Reign 1625–1628 Name Rudolf Count Father Enno III | House Cirksena Predecessor Enno III | |
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Mother Anna of Holstein-Gottorp Role Enno III, Count of East Frisia's son Died April 17, 1628, Hage, Germany Successor Ulrich II, Count of East Frisia Parents Anna of Holstein-Gottorp, Enno III, Count of East Frisia Grandparents Catherine Vasa, Christine of Hesse, Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, Edzard II, Count of East Frisia People also search for Enno III, Count of East Frisia | ||
Great-grandparents Gustav I of Sweden | ||
Rudolf Christian of Ostfriesland, Count of East Frisia, was count of East Frisia, (Hage, 2 June 1602 – Hage, 17 April 1628) 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. Also during his reign, fen exploitation in East Frisia begins.
He reached a settlement with the East Frisian Estates, who them paid him homage, ultimately even the city of Emden did so. Under his leadership, the Harlingerland was finally incorporated in the county of East Frisia. This is visible in the county's coat of arms, which was introduced under his rule in 1625 and remained in use until the county was annexed by Prussia in 1744.
At the age of just 26, he got embroiled in a fight with a lieutenant of the army of general Matthias Gallas, which was quartered in Berum Castle. He was stabbed in the left eye, and died of his wound.
Since Rudolf Christian was childless, he was succeeded as Count of East Frisia by his brother Ulrich II.