He was born at the castle in Aurich, as the fourth child of the reigning prince George Albert and his wife, Princess Christine Louise of Nassau-Idstein (1691-1723).

Charles Edzard received a harsh, authoritarian education from his father George Albert, in an atmosphere of bigotry and ascetic piety, which did not leave the child any freedom or opportunities for self-development.

The fact that all of his siblings died during their first year of life, had caused the father to panic and fear of the extinction of the male line of the Cirksena.

He never received a military training, even though he was appointed colonel and chief of the small princely militia by his father at the age of 10.

Three weeks later, on 12 June 1734, the father died, and Charles Edzard was ruler of East Frisia, without being really prepared for this task.