The Overledingerland is one of the four historical districts on the mainland of today's Leer district. In the early Middle Ages it belonged to the Carolingian Emsgau,[3] but after the foreign counts were expelled, it was able to establish itself as an independent Frisian regional community in the 13th century.[4][5] In the south, some Saxon settlements also joined the cooperatively organized regional community.[5] A classic feudal rule did not establish itself here, as in the rest of Frisia.[6]
It was probably divided into regional quarters, each of which sent four representatives to the Council of Sixteen of the Overledingerland,[3] whose main meeting place was probably Backemoor.[7] Due to the economic conditions,[3] however, the Overledingerland was not able to develop such a strong position as the Brokmerland, the Harlingerland or the Jeverland managed to do further north. During the time of Frisian freedom it became part of the Upstalsboom League.[8]
The independence ended in the 15th century with the rule of the city of Hamburg and the East Frisian chieftains.[9] A local central chieftaincy did not develop, only a few village chiefs were able to establish themselves. The district initially came under the rule of the tom Brok dynasty.[10] After their decline, it fell to Focko Ukena[6] and in his wake to the Cirksena.[11] With the end of the chieftainship, the Overledingerland became part of the County of East Frisia in 1464.
