FRIESLAND (DISTRICT)

:''This article is about the German district. For the Dutch province of the same name, see Friesland; for the German and Dutch name for the entire coastal region, see Frisia.''
'Friesland' is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southeast and clockwise) the districts of Wesermarsch, Ammerland, Leer and Wittmund, and by the North Sea. The city of Wilhelmshaven is enclosed by, but not part of the district.

Contents

History

Geography

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

See also

External links

History

The Frisian region was ruled by local chieftains until the 15th century; see East Frisia for details.
In 1438 in the northern part of today's Landkreis Friesland the state of Jever was founded. Ostfriesland was from then on regarded as a hostile territory, and lots of skirmishes between Jeverland and Ostfriesland took place during the 15th and 16th centuries. The last ruler of the Jeverland was Maria of Jever, who ruled until 1575.
After her death the Jeverland became a part of Oldenburg, but Ostfriesland made a claim for the territory as well. In the following decades Ostfriesland tried to block all roads between the Jeverland and Oldenburg. It was not before the 17th century, that the hostilities between Ostfriesland and Oldenburg ended.
From 1667 to 1793 the Jeverland was an exclave of Anhalt-Zerbst, and afterwards the westernmost exclave of Russia. In 1818 the Jeverland became a part of Oldenburg again.
The souther part of today's district of Friesland was the "Friesische Wehde" ("Frisian Woods"), which also was most of the time part of Oldenburg. This region later formed the district of Varel.
The district was established in 1933 by merging the former districts of Jever and Varel. From this time it was called "Friesland". In an administrative reform of 1977 this district was planned to be dissolved and divided between the neighbouring districts of Wittmund and Ammerland. The population successfully protested against the dissolution of their district, and the reform was undone in 1980.

Geography

In the east the district is bounded by the 'Jadebusen', a shallow bay of the North Sea. The island of Wangerooge, belonging to the East Frisian Islands, is a part of Friesland.
The inhabitants of Friesland insist, that they are not a part of East Frisia. This is somewhat confusing, since Friesland is situated east of East Frisia, and geographers regard Friesland as a part of that region. The distinction has historical reasons: Friesland was an independent state from 1438 to 1575 (see above for details). Then and afterwards the region bore the name "Friesland", although this is also the German name for entire Frisia.

Coat of arms

The lion is from the arms of the chieftains of Jever; it was the symbol of the state of Friesland, which had existed from 1438 to 1575. The blazon of the arms is: "Azure, a lion rampant dexter-facing Or, armed and langued Gules, two Greek crosses Argent above, near upper corners".

Towns and municipalities

Towns	Municipalities
#Jever#Schortens#Varel	#Bockhorn#Sande#Wangerland#Wangerooge#Zetel

See also

★ Frisia

★ Frisian Islands

External links

★ Official website (German)

★ Regionalportal jadebusen.de -> Butjadingen (German)