Background
Anthony I was the youngest son of John V. He had a long-running dispute with his brothers John VI, George, and Christopher about who would be the sole ruler of the County of Oldenburg.
Anthony I was the youngest son of John V. He had a long-running dispute with his brothers John VI, George, and Christopher about who would be the sole ruler of the County of Oldenburg.
In 1529, he became the regent of the county. In 1531, Emperor Charles V enfeoffed him with the County of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst. In 1547, during the Schmalkaldic War, he conquered the Castle and Lordship of Delmenhorst, which had been lost to Münster in 1482.
He strengthened the defenses of his county by expanding his fortresses.
He paid for these construction projects from the proceeds of church properties he had confiscated during the Reformation. The Order of Saint John sued him about their confiscated possessions.
After a lengthy trial, Anthony prevailed. With the assistance of farmers from Stadland and Butjadingen, which had father had conquered in 1514, he managed to gain a large amount of fertile territory by constructing levees around some wetlands in the Jade Bight.
He constructed several large manors to manage this new land.