House of Oldenburg

House of Oldenburg

The House of Oldenburg is a German dynasty whose members rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Livonia, Schleswig, Holstein, and Oldenburg. The current kings of Norway and the United Kingdom are patrilineal descendants of the Glücksburg branch of this house.

The dynasty 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. Denmark's current monarch, King Frederik X, belongs to the Glücksburg branch of the House of Oldenburg through his mother, Queen Margrethe II.

History

House of Oldenburg

King Christian I and Queen Dorothy of Denmark started the royal dynasty in 1450 with the birth of their first child

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

Count Elimar I was first mentioned in 1091. The ancestral home of the family is Oldenburg Castle. In the 12th century, Rastede Monastery near Oldenburg became their house monastery and later their country seat to this day. Marriages of medieval counts of Oldenburg paved the way for their heirs to become kings of the three 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 Holstein, a descendant of King Magnus Ladulås of Sweden, of King Haakon V of Norway, and of the kings Eric V 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 in 1683; however, due to the early deaths of all their children, the crown passed to the House of Hanover, Oldenburgs not gaining that crown until 2022.

Main line

House of Oldenburg

• Counts of Oldenburg (1101–1448, 1667–1773) • Kings of Denmark (1448–1863) • Kings of Norway (1450–1814) • Kings of Sweden (1457–1464, 1497–1501, 1520–1521) • 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) • Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg (1815–1863)

Branches

House of Oldenburg

• Oldenburg comital line (1448–1667), extinct in 1667 • Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg • Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, extinct in 1931 • Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein (claimant in 1863, then titular dukes until 1931) • Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (name changed from Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck in 1825) • Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein (titular dukes since 1931) • Kings and queens of Denmark (1863–present) • Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg (1863–1864) • King of Iceland (1918–1944) • Kings of Norway (1905–present) • Kings of the Hellenes (1863–1924, 1935–1973) • Kings of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms (2022–) • Holstein-Gottorp • Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp (1544–1739) • Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov (commonly still called Romanov) • Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp (1739–1773) • Emperors of Russia (1762, 1796–1917) • Holstein-Gottorp (Swedish line), extinct in 1877 • Kings of Sweden (1751–1818) • King of Norway (1814–1818) • Holstein-Gottorp (Grand ducal line) • Dukes and Grand Dukes of Oldenburg (1774–1918) • Danneskiold (illegitimate branch) • Danneskiold-Løvendal, extinct in 1829 • Danneskiold-Laurvig, extinct in 1783 • Danneskiold-Samsøe

Family tree of the House of Oldenburg (Counts of Oldenburg)

House of Oldenburg

House of Oldenburg
								House of Oldenburg
								Elimar I Count of Oldenburg r. 1091–1108 c. 1060–1112
								Elimar II Count of Oldenburg r. 1108–1142
								Christian I the Quarrelsome Count of Oldenburg r. 1143–1167 ?–1167
								Maurice Count of Oldenburg r. 1169–1211 c. 1150 – c. 1211
								Christian II Count of Oldenburg r. 1209–1233 ?–1233		Otto I Count of Oldenburg r. 1209–1251 c. 1175–1251
								John I Count of Oldenburg r. 1233–1270 c. 1210 – c. 1270
								Christian III Count of Oldenburg r. 1270–1285 ?–1285
								John II Count of Oldenburg r. 1285–1301 ? – c. 1314/6
Christian IV Count of Oldenburg r. 1301–1323		John III Count of Oldenburg r. 1305–1345					Conrad I Count of Oldenburg r. 1324–1347 ?–1347
				John IV Count of Oldenburg r. 1345–1356		Conrad II Count of Oldenburg r. 1368–1401 ?–1401				Christian V Count of Oldenburg r. 1368–1398 c. 1342 – c. 1399
								Maurice II Count of Oldenburg r. 1401–1420		Dietrich Fortunatus Count of Oldenburg r. 1403–1440 1398–1440		Christian VI Count of Oldenburg r. 1403–1421
								Christian I King of Denmark r. 1448–1481 King of Norway r. 1450–1481 King of Sweden r. 1457–1464 1426–1481		Gerhard VI Count of Oldenburg r. 1450–1482 1430–1500
								Kings of Denmark
												Adolph Count of Oldenburg- Delmenhorst r. 1482–1500 before 1463–1500		John V Count of Oldenburg r. 1500–1526 1460–1526
				John VI Count of Oldenburg r. 1526–1529 1501–1548		George Count of Oldenburg r. 1526–1529		Christopher Count of Oldenburg r. 1526–1566 c. 1504–1566		Anthony I Count of Oldenburg r. 1526–1573 1505–1573
												John VII Count of Oldenburg r. 1573–1603 1540–1603		Anthony II Count of Oldenburg r. 1573–1619
												Anthony Günther Count of Oldenburg r. 1603–1667 1583–1667

