Anthony I, Count of Oldenburg

Anthony I
Count of Oldenburg

Recumbent effigy of Count Anthony I in St. Lambert's Church, Oldenburg.
Spouse(s) Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg

Issue

Catherine, Countess of Hoya
Anna, Countess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
John VII, Count of Oldenburg
Christian of Oldenburg
Clara of Oldenburg
Anthony II, Count of Oldenburg
Noble family House of Oldenburg
Father John V, Count of Oldenburg
Mother Anna of Anhalt-Zerbst
Born 1505
Died 22 January 1573 (aged 6768)
Oldenburg
Religion Lutheranism,
prev. Roman Catholicism

Anthony I, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst (1505 22 January 1573, Oldenburg) was a member of the House of Oldenburg and was the Imperial Count of the Counties of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst within the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation. His parents were John V, Count of Oldenburg (1460-1525) and Anna of Anhalt-Zerbst.

Life

Anthony I was the youngest son of John V. He had a long-running dispute with his brothers John VI, George, and Christopher about who would be the sole ruler of the County of Oldenburg. In 1529, he became the regent of the county. In 1531, Emperor Charles V enfeoffed him with the County of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst.

In 1547, during the Schmalkaldic War, he conquered the Castle and Lordship of Delmenhorst, which had been lost to Münster in 1482.

He strengthened the defenses of his county by expanding his fortresses. He paid for these construction projects from the proceeds of church properties he had confiscated during the Reformation. The Order of St. John sued him about their confiscated possessions; after a lengthy trial, Anthony prevailed.

With the assistance of farmers from Stadland and Butjadingen, which had father had conquered in 1514, he managed to gain a large amount of fertile territory by constructing levees around some wetlands in the Jade Bight. He constructed several large manors to manage this new land.

In 1566, his brother Christopher died, and Anthony became the sole ruler of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst.

Anthony I died in 1573, and was succeeded by his son John VII.

Marriage and issue

Anthony married on 1 January 1537 in Oldenburg, to Duchess Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg (d. 7 October 1571 in Oevelgönne), the daughter of Duke Magnus I and Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had the following children:

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anthony I, Count of Oldenburg.

References

Anthony I, Count of Oldenburg
Born: 1505 Died: 22 January 1573 in Oldenburg in Oldenburg
Preceded by
John V
Count of Oldenburg
1526-1573
with his brothers George (1526-1529)
John VI (1526-1529)
and Christopher (1526-1566)
Succeeded by
John VII
as Count of Oldenburg
Succeeded by
Anthony II
as Count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst