Christian II managed to end the sovereignty of the Archbishopric of Bremen over Oldenburg; in return he assisted Bremen against the rebellious farmers in Stedingen.
Between 1232 and 1234, there was a crusade against the Stedingers.
Wilbrands older brothers Burchard of Wildenbrug and Henry III, Count of Oldenburg were killed in a crusade against the Stedingers.
As a replacement, John I and his uncle built a castle in Delmenhorst, which provoked a strong reaction from Stedingen.
This was the start of a series of campaigns to subject the free peasants in the North Sea and river marshes to feudalism, to wit Altes Land, Ditmarsh, Land of Hadeln, Haseldorfer Marsch, Kehdingen, and Wilstermarsch, also known as the Elbe Marshes, Butjadingen and Stadland (today's Weser Marsh), as well as Stedingen, the Land of Würden, and the Land of Wursten.