Family tree of the House of Oldenburg (Senior line)

House of Oldenburg

House of Oldenburg
King of the Kalmar Union (1457–1464, 1497–1501, 1520–1521)	King of Denmark-Norway (1524–1533, 1537–1814)	King of Denmark (1448–1533, 1534–present)	King of the Hellenes (1863–1924, 1935–1973)	King of Norway (1450–1481, 1483–1523, 1524–1533, 1537–1814, 1905–present)
								House of Oldenburg
								Elimar I Count of Oldenburg r. 1091–1108 c. 1040–1112
								Elimar II Count of Oldenburg r. 1108–1142
								Christian I the Quarrelsome Count of Oldenburg r. 1143–1167 ?–1167
								Maurice Count of Oldenburg r. 1169–1211 c. 1145 – c. 1211
								Christian II Count of Oldenburg r. 1209–1233 ?–1233
								John I Count of Oldenburg r. 1233–1270 c. 1204 – c. 1270
								Christian III Count of Oldenburg r. 1270–1285 ?–1285
								John II Count of Oldenburg r. 1285–1301 ?– c. 1314/6
								Conrad I Count of Oldenburg r. 1324–1347 ?–1347
								Christian V Count of Oldenburg r. 1368–1398 c. 1342 – c. 1399
								Dietrich Fortunatus Count of Oldenburg r. 1403–1440 1398–1440
								Christian I King of Denmark r. 1448–1481 King of Norway r. 1450–1481 King of Sweden r. 1457–1464 1426–1481
				John King of Denmark r. 1481–1513 King of Norway r. 1483–1513 King of Sweden r. 1497–1501 1455–1513		Frederick I King of Denmark r. 1523–1533 King of Norway r. 1524–1533 1471–1533
														House of Schleswig- Holstein-Haderslev
				Christian II King of Denmark and Norway r. 1513–1523 King of Sweden r. 1520–1521 1481–1559		Christian III King of Denmark r. 1534–1559 King of Norway r. 1537–1559 1503–1559		John the Elder Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Haderslev r. 1544–1580 1521–1580		Adolf Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Gottorp r. 1544–1586 1526–1586
																	House of Schleswig- Holstein-Gottorp
																	House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg
Frederick II King of Denmark and Norway r. 1559–1588 1534–1588														John the Younger Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg r. 1564–1622 1545–1622
																															House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Norburg						House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön
Christian IV King of Denmark and Norway r. 1588–1648 1577–1648														Alexander Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg r. 1622–1627 1573–1627		John Adolph Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Norburg r. 1622–1624 1576–1624						Frederick Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Norburg r. 1624–1658 1581–1658						Joachim Ernest I Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön r. 1622–1671 1595–1671
														House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Augustenburg										House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck							House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön-Rethwisch
Frederick III King of Denmark and Norway r. 1648–1670 1609–1670		John Christian Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg r. 1627–1627 1607–1653						Ernest Günther I Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1627–1689 1609–1689										August Philip Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1646–1675 1612–1675		John Bogislaw Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Norburg r. 1658–1669 1629–1669		Joachim Ernest II Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön-Rethwisch r. 1671–1700 1637–1700		John Adolphus Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön r. 1671–1704 1634–1704				Augustus Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön-Norburg r. 1679–1699 1635–1699
					House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Franzhagen
Christian V King of Denmark and Norway r. 1670–1699 1646–1699		Christian Adolf I Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg r. 1653–1668 Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Franzhagen r. 1676–1702 1641–1702		Frederick Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1689–1692 1652–1692		Ernest August Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1692–1731 1660–1731		Frederick William 1668–1714		August Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1675–1689 1652–1689						Frederick Louis Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1719–1728 1653–1728		John Ernest Ferdinand Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön-Rethwisch r. 1700–1729 1684–1729		Adolphus Augustus 1680–1704		Joachim Frederick Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön r. 1706–1722 1668–1722		Christian Charles 1674–1706
