Theda Ukena

Biography

Born into House of Ukena, ruling family of Neermoor and Leer, Theda was the granddaughter and heiress of the chief Focko Ukena (died 1436) and was born in 1432 in Oldersum as the daughter of Uko Fockena, Governor of Oldersum, and his wife, Hebe Attena von Dornum (1396-1449) She was probably named after her grandmother Theda of Reide, the first wife of Focko Ukena. Her father was assassinated in June 1432.

In 1455 she was second wife of Ulrich I Cirksena, who had been Count of East Frisia since 1454. Between 1457 and 1465, they had six children: Heba, Gela, Enno I, Edzard I the Great, Uko and Almuth. Theda brought, among other claims, Oldersum into the marriage, which considerably weakened the ruling chief Wiard of Oldersum.

After Ulrich's death in 1466 she took over the official business of the house Cirksena. She was assisted by the chief Sibet Attena. She ruled until about 1480, when her sons Enno I and Edzard I came of age. Theda died on 16 November 1494, at the age of 62 in Greetsiel.

Marriage and children

Ulrich I and Theda were married in 1455. They had seven children:

Heba of East Frisia (1457-1476), married count Eric I of Schaumburg-Pinneberg,

Gela of East Frisia (1458-1497)

Enno I of East Frisia (1460-1491)

Edzard I of East Frisia (1462-1528)

Uko of East Frisia (1464-1507)

Almuth of East Frisia (1465-1522/23)

References and sources

Walter Deeter Theda, in: Biographisches Lexikon für Ostfriesland

Günther Möhlmann (1957). "Cirksena". Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 3. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. pp. 255–256. (Family Cirksena Article)

Günther Möhlmann (1959). "Edzard I the Great". Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 4. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. pp. 317–318. (mention)

Paul Wagner (1894). "Theda" . Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 37. Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot. pp. 666–668.

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