House of Oldenburg
Country	List Russian Empire, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Greece, United Kingdom, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, Duchy of Schleswig, Duchy of Holstein
Founded	1101; 923 years ago (1101)
Founder	Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg
Current head	Friedrich Ferdinand, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein[1][2]
Final ruler	Denmark: Margrethe II (1972-2024) (agnatic) Greece: Constantine II (1964–1973) Russia: Nicholas II (1894–1917) Sweden: Charles XIII (1809–1818) Greece: Constantine II (1964–1973) Oldenburg: Friedrich August II (1900–1918) Schleswig, Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg: Christian IX (1863–1864)
Titles	List Current: King of Denmark (cognatic) King of Norway King of the United Kingdom Former: Emperor of Russia King of Sweden King of the Hellenes King of Iceland King of Livonia Grand Duke of Oldenburg Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg Duke of Schleswig Duke of Holstein Duke of Oldenburg Count of Oldenburg
Deposition	Russia: February Revolution, 1917 Greece: 1974 Greek republic referendum, 1974 Oldenburg: German Revolution, 1918 Saxe-Lauenburg: Second Schleswig War, 1864 Schleswig and Holstein: Second Schleswig War, 1864
Cadet branches	List Augustenburg (extinct) Glücksburg Danish Royal Family (currently cognatic) Norwegian Royal Family Greek Royal Family Mountbatten-Windsor Holstein-Gottorp Russian line Swedish line (extinct) Grand ducal line Danneskiold-Samsøe (illegitimate branch)

The House of Oldenburg is a German dynasty.^[3] Branches of the house rule or have ruled in Denmark, Iceland, Greece, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, 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 as King of Denmark in 1448, of Norway in 1450 and of Sweden in 1457. The house then occupied the Danish throne continuously for 576 years until the abdication of Queen Margrethe II in 2024.

History

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 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 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 Schauenburg, a descendant of a granddaughter of King Magnus III of Sweden (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 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.^[5]

Main line

• Counts (1101–1773), Dukes (1773–1810) and Grand Dukes (1815–1918) of Oldenburg
• Kings of Denmark (1448–1863)
• Kings of Norway (1450–1814)
• Kings of Sweden (1457–64, 1497–1501 and 1520–21)
• 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)

Branches

• Kings of Denmark (1448–1863)
  1. Danneskiold-Samsøe (since 1695) ill.
• Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, extinct in male line in 1931
  1. Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein (claimant in 1863, then titular dukes until 1931)
• Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
  1. Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein (titular dukes since 1931)
  2. Kings and queens of Denmark (1863–2024) and of Iceland (1918–44)
  3. Rosenborg (since 1914; nondynastic)
  4. Kings of the Hellenes (1863–1924, 1935–73)
  5. Kings of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms (since 2022)^{[Note 1]}
  6. Kings of Norway (since 1905)
• Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp
  1. Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp (1544–1739)
  • Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov (commonly still called Romanov)
    1. Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp (1739–73)
    2. Emperors of Russia (1762 and 1796–1917)
  • Holstein-Gottorp (Swedish line), extinct
    1. Kings of Sweden (1751–1818)
    2. King of Norway (1814–18)
  • Holstein-Gottorp (Grand ducal line)
    1. Dukes (later grand dukes) of Oldenburg (1774–1918)

Family tree of the House of Oldenburg (Counts 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

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

Line of succession

By agnatic primogeniture:

Historical images

• 
  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

• 
  The first Oldenburg king was Christian I of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1426–1481)
• 
  King Charles III of the United Kingdom (*1948)
• 
  Queen Margrethe II (*1940) was the last Oldenburg monarch on the Danish throne when she abdicated in 2024
• 
  King Harald V of Norway (*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 (*1946) of Greece, both Oldenburgs, she being a princess of Denmark
• 
  Former Queen Sofía of Spain, Princess of Greece and Denmark (*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^[6]