Edzard chose Catherine, but the negotiations took a long time, so much so that Gustav Vasa stated in his frustration that it was a blessing that his daughter was at least neither "limped or blind". Edzard's mother, the dowager Regent Anna of Oldenburg, was afraid that the marriage would lead to Swedish domination, and therefore split the power in Ostfriesland between her sons, something which the king tried to prevent.[1] In the marriage contract of 12 August 1558, Catherine was assured Berum and Norden as her dower lands and the post of Regent if Edzard should be succeeded by an underage son of hers.[2]