Christian Everhard, Prince of East Frisia


Prince Christian Everhard of East Frisia was a Prince of East Frisia from the House of Cirksena from the day he was born in 1665, but remained under guardianship until 1690.

Life

Before taking office, Everhard spent much time abroad. Unlike some other members of the Cirksena family, he had few disputes with the Estates of East Frisia. He took over government in 1690 from his mother, who administered the country until then as his guardian and regent. He quickly settled some disputes with the Estates, consolidating the peace, and bringing him the nickname "the peaceable".
Everhard was considered prudent, tolerant and pious. Like his mother, he allowed the presence of the Reformed Church although he himself was Lutheran. He approved an inheritance treaty with the Guelph elector Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The treaty was subsequently rejected by the emperor, who instead accepted a claim by Brandenburg and ruled that if the Cirksena family were to die out, Brandenburg would inherit East Frisia. Based on this ruling, Prussia occupied East Frisia when the Cirksena died out in 1744.
Everhard was sickly since childhood, and was accompanied on his travels by his personal physician, Eberhard Bacmeister. Everhard died in 1708, at a young age, like many Cirksena. He was succeeded by his second son George Albert.

Marriage and issue

Prince Christian Everhard was married to Eberhadine Sophie of Oettingen-Oettingen, a daughter of Albert Ernst I of Oettingen-Oettingen. The couple had the following children:
After the death of his first wife in 1701, he married Anna Juliana of Kleinau, Lady of Sandhorst. They had one daughter: