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Duchy of Holstein

The Duchy of Holstein (German: Herzogtum Holstein, Danish: Hertugdømmet Holsten) was the northernmost state of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the present German state of Schleswig-Holstein. It originated when King Christian I of Denmark had his County of Holstein-Rendsburg elevated to a duchy by Emperor Frederick III in 1474. Members of the Danish House of Oldenburg ruled Holstein – jointly with the Duchy of Schleswig – for its entire existence.

Duchy of Holstein
Herzogtum Holstein (German)
Hertugdømmet Holsten (Danish)

Glückstadt

German, Low German, Danish

Lutheran

Feudal Monarchy

 

Christian I (first)

Christian IX (last)

Early Modern

5 March 1460

14 February 1474

1 February 1864

30 October 1864

Rigsdaler

From 1490 to 1523 and again from 1544 to 1773 the Duchy was partitioned between various Oldenburg branches, most notably the dukes of Holstein-Glückstadt (identical with the Kings of Denmark) and Holstein-Gottorp. The duchy ceased to exist when the Kingdom of Prussia annexed it in 1866 after the Austro-Prussian War.

held by Christian III and his successors (identical with the Kings of Denmark). From 1648 the royal parts of Schleswig and Holstein were administered out of Glückstadt and became known as the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Glückstadt. Before 1773 its Holstein territory consisted of the following Ämter: Rendsburg, South Dithmarschen, Steinburg, Segeberg, and Plön.

The royal part

The Duchy of , held by Duke Hans the Elder. Hans had no issue and after his death in 1580, his territories were divided among his brothers.

Schleswig-Holstein in Haderslev

The , held by Duke Adolf and his successors.

Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein in Gottorp

1523/45–1550:

Johan Rantzau

1550–1556: Count

Bertram von Ahlefeldt

1556–1598:

Heinrich Rantzau

1598–1600: vacancy?

1600–1627: (1558–1627)[2]

Gert Rantzau

1627–1647: vacancy

[2]

1647–1648: [2]

Prince Frederick of Denmark

1648–1663:

Christian zu Rantzau

1663–1685: , Count of Langeland (1623–1686), vice-statholder since 1660

Friedrich von Ahlefeldt

1685–1697: (1644-1697)

Detlev zu Rantzau

1697–1708: , Count of Langeland (1662–1708), vice-statholder since 1686

Friedrich von Ahlefeldt

1708–1722: , Count of Langeland (1708–1722)

Carl von Ahlefeldt

1722–1730: ?

1730–1731: Margrave (1663–1731), uncle of the next

Charles Augustus of Brandenburg-Kulmbach

1731–1762: Margrave (1703–1762), brother-in-law of King Christian VI

Frederick Ernest of Brandenburg-Kulmbach

1762–1768: Count (1697–1771)

Friedrich Ludwig von Ahlefeldt-Dehn

1768–1836:

Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel

1836–1842:

Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel

1842–1851:

Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

1851–1864: Christian zu Rantzau?

The Danish king in his function as duke of Holstein, and duke of Schleswig, appointed statholders (German: Statthalter; Latin: produx) to represent him in the duchies. The statholders fulfilled the tasks related to the ducal power as patrimonial lords in the royal shares of Holstein and Schleswig, as well as the royal part in the condominial government with the houses of Gottorp and Haderslev (the latter extinct in 1580) for all the duchies of Holstein (until retreat of Gottorp in 1773) and Schleswig (until Gottorp's deposal from dukedom there in 1720).

Peace of Prague (1866)

List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein

at Worldstatesmen

Schleswig-Holstein