House of Oldenburg
| House of Oldenburg | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 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 |
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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 seventeen 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.
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.
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