Gerhard VI, Count of Oldenburg
Gerhard VI, Count of Oldenburg was a Count of Oldenburg and regent of Bad Zwischenahn in 1440–1482.
Biography
Gerhard was the third son of Dietrich of Oldenburg and his wife, Hedvig of Holstein. His eldest brother first succeeded their father and later was elected King Christian I of Denmark in 1448, therefore passing on the county to his brothers in 1450. From 1440 to 1463 Gerhard VI ruled in Delmenhorst as regent and from 1464 to 1482 as the guardian of his nephew Jakob. He was constantly at war with Gerhard III, Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, and Frisians. In 1483 Gerhard was compelled to abdicate in favor of his sons, and he died whilst on a pilgrimage in the Rhône valley.Family and children
In 1453 he married with Adelheid of Tecklenburg, daughter of Otto VII, Count of Tecklenburg. They had eleven children:- Gerhard of Oldenburg
- Dietrich of Oldenburg
- Adolph, Count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst
- Christian of Oldenburg
- John V, Count of Oldenburg
- Otto of Oldenburg, a canon of Bremen Cathedral Chapter
- Elisabeth of Oldenburg
- Anna of Oldenburg
- Irmgard of Oldenburg; married Hero Oomkens von Esens, Lord of Esens, Stedesdorf and Wittmund.
- Hedwig of Oldenburg ; married in 1498 Edo Wimken II of Jever ; had issue, including Maria of Jever.
- Adelheid of Oldenburg ; married in 1503 Dietrich III of Plesse.