House of Oldenburg
House of Oldenburg | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Country | |
Founded | 1101 |
Founder | Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg |
Current head | Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein[1][2] |
Final ruler | Russia: Nicholas II (1894–1917)
Sweden: Charles XIII (1809–18)
Greece: Constantine II (1964–1973)
Oldenburg: Friedrich August II (1900–18)
Saxe-Lauenburg: Christian IX (1863–64)
Schleswig and Holstein: Christian IX (1863–64) |
Titles | |
Connected families | |
Deposition | Russia: February Revolution, 1917
Greece: 1974 Greek republic referendum, 1974
Oldenburg: German Revolution, 1918
Saxe-Lauenburg: Second Schleswig War, 1864
Schleswig and Holstein: Second Schleswig War, 1864 |
Cadet branches | List
|
The House of Oldenburg is a German dynasty[3] with links to Denmark since the 15th century. It has branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Schleswig, Holstein, and Oldenburg. The current Queen of Denmark and King of Norway, the former King of Greece, the late prince consort of the United Kingdom, as well as the first ten persons (and fifteen of the first seventeen) in the line of succession to the British throne, are all patrilineal members of the Glücksburg branch of this house.
The dynasty rose to prominence when Count Christian I of Oldenburg was elected as King of Denmark in 1448, of Norway in 1450 and of Sweden in 1457. The house has occupied the Danish throne ever since.
History[edit]

Marriages of medieval counts of Oldenburg paved the way for their heirs to become kings of various Scandinavian kingdoms. Through marriage with a descendant of King Valdemar I of Sweden and of King Eric IV of Denmark, a claim to Sweden and Denmark was staked as early as 1350.
At that time, its competitors were the successors of Margaret I of Denmark. In the 15th century, the Oldenburg heir of that claim married Hedwig of Schauenburg, a descendant of Euphemia of Sweden and Norway and also a descendant of Eric V of Denmark and Abel of Denmark. Since descendants better situated in genealogical charts died out, their son Christian (the abovementioned) became the king of all three kingdoms of the whole Kalmar Union. The House of Mecklenburg was its chief competitor regarding the Northern thrones, and other aspirants included the Duke of Lauenburg. Different Oldenburgine branches have reigned in several countries. The House of Oldenburg was briefly poised to claim the British thrones through the marriage of Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark and Norway; however, due to the early deaths of all their children, the crown passed to the House of Hanover.
Main line[edit]
- Counts (1101–1773), Dukes (1773-1810) and Grand Dukes (1815-1918) of Oldenburg
- Kings of Denmark (1448–1863)
- Kings of Norway (1450–1814)
- Kings of Sweden (1457–64, 1497–1501 and 1520–21)
- Dukes of Schleswig (1460–1864) (divided among various rulers 1544-1721)
- Counts (1460–1574) and Dukes (1574-1864) of Holstein (divided among various rulers 1544-1773)
Branches[edit]
- Kings of Denmark (1448–1863)
- Danneskiold-Samsøe (since 1695) ill.
- Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, extinct in male line in 1931
- Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein (claimant in 1863, then titular dukes until 1931)
- Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
- Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein (titular dukes since 1931)
- Kings and queens of Denmark (since 1863)
- King of Iceland (1918–44)
- Kings of the Hellenes (1863–1924, 1935–73)
- Mountbatten-Windsor line: although Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, his children and his sons' children are patrilineally descended from this branch, his male-line descendants bearing the style of "Royal Highness" are de jure members of the House of Windsor, by declaration of the British monarch.[5]
- Kings of Norway (since 1905)
- Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp
- Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp (1544–1739)
- Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov (commonly still called Romanov)
- Holstein-Gottorp (Swedish line), extinct
- Kings of Sweden (1751–1818)
- King of Norway (1814–18)
- Holstein-Gottorp (Grand ducal line)
- Dukes (later grand dukes) of Oldenburg (1774–1918)
Line of succession[edit]
By agnatic primogeniture:
- Frederick I of Denmark (1471–1533)
- Christian III of Denmark (1503–1559)
- John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1545–1622)
- Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1573–1627)
- August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1612–1675)
- Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1653–1728)
- Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1697–1775)
- Prince Karl Anton August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1727–1759)
- Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1757–1816)
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1785–1831)
- Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1814–1885)
- Friedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1855–1934)
- Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1891–1965)
- Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1922–1980)
Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (born 1949)
- (1) Friedrich Ferdinand, Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (b. 1985)
- (2) Prince Constantin of Schleswig-Holstein (b. 1986)
- (3) Prince Leopold of Schleswig-Holstein (b. 1991)
- (4) Prince Alexander of Schleswig-Holstein (b. 1953)
- (5) Prince Julian of Schleswig-Holstein (b. 1997)
- Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1922–1980)
- Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1891–1965)
- Friedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (1855–1934)
- Christian IX of Denmark (1818–1906)
- Frederick VIII of Denmark (1843–1912)
- Christian X of Denmark (1870–1947)
- Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark (1900–1976)
- (6) Count Ingolf of Rosenborg (b. 1940)
- Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark (1900–1976)
- Haakon VII of Norway (1872–1957)
- Olav V of Norway (1903–1991)
- (7) Harald V of Norway (b. 1937)
- (8) Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway (b. 1973)
- (9) Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway (b. 2005)
- (8) Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway (b. 1973)
- (7) Harald V of Norway (b. 1937)
- Olav V of Norway (1903–1991)
- Prince Harald of Denmark (1876–1949)
- Count Oluf of Rosenborg (1923–1990)
- (10) Count Ulrik Harald Gunnar Oluf of Rosenborg (b. 1950)
- (11) Count Philip Oluf Axel Ulrik of Rosenborg (b. 1986)
- (10) Count Ulrik Harald Gunnar Oluf of Rosenborg (b. 1950)
- Count Oluf of Rosenborg (1923–1990)
- Christian X of Denmark (1870–1947)
- George I of Greece (1845–1913)
- Constantine I of Greece (1868–1923)
- Paul of Greece (1901–1964)
- (12) Constantine II of Greece (b. 1940)
- (13) Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (b. 1967)
- (14) Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark (b. 1998)
- (15) Prince Achileas Andreas of Greece and Denmark (b. 2000)
- (16) Prince Odysseas Kimon of Greece and Denmark (b. 2004)
- (17) Prince Aristide Stavros of Greece and Denmark (b. 2008)
- (18) Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark (b. 1969)
- (19) Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark (b. 1986)
- (13) Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (b. 1967)
- (12) Constantine II of Greece (b. 1940)
- Paul of Greece (1901–1964)
- Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (1882–1944)
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021)
- (20) Charles, Prince of Wales (b. 1948)
- (21) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1982)
- (22) Prince George of Cambridge (b. 2013)
- (23) Prince Louis of Cambridge (b. 2018)
- (24) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (b. 1984)
- (25) Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (b. 2019)
- (21) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (b. 1982)
- (26) Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960)
- (27) Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (b. 1964)
- (28) Prince James of Wessex (b. 2007)
- (20) Charles, Prince of Wales (b. 1948)
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021)
- Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark (1888–1940)
- (29) Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark (b. 1939)
- Constantine I of Greece (1868–1923)
- Prince Valdemar of Denmark (1858–1939)
- Prince Axel of Denmark (1888–1964)
- Count Flemming Valdemar of Rosenborg (1922–2002)
- (30) Count Axel of Rosenborg (b. 1950)
- (31) Count Carl Johan of Rosenborg (b. 1979)
- (32) Count Alexander Flemming of Rosenborg (b. 1993)
- (33) Count Birger of Rosenborg (b. 1950)
- (34) Count Carl Johan of Rosenborg (b. 1952)
- (30) Count Axel of Rosenborg (b. 1950)
- Count Flemming Valdemar of Rosenborg (1922–2002)
- Prince Erik, Count of Rosenborg (1890–1950)
- Count Christian Edward of Rosenborg (1932–1997)
- (35) Count Valdemar Christian of Rosenborg (b. 1965)
- (36) Count Nicolai Christian Valdemar of Rosenborg (b. 1997)
- (35) Count Valdemar Christian of Rosenborg (b. 1965)
- Count Christian Edward of Rosenborg (1932–1997)
- Prince Axel of Denmark (1888–1964)
- Frederick VIII of Denmark (1843–1912)
- Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1814–1885)
- Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1785–1831)
- Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1757–1816)
- Prince Karl Anton August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1727–1759)
- Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1697–1775)
- Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1653–1728)
- August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1612–1675)
- Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1573–1627)
- John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1545–1622)
- Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1526–1586)
- John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1575–1616)
- Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1597–1659)
- Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1641–1695)
- Frederick IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1671–1702)
- Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1700–1739)
- Peter III of Russia (1728–1762)
- Paul I of Russia (1728–1762)
- Nicholas I of Russia (1796-1855)
- Alexander II of Russia (1818-1881)
- Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia (1860-1919)
- Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia (1891-1941)
- Prince Paul Dimitrievich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (1928-2004)
- (37) Prince Dimitri Pavlovich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (b. 1954)
- (38) Prince Michael Pavlovich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (b. 1961)
- Prince Paul Dimitrievich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (1928-2004)
- Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia (1891-1941)
- Prince George Alexandrovich Yurievsky (1872-1913)
- Prince Alexander Georgijevich Yurievsky (1900-1988)
- (39) Prince George Alexandrovich Yurievsky (b. 1961)
- Prince Alexander Georgijevich Yurievsky (1900-1988)
- Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia (1860-1919)
- Grand Duke Michael Nicolaevich of Russia (1832-1909)
- Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia (1866-1933)