Frederick IV King of Denmark and Norway r. 1699–1730 1671–1730		Christian Leopold Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Franzhagen r. 1702–1707 1678–1707		Louis Charles Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Franzhagen r. 1707 1684–1707						Christian August I Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1731–1754 1696–1754		Frederick William I Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1689–1719 1682–1719		Frederick William II Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1728–1749 1687–1749		Charles Louis Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1757–1774 1690–1774		Peter August Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1774–1775 1697–1775		Leopold Augustus Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön r. 1704–1706 1702–1706						Frederick Charles Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Plön r. 1722–1761 1706–1761
Christian VI King of Denmark and Norway r. 1730–1746 1699–1746						Christian Adolf II Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Franzhagen r. 1707–1709 1707–1709						Frederick Christian I Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1754–1794 1721–1794						Frederick William III Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1749–1757 1723–1757						Charles Anthony August 1727–1759
Frederick V King of Denmark and Norway r. 1746–1766 1723–1766														Frederick Christian II Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1794–1814 1765–1814														Frederick Charles Louis Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1775–1816 1757–1816
																																			House of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Glücksburg
Christian VII King of Denmark and Norway r. 1766–1808 1749–1808		Frederick Regent of Denmark- Norway 1772–1784 1753–1805										Christian August II Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg -Augustenburg r. 1814–1863 1798–1869														Frederick William Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Beck r. 1816–1825 Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Glücksburg r. 1825–1831 1785–1831
																																						Danish Royal Family
Frederick VI King of Denmark r. 1808–1839 King of Norway r. 1808–1814 1768–1839		Christian VIII King of Denmark r. 1839–1848 King of Norway r. 1814 1786–1848						Frederick VIII Duke of Schleswig- Holstein r. 1863–1880 1829–1880		Christian House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 1831–1917		Charles Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Glücksburg r. 1831–1878 1813–1878		Frederick Duke of Schleswig- Holstein-Sonderburg- Glücksburg r. 1878–1885 1814–1885						Christian IX King of Denmark r. 1863–1906 1818–1906
																																					Greek Royal Family
				Frederick VII King of Denmark r. 1848–1863 1808–1863						Ernst Günther II Duke of Schleswig-Holstein r. 1880–1921 1863–1921		Albert Duke of Schleswig- Holstein r. 1921–1931 1869–1931						Frederick Ferdinand Duke of Schleswig-Holstein r. 1885–1934 1855–1934		Frederik VIII King of Denmark r. 1906–1912 1843–1912		George I King of the Hellenes r. 1863–1913 1845–1913
																														Norwegian Royal Family
																				William Frederick Duke of Schleswig-Holstein r. 1934–1965 1891–1965		Christian X King of Denmark r. 1912–1947 King of Iceland r. 1918–1944 1870–1947		Haakon VII King of Norway r. 1905–1957 1872–1957		Constantine I King of the Hellenes r. 1913–1917, 1920–1922 1868–1923										Andrew Prince of Greece and Denmark 1882–1944
																																																		House of Mountbatten
																				Peter Frederick Duke of Schleswig-Holstein r. 1965–1980 1922–1980		Frederik IX King of Denmark r. 1947–1972 1899–1972		Olav V King of Norway r. 1957–1991 1903–1991		George II King of the Hellenes r. 1922–1924, 1935–1947 1890–1947		Alexander King of the Hellenes r. 1917–1920 1893–1920		Paul King of the Hellenes r. 1947–1964 1901–1964		Philip Duke of Edinburgh 1921–2021
																				Christopher Duke of Schleswig-Holstein r. 1980–2023 1949–2023		Margrethe II Queen of Denmark r. 1972–2024 1940–present		Harald V King of Norway r. 1991–present 1937–present										Constantine II King of the Hellenes r. 1964–1973 1940–2023		Charles III King of the United Kingdom r. 2022–present 1948–present
																				Friedrich Ferdinand Duke of Schleswig-Holstein r. 2023–present 1985–present

