House of Oldenburg

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.

House of Oldenburg
Country
List
Founded1101 (1101)
FounderElimar I, Count of Oldenburg
Current headChristoph, 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
List
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 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
2 rigsdaler – death of Frederik VII and accession of Christian IX marking the transfer of the throne to the Glucksburg branch of the House of Oldenburg[4]

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

Branches

Line of succession

By agnatic primogeniture:

See also

Footnotes
  1. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Band XVII, "Oldenburg". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2004, pp. 44–50 (in German). ISBN 9783798008335.
  2. Burke's Royal Families of the World, p. 60. ISBN 0-85011-023-8.
  3. Wilson, Peter Hamish (2011). The Thirty Years War: Europe's Tragedy. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-06231-3.
  4. 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
  5. Royal Styles and Titles – 1960 Letters Patent
  6. 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.
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