Royal Families: the House of Oldenburg - A dynasty that spread its wings
Royal Houses.
However it started rise to prominence when Count Christian I of Oldenburg
was elected as King of Denmark in 1448. Later he became King of Norway
(1450) and Sweden (1457).
Count Christian I of Oldenburg, King of Denmark
The House of Oldenburg has occupied since then the Danish throne.
However it has many interesting ties accross Europe.
History
The Duchy of Oldenburg was located in what's now north west Germany.
During the Middle Ages the counts of Oldenburg managed to pave their
way up through marriages. A marriage with a descendant of King Valdemar
I of Sweden and King Eric IV of Denmark, their heirs became kings of
various Scandinavian kingdoms. But there is even more!
The House of Oldenburg was briefly poised to claim the British throne, due to
the marriage of Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark and Norway,
however due to the early death of their heirs, the crown passed to the
House of Hanover.
Branches of the House of Oldenburg were:
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg;
Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg;
Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp.
Still the ties of the noble House of Oldenburg are still impressive.
They were:
- Kings of Denmark;
- Kings of Norway;
- Kings of Sweden (during the 15th and 16th century);
- Kings of Iceland (1918-1944);
- Kings of the Hellenes ;
even Prince Philip, husband of the Queen is a member of the House of Glücksburg.
as well as Queen Sophia of Spain
- Tsars of Russia
Grand Duchess Anna Patrovna, daughter of Peter the Great was married
to Charles Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp. Their son was Peter III of Russia.
- Counts of Oldenbug
- Dukes of Schleswig and Counts of Holstein
- Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp
- Grand Duke of Oldenburg.
Coat of Arms of the House of Glücksburg
From a small, rather unknown dynasty, members of the House of Oldenburg
came to power, through marraiges, in countries accross Europe.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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