List of head of the House of Oldenburg

House of Oldenburg

• Main line of Oldenburg (1101–1863, Counts of Oldenburg: 1101–1448, Kings of Denmark: 1448–1863) • Elimar I (1040–1112, Reign: 1091–1108) – Count of Oldenburg • Elimar II (1070–1142, Reign: 1108–1142) – Count of Oldenburg • Christian I (1123–1167, Reign: 1142–1167) – Count of Oldenburg • Maurice (1145–1209, Reign: 1167–1209) – Count of Oldenburg • Otto I (1175–1251, Reign: 1209–1251) – Count of Oldenburg • Christian II (1184–1233, Reign: 1209–1233) – Count of Oldenburg • John I (1204–1270, Reign: 1233–1270) – Count of Oldenburg • Christian III (?–1285, Reign: 1270–1285) – Count of Oldenburg • Otto II (?–1112, Reign: 1272–1278) – Count of Oldenburg • John II (?–1315, Reign: 1285–1315) – Count of Oldenburg • Christian IV (?–1323, Reign: 1315–1323) – Count of Oldenburg • John III (1295–1345, Reign: 1315–1345) – Count of Oldenburg • Conrad I (?–1347, Reign: 1324–1347) – Count of Oldenburg • John IV (?–1356, Reign: 1345–1356) – Count of Oldenburg • Conrad II (?–1401, Reign: 1347–1401) – Count of Oldenburg • Christian V (1342–1399, Reign: 1368–1398) – Count of Oldenburg • Maurice II (1381–1420, Reign: 1401–1420) – Count of Oldenburg • Cristian VI (1394–1421, Reign: 1403–1421) – Count of Oldenburg • Dietrich (1390–1440, Reign: 1403–1440) – Count of Oldenburg • Christian I (1426–1481) – Count of Oldenburg (Reign: 1440–1448), King of Denmark (Reign: 1448–1481) • John (1455–1513, Reign: 1481–1513) – King of Denmark • Christian II (1481–1559, Reign: 1513–1523) – King of Denmark • Frederick I (1471–1533, Reign: 1523–1533) – King of Denmark • Christian III (1503–1559, Reign: 1534–1559) – King of Denmark • Frederick II (1534–1588, Reign: 1559–1588) – King of Denmark • Christian IV (1577–1648, Reign: 1588–1648) – King of Denmark • Frederick III (1609–1670, Reign: 1648–1670) – King of Denmark • Christian V (1646–1699, Reign: 1670–1699) – King of Denmark • Frederick IV (1671–1730, Reign: 1699–1730) – King of Denmark • Christian VI (1699–1746, Reign: 1730–1746) – King of Denmark • Frederick V (1723–1766, Reign: 1746–1766) – King of Denmark • Christian VII (1749–1808, Reign: 1766–1808) – King of Denmark • Frederick VI (1768–1839, Reign: 1808–1839) – King of Denmark • Christian VIII (1786–1848, Reign: 1839–1848) – King of Denmark • Frederick VII (1808–1863, Reign: 1848–1863) – King of Denmark • Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1863–) • Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1863–1931) • Christian August II (1798–1869, Reign: 1863–1869) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augsthenburg • Frederick VIII (1829–1880, Reign: 1869–1880) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Ernst Günther II (1863–1921, Reign: 1880–1921) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Albert (1869–1931, Reign: 1921–1931) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1931–) • Friedrich Ferdinand (1855–1934, Reign: 1931–1934) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Wilhelm Friedrich (1891–1965, Reign: 1934–1965) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Peter (1922–1980, Reign: 1965–1980) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Christoph (1949–2023, Reign: 1980–2023) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally) • Friedrich Ferdinand (1985–present, Reign: 2023–present) – Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (nominally)

Line of succession

House of Oldenburg

By agnatic primogeniture:

Historical images

House of Oldenburg

• The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg bordered Bremen and the Kingdom of Hanover and included the islands of Wangerooge and Mellum • The Duchy of Oldenburg in 1789 (in the northwest, Hzm. Oldenburg, light green) • Oldenburg Palace in Oldenburg • Coat of arms of the counts of Oldenburg at Oldenburg Palace: red stripes on gold for Oldenburg; golden cross on blue for Delmenhorst

Prominent members

House of Oldenburg

• The first Oldenburg king was Christian I of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1426–1481) • King Charles III of the United Kingdom (b. 1948) • Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (b. 1940) • King Harald V of Norway (b. 1937) • Sweden's most prominent Oldenburg king was Gustav III (1746–1792) • Nicholas II (1868–1918) was the last Emperor of Russia • Former King Constantine II (1940–2023) and Queen Anne-Marie (b. 1946) of Greece, both Oldenburgs, she being a princess of Denmark • Former Queen Sofía of Spain, Princess of Greece and Denmark (b. 1938) • Frederick Augustus II (1852–1931) was the last ruling Grand Duke of Oldenburg • Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (1949–2023), head of the House of Oldenburg for 43 years from 1980