- Prince Andrew Alexandrovich of Russia (1897-1981)
- Prince Andrew Andreevich (1923-2021)
- (40) Prince Alexis Andreevich (b. 1953)
- (41) Prince Peter Andreevich (b. 1961)
- (42) Prince Andrew Andreevich (b. 1963)
- Prince Andrew Andreevich (1923-2021)
- Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich of Russia (1902-1978)
- Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich (1938-1999)
- (43) Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich (b. 1985)
- (44) Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich (b. 2013)
- (45) Prince Nikita Rostislavovich (b. 1987)
- (43) Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich (b. 1985)
- Prince Nicholas Rostislavovich (1945-2000)
- (46) Prince Nicholas Nicolaevich (b. 1968)
- (47) Prince Daniel Nicolaevich (b. 1972)
- Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich (1938-1999)
- Prince Andrew Alexandrovich of Russia (1897-1981)
- Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia (1866-1933)
- Alexander II of Russia (1818-1881)
- Nicholas I of Russia (1796-1855)
- Paul I of Russia (1728–1762)
- Peter III of Russia (1728–1762)
- Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1700–1739)
- Prince Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp (1673-1726)
- Prince Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp (1719-1763)
- Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1755-1829)
- Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1783-1853)
- Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1827-1900)
- Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1852-1931)
- Nikolaus, Duke of Oldenburg (1897-1970)
- Anton Günther, Duke of Oldenburg (1923-2014)
- (48) Christian, Duke of Oldenburg (b. 1955)
- (49) Prince Alexander of Oldenburg (b. 1990)
- (50) Prince Philipp of Oldenburg (b. 1991)
- (51) Prince Anton Friedrich of Oldenburg (b. 1993)
- (48) Christian, Duke of Oldenburg (b. 1955)
- Prince Peter of Oldenburg (1926-2016)
- (52) Prince Friedrich August of Oldenburg (b. 1952)
- (53) Prince Nikolaus of Oldenburg (b. 1955)
- (54) Prince Christoph of Oldenburg (b. 1985)
- (55) Prince Georg of Oldenburg (b. 1990)
- (56) Prince Oscar of Oldenburg (b. 1991)
- (57) Prince Georg Moritz of Oldenburg (b. 1957)
- Prince Friedrich August of Oldenburg (1936–2017)
- (58) Prince Paul-Wladimir of Oldenburg (b. 1969)
- (59) Prince Kirill of Oldenburg (b. 2002)
- (60) Prince Carlos of Oldenburg (b. 2004)
- (61) Prince Paul of Oldenburg (b. 2005)
- (58) Prince Paul-Wladimir of Oldenburg (b. 1969)
- (62) Prince Huno of Oldenburg (b. 1940)
- (63) Prince Johann of Oldenburg (b. 1940)
- (64) Prince Konstantin Nikolaus of Oldenburg (b. 1975)
- Anton Günther, Duke of Oldenburg (1923-2014)
- Nikolaus, Duke of Oldenburg (1897-1970)
- Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1852-1931)
- Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1827-1900)
- Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1783-1853)
- Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1755-1829)
- Prince Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp (1719-1763)
- Frederick IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1671–1702)
- Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1641–1695)
- Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1597–1659)
- John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1575–1616)
- Christian III of Denmark (1503–1559)
Gallery[edit]
The first Oldenburg king was Christian I of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1426–1481)
Sweden's most prominent Oldenburg king was Gustav III (1746–1792)
Frederick Augustus II (1852–1931) was the last ruling Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Nicholas II (1868–1918) was the last Emperor of Russia
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Greece and Denmark (1921-2021)
Charles, Prince of Wales (*1948)
King Harald V of Norway (*1937)
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (*1940)
Queen Sofía of Spain, Princess of Greece and Denmark (*1938)
Former King Constantine II (*1940) and Queen Anne-Marie (*1946) of Greece, both Oldenburgs, she being a princess of Denmark
Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (*1949), head of the House of Oldenburg since 1980[6]
See also[edit]
- List of rulers of Oldenburg
- List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein (contains more information about the partitions of Schleswig and Holstein)
- List of members of the House of Oldenburg (male descendants)
- Family tree of Oldenburg monarchs of Denmark
- Oldenborg Dynasty Family Tree (in Czech)
- Genealogy of the House of Oldenburg from 1040 to the present day (in German)
- Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, for the minor branches of the House of Oldenburg
- Coat of arms of Oldenburg
- Armorial of the House of Oldenburg (in French)
Footnotes[edit]
- ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Band XVII, "Oldenburg". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2004, pp. 44–50 (in German). ISBN 9783798008335.
- ^ Burke's Royal Families of the World, p. 60. ISBN 0-85011-023-8.
- ^ Wilson, Peter Hamish (2011). The Thirty Years War: Europe's Tragedy. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-06231-3.
- ^ Year: 1863; Quantity released: 101,000 coin; Weight: 28.893 gram; Composition: Silver 87.5%; Diameter: 39.5 mm – https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces23580.html
- ^ Royal Styles and Titles – 1960 Letters Patent
- ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Band XVI, "Haus Holstein". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2001, pp. 44-50 (in German). ISBN 3-7980-0824-8.
External links[edit]
Media related to House of Oldenburg at Wikimedia Commons
- Marek, Miroslav, The House of Oldenburg, Genealogy.EU.