House of Oldenburg

House of Oldenburg
Country Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Russian Empire, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Greece, Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, Duchy of Schleswig, Duchy of Holstein
Titles
Founded 1448
Founder Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg
Final ruler
Russia:

Nicholas II of Russia (1894–1917)

Sweden:

Charles XIII of Sweden (1809–18)

Oldenburg:

Friedrich August II (1900–18)

Saxe-Lauenburg:

Christian IX (1864)

Schleswig-Holstein:

Christian IX (1864)

Augustenborg:

Albert (1921–31)

Current head Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein
Deposition
Russia:

February Revolution 1917

Sweden:

1818 (line extinct)

Greece:

Greek military junta of 1967–74 1973

Oldenburg:

German Revolution of 1918–19 1918

Saxe-Lauenburg:

Second Schleswig War 1864

Schleswig-Holstein:

Second Schleswig War 1864

Augustenborg:

1931 (line extinct)

Cadet branches

The House of Oldenburg is a European royal house of North German origin. It is one of Europe's most influential royal houses with branches that rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Schleswig, Holstein, and Oldenburg. The current Queen of Denmark, the King of Norway and the former King of Greece, as well as the consorts of Greece and the United Kingdom and the first twelve names in the line of succession to the British throne, all belong to this house.

It rose to prominence when Count Christian I of Oldenburg was elected King of Denmark in 1448, of Norway in 1450 and of Sweden in 1457. The house has occupied the Danish throne ever since.

History

Marriages of medieval counts of Oldenburg had 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, since 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.

The former head of the house was Anton Günther Herzog von Oldenburg followed by his son Christian Herzog von Oldenburg in 2014.[1]

Main line

Branches

See also

Footnotes

  1. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XVI. Haus Holstein. C.A. Starke Verlag, 2001, pp.44-50. ISBN 3-7980-0824-8. In German.
  2. Royal Styles and Titles – 1960 Letters Patent

Media related to House of Oldenburg at Wikimedia Commons

House of Oldenburg
House of Oldenburg
Preceded by
House of Romanov
Imperial house of Russia
1762–1917
Vacant
Preceded by
House of Wittelsbach
Royal house of Greece
1863–1973
Monarchy abolished
Preceded by
House of Palatinate-Neumarkt
Royal house of Denmark
1448–present
Present house
(branch: Glücksburg)
Preceded by
House of Bernadotte
Royal house of Norway
1905–present
Vacant
Title last held by
House of Bonde
Royal house of Norway
1450–1818
Succeeded by
House of Bernadotte
Royal house of Sweden
1457-1464
Vacant
Title next held by
House of Bonde
Royal house of Sweden
1497–1501
Vacant
Vacant Royal house of Sweden
1520–1521
Vacant
Title next held by
House of Vasa
Preceded by
House of Schaumburg
Comital House of Holstein
1460–1474
County raised to duchy
Ducal house of Schleswig
1474-1864
Second Schleswig War
County raised to duchy Ducal House of Holstein
1474-1864
Vacant
Title last held by
House of Hanover
Ducal House of Saxe-Lauenburg
1814–1864
Vacant
Title next held by
House of Hohenzollern
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