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 stolen during the
Reformation. The Order of St. John sued him about their stolen possessions; after a lengthy trial, Anthony prevailed. With the assistance of farmers from
Stadland and
Butjadingen, which his 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. In 1566, his brother Christopher died, and Anthony became the sole ruler of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. Anthony I died in
Oldenburg in 1573 and was succeeded by his son
John VII. == Marriage and issue ==