Cirksenian/East Frisian Germany

Rietbergian Germany

Cirksenian Germany

 

The Cirksena were a Frisian clan that achieved noble status under the Holy Roman Empire in 1464. They were the first Counts of East Frisia and held the County of Rietberg for a time. Between 1600 and 1699, Rietberg was held by a Cirksenian line founded by a female heiress, so its status as Cirksenian is not universally recognized. That line called itself the House of East Frisia. No such controversy attaches to Harlingerland, which was absorbed into East Frisia in 1600.

 

  • County/Principality of East Frisia (1464-1540-1744)
  • Lordship of Jever (1517-1532)
  • County of Rietberg (1581-1699)
    • in personal union with East Frisia (1581-1600)
  • Lordship of Harlingerland (in personal union with East Frisia) (1581-1600)

 

Rietbergian Germany

 

The House of Rietberg emerged in 1237 as Counts of Rietberg with imperial immediacy. They lost imperial immediacy in 1456 to Hesse, but retained their autonomy in ruling the country. In 1540, they obtained the Lordship of Harlingerland (the only part of East Frisia not controlled by the Cirksenians). The male line died out in 1562, but the female line ruled until 1581, when one of them married into the Cirksenian family. (Normally, I would place Rietberg in Minor-Dynastic Germany, but I recognize it as a nation because of its intertwining with the Cirksenians.)

 

  • County of Rietberg (1237-1540-1581)
  • Lordship of Harlingerland (in personal union with Rietberg) (1540-1581)