Maria of Jever
Maria von Jever, Jever known in the country as Miss Mary, ( born September 5, 1500 Jever, † February 20, 1575 ibid ) was the last regent of the dominion of Jever from the chief family of the Wiemkens.
Life
Maria of Jever was born as a third child of the chief Edo Wiemken of the younger ones. Her mother Heilwig, second wife of Edo and sister of Count Johann von Oldenburg already died when Mary was a year old. Her father died about a decade later. After the death of his father took over from father to five specific village heads as regency the guardianship of children. While her brother Christoph in his youth enjoyed a knightly training to meet its future responsibilities as chief of Jever lands, can be the education of Mary and her two sisters lined up on the typical ex-wife role for economically and politically favorable viewpoints married to be.
As Junker Christoph died suddenly the only male heir at the age of 18 years, changed the life of Mary, now Erbfräulein Mary, dramatically. Count Edzard I of East Frisia demonstrated its military strength at the jeversch - East Frisian border. With the approval of the regents and guardians of the girls he reached it, to force through a marriage contract the patronage of the Jeverland. Thus, the future Mary appeared to be sealed as a bride one of the sons of Count. However, later Count Enno and Johann von Ostfriesland not kept the promise of marriage, but instead occupied the castle in 1527 in Jever, where Mary severe humiliation was exposed. Help came from an unexpected source in this situation. The East Frisian Drost Boing of Oldersum stood on Mary's side and eventually expelled in 1531 the occupiers from Jever. He is still known as Mary's fiance and lover. He died during a siege at Witt mouth. Married Mary has never.
Not only by her strong will and the growing desire for independence, as it is called in some sources, but also by unusual decisions succeeded Mary in subsequent years to defend the patrimony and to enter the government gradually into their own hands. So she called against their regional opponents Emperor Charles V for assistance. As Duke of Brabant and Count of Holland, he then took the Jeverland in possession and gave it to Mary as a fief. So Mary had had quit the force since 1417 Reichsunmittelbarkeit the rule of Jever. Even Mary had a source of income for years to come even then mint coins than they had in 1566 already lost the kingdom right to do so.
Maria of Jever has done a lot for their home. She rose in 1536 Jever to the city, let the Jever Castle expand, enlarged their empire by Neueindeichungen, built sluices and promoted the administration of justice. Under their rule trade flourished.
1556, Maria of Jever the choir of the church several times destroyed city in Jever convert into a grave chapel in 1561-1564, the obtained until now Renaissance tomb Edo Wiemkens Younger were prepared.
When she died in 1575, there were fears of a renewed coup by the East Frisian Count. Her death was therefore initially concealed. My room was sealed, placed the meals to the door. A servant to secretly ate the dish empty, so no one could suspect until the testamentary used rightful heir, Count Johann VII of Oldenburg, had arrived.