After the death of Edzard in 1599, Catherine lived at Berum Castle and took control over her dower lands Norden, Pewsum, Woquard Loquard, Campen and Neeuwarden. These lands were only given to her as her dower lands, but Catherine instead took control over them as an autonomous ruler: the refused to acknowledge her son Enno III and his right to collect taxes and exert authority in her fiefs, and declared herself a vassal directly under the emperor.[1] This caused a conflict with her son which remained unsolved until her death.