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Örjan Martinsson

Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig or Sønderjylland (which is its Danish name) was originally a part of Denmark bordering to Germany and ruled by jarls who usually were members of the Danish royal house. In the 12th century was the title jarl replaced by duke. Several of these jarls/dukes also became Danish kings like Oluf Hunger, Valdemar the Great and Valdemar Sejr. But it was not until 1232 Sønderjylland became a hereditary duchy. Before then was the duke of Sønderjylland more of an governor than a autonomous prince. With the duke Abel became Sønderjylland a Danish fief in the hands of a collateral branch of the royal house who often acted treacherously towards the king and allied them selves with the counts of Holstein. When Abel's line became extinct 1375 was Sønderjylland united with Holstein whereby the state of Schleswig-Holstein was created. Read more about the history of Schleswig-Holstein on this page.

Sønderjylland

-1086

1119-1131
c. 1150
-1173
1182-1202
1206-1215
1218-1231
Oluf Hunger (probably a jarl, = 1086-1095)

Knud Lavard
Valdemar den store (the Great, = 1157-1182)
Christoph
Valdemar Sejr ( = 1202-1241)
Valdemar
Erik

Abel's Line
 
1232-1252
1254-1257
1259-1272
1272-1312
1312-1325
1325-1326
1326-1329
1330-1365
1365-1375
Abel
Valdemar III
Erik I
Valdemar IV
Erik II
Valdemar V ( = 1326-1330)
Gert (count of Holstein as Gerhard III)
Valdemar V (restored)
Henrik

Schleswig-Holstein

House of Schauenburg
 

1376-1381
1381-1404
1404-1427
1427-1459
Heinrich der Eiserne and Nikolaus
Gerhard VI (recognised as duke 1386)
Heinrich III
Adolf VIII

House of Oldenburg

 
1459-1481 Christian I
1481-1513 Hans (S-H-Segeberg)
1481-1533 Friedrich I (S-H-Gottorp)
1513-1546 Christian II (S-H-Segeberg)
1533-1580 Hans (S-H-Haderslev)

The territory of Schleswig-Holstein was 1544 divided between the three co-ruling dukes  Christian III, Adolf and Hans (Christian II was incarcerated in a Danish prison since 1531). Formally was Schleswig and Holstein still two separate states in a personal union with the dukes as co-regents. But these duke ruled after 1544 over their own territories except some parts that remained mutual. Hans died 1580 without heirs and his share of Schleswig-Holstein was then divided between the two other dukes whereupon the division of Schleswig-Holstein in a royal and a ducal part that would last until 1721 and 1773 was created. Schleswig-Holstein reunited in the 18th century when first the ducal part of Schleswig and then the same of Holstein was transferred to the king of Denmark's domains.


Schleswig-Holstein-Glückstadt

 


Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp

 

1533-1559
1559-1588
1588-1648

Christian III
Friedrich II
Christian IV


1533-1586
1586-1587
1587-1590
1590-1616
1616-1659
1659-1675
1675-1679
1679-1684
1684-1689
1689-1694
1694-1702
1702-1739
1739-1762
1762-1773

Adolf
Friedrich II
Philipp
Johann Adolf *
Friedrich III
Christian Albrecht **
Occupied by Denmark
Christian Albrecht (restored)
Occupied by Denmark
Christian Albrecht (re-restored)
Friedrich IV
Karl Friedrich
1648-1670
1670-1699
1699-1730
Friedrich III
Christian V
Friedrich IV


1730-1746
1746-1766
1766-1808
1808-1839
Christian VI
Friedrich V
Christian VII
Friedrich VI



1839-1848 Christian VIII
1848-1863 Friedrich VII
1863-1864 Christian IX Karl Peter Ulrich
Paul ( = 1796-1801)


 

Schleswig-Holstein is conquered by Prussia and Austria 1864 and becomes a Prussian province which would be transformed into a German part state 1947.

The royal part of Schleswig-Holstein was 1564 partitioned between king Frederik II and his brother Hans the Younger. But because Hans did not receive a share of the government of  Schleswig-Holstein was his duchy not a state but rather an appanage to a collateral branch of the Danish royal house. For that reason is this duchy, which was partitioned several times, not recorded here. The last part of that duchy was united with the Danish crown when its duke became king 1863.

* = Johann Adolf was prince bishop of Bremen 1585-1596 and of Lübeck 1586-1607.
** = Christian Albrecht was prince bishop of Lübeck 1655-1666.

= Denmark = Norway = Sweden = Russia = Oldenburg