- 1270-1285: Graf (Count) of Oldenburg
- AKA: Christian III, Count of Oldenburg
- Victor of Siege of Oldenburg (c1275)
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Biography
Christian III. von Oldenburg, Count of Oldenburg, was born circa 1230 in Schloss Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany to Johann I. von Oldenburg (c1204-c1270) and Richza von Hoya (c1240-c1287) and died 1285 of unspecified causes. He married Hedwig von Oldenburg-Wildeshausen (1233-1315) .
Christian III was first mentioned in a document in 1269 as Dei gratia comes in Aldenborch. From 1272, his brother Otto II appears as co-ruler.
During the early years of his reign, the ministeriales, led by the Knight Robert von Westerholt, revolted. The rebels managed to invade the city of Oldenburg. Christian, who was still defending Oldenburg Castle, set the city on fire, so that the attackers were left with neither food nor shelter, and had to withdraw. Christian pursued them, and decisively defeated them in the Battle of the Tungeler Marsh. Robert von Westerholt and other rebellious noblemen were taken prisoner. The Chronicle of Rasted describes his victory in great detail.
In contemporary sources, Christian is described as peace-loving ("... the peasants lived in peace and complete tranquility") and friendly towards the church. He was pious and also knew how to enjoy life ("... loved a good wine").
Marriage and Family
He married Jutta of Bentheim and had three sons.
- His oldest son, John II succeeded in 1285 as Count of Oldenburg;
- Otto became Archbishop of Bremen in 1344.
Schloss Oldenburg

Oldenburg Palace
Schloss Oldenburg (AKA: Oldenburg palace) is based a medieval lowland castle that was built around 1100 by the Counts of Oldenburg to control a long-distance trade route from Westphalia to East Frisia. It has long served as the seat of power for the historic House of Oldenburg. The earliest recorded occupants were Egilmar I von Oldenburg (c1040-1108) and his wife, Richenza von Dithmarschen (c1045-c1092).
Children
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Johann II. von Oldenburg (c1270-1316) | 1270 Schloss Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany | 1316 | Elisabeth von Lüneburg (-bef1299) |
Christian von Oldenburg (?-1314) | |||
Otto von Oldenburg (?-1348) |
Siblings
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Heilwig | |||
Christian III. von Oldenburg (c1250-1285) | 1230 Schloss Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany | 1285 | Hedwig von Oldenburg-Wildeshausen (1233-1315) |
Moritz (?-1319) | |||
Otto II. von Oldenburg-Delmenhorst (?-1304) |
Research Notes
- FMG lists this person as Christian IV.
- The Historia Monasterii Rastedensis names (in order) "Cristianum et Ottonem, Hinricum et Mauritium" as the four sons of "Iohannis comitis et Rixedis comitissa de Hoya", specifying that Christian succeeded in Oldenburg but died aged 30 "circa festum Lucie"[78].
- In a later passage, the same source names "comes Cristianus de Oldenburg" as son of "Iohannis comitis et Rixedis comitissa de Hoya", specifying that he died "circa festum natali Domini" in the same year as the burning of the city of Bremen and was buried "in tumba comitum de Oldenburg"[79].
- Graf von Oldenburg in Oldenburg. “Cristianus et Otto fratres comites in Oldenburg” confirmed an agreement made by “noster avus...comes de Hoya et filius suus Johannes noster avunculus” with “noster dapifer dominus Martinus Fleckescilt” by charter dated 1274[80].
1st Marriage: Hedwig
m firstly HEDWIG, daughter of --- (-[1270/11 Nov 1272]).
- “Cristianus comes de Allenborg et Hadhewigis de Willeshusen cometissa” donated property to Kloster Lahde by charter dated 1270[81]. The reference to “Willeshusen” suggests that Hedwig was a member of the younger Wildeshausen line of the Grafen von Oldenburg.
- Together they had one child -
2nd Marriage: Jutta
m secondly (before 11 Nov 1272) JUTTA, daughter of --- (-before 1287).
- “Christianus et Otto fratres comites in Oldenborg” sold property to Kloster Rastede, with the consent of “fratrum nostrorum Mauricii et Heinrici necnon Jutte uxoris nostre et Johannis filii nostri”, by charter dated 11 Nov 1272[82].
See Also
- Christian Oldenburg
- Oldenburg Family
- Oldenburg in Lower Saxony
Notable Descendants
John I was a direct patrilineal ancestor of the British King Charles III and of many Kings of Denmark and Tsars of Russia.
References
External links
- wikipedia:en:Christian III, Count of Oldenburg
- Christian III Oldenburg at thePeerage
- Christian III Oldenburg, Geni.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Christian-III-Graf-von-Oldenburg/6000000003827484430, retrieved 15 Dec 2024
- Christian III Oldenburg, FamilySearch.org, https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/G7J1-3G1, retrieved 15 Dec 2024
- Christian III Oldenburg, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/OLDENBURG.htm#ChristianIIIdied1285B, retrieved 15 Dec 2024
- Hans Friedl, Wolfgang Günther, Hilke Günther-Arndt, Heinrich Schmidt (eds.): Biographisches Handbuch zur Geschichte des Landes Oldenburg, Oldenburg, 1992, ISBN 3-89442-135-5
- genealogie-mittelalter.de
Succession Charts
Christian III. von Oldenburg (c1250-1285) Died: 1285
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Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by Johann I. von Oldenburg (c1204-c1270) |
Count of Oldenburg 1270–1285 |
Succeeded by Johann II. von Oldenburg (c1270-1316) |