John I, Count of Rietberg

Count John I of Rietberg ( – 1516) was Count of Rietberg from 1472 until his death. He was the eldest son of Count Conrad V and his wife Jacoba of Neuenahr. When his father died in 1472, he inherited the County of Rietberg.

During a traditional boundary inspection tour on 1 May 1474, he shared a keg of beer with the citizens of Rietberg. In 1477, he promised the mayor and city council of Rietberg to restore their ancient rights and privileges and grant them the same rights as the city of Lippstadt.

Also in 1477, John's brother Conrad VI of Rietberg travelled to Rome with John of Roden and his wife Lucke. They raised money for this journey by mortgaging Aldehof manor in Bokel.

On 24 April 1481, John I and his wife Margaret joined Marienfeld Abbey, which was led by abbot John V Wineken. On 13 May 1481, John donated an altar in the abbey for the souls of his parents and siblings. As payment, he transferred the Horntemannsgut in Gütersloh parish, however, with an option to buy it back for 200 Rhenish guilders. He also donated an altar to the castle chapel in Rietberg.

Marriage and issue Before 1475, he married Margaret of Lippe. They had nine children:

Otto III (d. 18 December 1535), Count of Rietberg 1516–1535 Bernard (d. 15 October 1501), Dean of Osnabrück and Cologne Conrad (d. 1500), a canon of Cologne John (d. 1530), a canon of Cologne Simon, mentioned in documents 1486–1494 Elisabeth (d. July 1512), married on 27 July 1497 Edzard I of East Frirsia Emgard (d. after 1535), married before 1499 to Count Otto IX of Tecklenburg Margaret, mentioned in 1491 Frederick (d. 1539), a canon of Cologne