Walburgis, Countess of Rietberg
Encyclopedia
Countess Walburgis of Rietberg (1555 or 1556, Rietberg
– 26 May 1586, Esens
) 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 Esens
to Wittmund
. A short time later, she moved back to Esens
, where she died on 26 May 1586 at the age of 30. She was buried in the St. Magnus Church in Esens
. With her death, the Rietberg line of the House of Werl-Arnsberg died out.
After Walburgis's death rumours that she had been handed a poisoned beer soup. Under torture, one of three women suspected of the crime confessed. Although the doctors certified a natural death, the three suspected were burned on the stake on 11 May 1586.
On 1 Walburgis May 1577, at the age of 21 years, Walburgis was engaged to Count Enno III of East Frisia, who was then 14 years old. The wedding took place on 28 January 1581, when Enno was 18. From this marriage, they had three children:
Rietberg
Rietberg 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...
– 26 May 1586, 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....
) was 1565-1576 and 1584-1586 Countess of Rietberg.
Walburgis was the second daughter of Count John II
John II, Count of Rietberg
Count John II "the Mad" of Rietberg , called "the Great," was the son of Count Otto III of Rietberg and his second wife, Onna Esens....
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 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....
to 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...
. A short time later, she moved back to 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....
, where she died on 26 May 1586 at the age of 30. She was buried in the St. Magnus Church in 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....
. With her death, the Rietberg line of the House of Werl-Arnsberg died out.
After Walburgis's death rumours that she had been handed a poisoned beer soup. Under torture, one of three women suspected of the crime confessed. Although the doctors certified a natural death, the three suspected were burned on the stake on 11 May 1586.
Marriage and descendants
- Sabina CatherineSabina Catherine of East FrisiaSabina Catherine of East Frisia or Sabina Catherine Cirksena was a Countess of Rietberg.- Life :...
(born: 11 August 1582; died: 31 May 1618)
- married on 4 March 1601 her uncle Count John IIIJohn III of RietbergJohn 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....
of East Frisia (born: 1566; died: 29 September 1625)- Agnes (born: 1 January 1584; died: 28 February 1616)
- married on 15 August 1603 Prince GundakarGundakar, Prince of LiechtensteinGundakar of Liechtenstein was a member of the House of Liechtenstein and as such the owner of a large estate. He also served the Habsburg dynasty.- Family :...
of Liechtenstein (born: 30 January 1580; died: 5 August 1658)- John Edzard (born: 2 March 1586; died: 13 March 1586), buried in the St. Magnus Church 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....
- John Edzard (born: 2 March 1586; died: 13 March 1586), buried in the St. Magnus Church in Esens