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- BIOGRAPHY
Enno was born on 30 September 1563, the son of Edzard II, Graf von Ostfriesland, and Catharina of Sweden, daughter of Gustaf I Eriksson, king of Sweden. Enno was married twice. On 29 January 1581 he married Gräfin Walpurgis von Rietberg, daughter and heiress of Johann II, Graf von Rietberg, and Gräfin Agnes von Bentheim. They had three children, of whom their daughters Sabina and Agnes would have progeny. Walpurgis, a descendant of Hero Ommeken von Esens, brought the estates of the Harlingerland and Rietberg to Ostfriesland. After the male line of the counts of Rietberg became extinct with the death of Johann II in 1562, the counts of Ostfriesland became their successors consequent on the marriage of Enno III with Walpurgis. She died on 20 May 1586, only a few days after her infant son Johann Edzard; it was alleged that she was poisoned.
On 25 June 1598 Enno married Princess Anna von Holstein-Gottorp, daughter of Adolf, duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and Landgräfin Christine von Hessen. They had five children, of whom Anna Maria and Ulrich II would have progeny.
In 1602 Enno's troops laid siege to Emden, but without success. On 8 April 1603 Enno had to sign the Treaty of 's-Gravenhage in which he not only accepted the presence of a Dutch garrison in Emden, but agreed to pay the costs for it. In 1609 the conflict broke out again; the Emden forces were victorious in a skirmish at Greetsiel and temporarily occupied Enno's residence at Aurich. In 1611 the Dutch garrisoned troops in Leerort. On 24 May the Accord of Osterhusen was signed, which limited the sovereignty of the Graf von Ostfriesland, set out the rights of the Estates (including Emden) and legitimised the Dutch garrison in Leerort.
Enno III died on 19 August 1625.
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