Charles Edzard, Prince of East Frisia
| Charles Edzard, Prince of East Frisia | |
|---|---|
Charles Edzard, Prince of East Frisia
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| Spouse(s) | Sophie Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Kulmbach-Bayreuth |
| Noble family | Cirksena |
| Father | George Albert, Prince of East Frisia |
| Mother | Countess Christine Louise of Nassau-Idstein |
| Born |
18 June 1716 Aurich |
| Died | 25 May 1744 (aged 27) Aurich |
Charles Edzard (18 June 1716, in Aurich – 25 May 1744, in Aurich) was the last prince of East Frisia. He ruled from 12 June 1734 until his death. He was the fourth child of the reigning prince George Albert and Princess Christine Louise, née Princess of Nassau-Idstein and was born at the castle in Aurich.
Charles Edzard received a harsh, authoritarian education from his father George Albert, in an atmosphere of bigotry and ascetic piety, which did not leave the child any freedom or opportunities for self-development. The fact that all of his siblings died during their first year of life, had caused the father to panic and fear of the extinction of the male line of the Cirksena. He was meticulously planning the daily schedule. Every week, every day, every hour has been prescribed by a precise timetable to be followed to the prince. Even the recovery phase, the hours to ride and to walk were scheduled exactly.
Charles Edzard was taught Roman law, medieval history and French. He never received a military training, even though he was appointed colonel and chief of the small princely militia by his father at the age of 10. Due to his father's early death, no time remained for studying. His travels were limited on the court in Aurich, the hunting lodge in Sandhorst and the princely Berum Castle. He never even visited Emden, the largest city of his territory, though he once looked at it from a distance.
The Charles Edzards's father had been ill for a long period. He had a stroke before Charles Edzards's 18th birthday. A wedding was hastily arranged for the man who was never allowed to decide anything in his life. This time it was probably his step-mother who decided for him. She selected Princess Sophie Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Kulmbach-Bayreuth (1714–1749), the daughter of her oldest sister with George Frederick Charles, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, and arranged the betrothal between Charles Edzards and his cousin Sophie Wilhelmine, who was just sixteen years old. They married on 25 May 1734 at Berum castle.
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