During the early years of his reign, the ministeriales, led by the Knight Robert von Westerholt, revolted.
Christian, who was still defending Oldenburg Castle, set the city on fire, so that the attackers were left with neither food nor shelter, and had to withdraw.
Christian pursued them, and decisively defeated them in the Battle of the Tungeler Marsh.
In contemporary sources, Christian is described as peace-loving ("... the peasants lived in peace and complete tranquility") and friendly towards the church.
His oldest son, John II succeeded in 1285 as Count of Oldenburg; Otto became Archbishop of Bremen in 1344.