Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Friedrich
Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
Head of the House of Schleswig-Holstein
Tenure21 January 1934 – 10 February 1965
PredecessorFriedrich Ferdinand
SuccessorPeter
Born(1891-08-23)23 August 1891
Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia, German Empire
Died10 February 1965(1965-02-10) (aged 73)
Coburg, Bavaria, West Germany
Spouse
Princess Marie Melita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
(m. 1916)
IssueHans Albrecht, Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein
Prince Wilhelm Alfred
Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
Princess Marie Alexandra
Names
William Frederick Christian Gunther Albert Adolf George
German: Wilhelm Friedrich Christian Günther Albert Adolf Georg
HouseGlücksburg
FatherFriedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
MotherPrincess Karoline Mathilde of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, from 1934 Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (in German: Wilhelm Friedrich Christian Günther Albert Adolf Georg Prinz zu Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg then Prinz zu Schleswig-Holstein; 23 August 1891 – 10 February 1965), was the sixth Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Head of the House of Oldenburg from 21 January 1934 until his death on 10 February 1965.[citation needed]

Early life[edit]

Friedrich's birthplace, Grünholz House, photographed in 2010.

Prince Friedrich was born on 23 August 1891 at Grünholz Castle in Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia. He was the fifth child and only son of Frederick Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderbug-Glücksburg and his wife, Princess Karoline Mathilde of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg.[citation needed]

Prince Friedrich's father was the eldest son of Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and a nephew of Christian IX of Denmark. Upon the death of his father in 1885, he had succeeded to the headship of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and the title of duke.[citation needed]

Marriage[edit]

Friedrich married his second cousin, Princess Marie Melita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, daughter of Ernst II, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his wife Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, on 5 February 1916 at Coburg. Friedrich and Marie Melita had four children.[citation needed]

Later life[edit]

When the Head of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, died on 27 April 1931, Friedrich's father Friedrich Ferdinand became the Head of the House of Oldenburg and inherited the title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein.[citation needed]

On 21 January 1934, Duke Friedrich Ferdinand died, and Friedrich became head of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.[citation needed]

Duke Friedrich died on 10 February 1965 in Coburg, Bavaria, West Germany.[citation needed]

Issue[edit]

Friedrich and his bride, Marie Melita

Ancestry[edit]

References[edit]

Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg
Born: 23 August 1891 Died: 10 February 1965
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
1934–1965
Reason for succession failure:
abolition of "Standesherren" in 1918
Succeeded by