Großefehn
Großefehn
Großefehn is a municipality consisting of 14 villages in the district of Aurich, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 10 km southeast of Aurich....
. He also founded Latin schools, the Ulrichsgymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Norden
Norden
- Geography :* the Scandinavian name for the Nordic countries.* Norden, Lower Saxony: a town in Lower Saxony, Germany.* Norden Township, Minnesota: a township in Minnesota, United States.* Norden, Greater Manchester: a village near Rochdale, England....
in 1631 and the Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
Ulricianum 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...
in 1646. These still exist and bear his name today.
He died on 1 November 1648. After his death his widow Juliana
Juliana of Hesse-Darmstadt
Juliana of Hesse-Darmstadt was the wife of Count Ulrich II of East Frisia and was regent for her minor son Enno Louis from 1648 to 1651...
took over the regency because their children were still minors.