Category Archives: German Royals

Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Duchy of Anhalt: Leopold IV Friedrich, the first Duke of Anhalt inherited three duchies: the Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau from his grandfather, the Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen from a distant cousin, and the Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg from another distant cousin. The three duchies were united as the Duchy of Anhalt on August 30, 1863.

Joachim Ernst was the last Duke of Anhalt. He came to the throne in September 1918 when he was 17-years-old. As he was underage, his father’s brother Prince Aribert of Anhalt served as Regent. With the German Empire crumbling at the end of World War I, Aribert abdicated on Joachim Ernst’s behalf on November 12, 1918. Today the territory that encompassed the Duchy of Anhalt is in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

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Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt; Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold IV Friedrich was the first Duke of Anhalt, reigning from 1863 until 1871. He was born Prince Leopold Friedrich of Anhalt-Dessau on October 1, 1794, in Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the eldest son of Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Homburg. Leopold Friedrich had six siblings:

At the time of his birth, his grandfather was the reigning Duke of Anhalt-Dessau. Leopold Friedrich became heir-apparent upon his father’s death in 1814, and became the reigning Duke of Anhalt-Dessau upon his grandfather’s death three years later, on August 9, 1817.

Friederike Wilhelmine of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

The following year, on April 18, 1818, Leopold Friedrich married Princess Friederike of Prussia. She was the daughter of Prince Friedrich Ludwig Karl of Prussia and Duchess Friederike of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The couple had four children:

On November 27, 1847, Leopold IV Friedrich inherited the Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen upon the death of a distant cousin. After nearly six years as the reigning Duke of two separate duchies, they were united in May 1853 as the Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen. Ten years later, he also inherited the Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg from another distant cousin. With all of the Anhalt duchies back under one ruler, they were united as the Duchy of Anhalt on August 30, 1863.

The Marienkirche, before World War II. photo: Von Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-R98992 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5368827

Leopold IV Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt, died in Dessau, Duchy of Anhalt, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, on May 22, 1871, and was buried in the Marienkirche (link in German) in Dessau. When the church was destroyed by bombing during World War II, the Duke’s remains were moved to the Berenhorst crypt in the Historical Cemetery in Dessau.

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Anhalt Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the last Grand Duchess of Oldenburg through her marriage to Grand Duke Friedrich August II. She was born in Schwerin in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on August 10, 1869, the daughter of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his third wife, Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.

Elisabeth Alexandrine had three younger brothers:

Elisabeth Alexandrine had six half-siblings through her father’s first marriage with his first wife Princess Auguste of Reuss-Köstritz:

Elisabeth Alexandrine had one half-sibling through her father’s second marriage with Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine:

  • Duchess Anne (1865-1882) – unmarried, died in her teens

Elisabeth Alexandrine’s husband the future Grand Duke Friedrich August II of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 24, 1896, Elisabeth Alexandrine married Friedrich August, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg, as his second wife. He was the son of Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg. Elisabeth Alexandrine and Friedrich August had five children:

After her husband was forced to abdicate on November 11, 1918, when the German Empire fell, the couple took up residence at Rastede Castle in Rastede near Oldenburg, Germany. Elisabeth Alexandrine remained close to her large family, often spending time with her brother, Heinrich, in the Netherlands. Friedrich August died in 1931, and Elisabeth Alexandrine survived him by 24 years.

Schloss Schaumburg. photo: By Johannes Robalotoff – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7536575

Elisabeth Alexandrine died on September 3, 1955, at Schloss Schaumburg in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, the home of her son-in-law Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and her daughter Altburg Marie. The last Grand Duchess of Oldenburg is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia was the first wife of the future Friedrich August II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg. She was born in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, on February 8, 1857, the daughter of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau, and had four siblings:

Friedrich August II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

On February 18, 1878, in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, Elisabeth Anne married Friedrich August, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg. He was the son of Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg. The couple was married in a double wedding, along with Princess Charlotte of Prussia and Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen. Elisabeth Anne and Friedrich had two daughters:

Hereditary Grand Duchess Elisabeth Anna died in Fulda, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Hesse, on August 28, 1895, nearly five years before her husband became the last reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg. She is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friedrich August II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg: The Counts of Oldenburg died out in 1667, after which Oldenburg became a duchy until 1810, when it was annexed by the First French Empire under Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna elevated the Duchy of Oldenburg to a Grand Duchy in 1815. The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg consisted of three widely separated territories – Oldenburg, Eutin, and Birkenfeld – now in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918.

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Friedrich August II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Friedrich August II was the last reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg. He was born in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on November 16, 1852, the elder son of Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg. He had one younger brother:

  • Duke Georg Ludwig (1855-1939) – unmarried

Along with his brother, Friedrich August was educated under the direction of the famed Bavarian General Otto von Parseval and then studied at the Universities of Bonn, Strasbourg, and Leipzig before embarking on a world tour.

Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

Friedrich August married Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia, in Berlin, on February 18, 1878. She was the daughter of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau. The couple had two daughters:

Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Credit – Wikipedia

After his first wife died in August 1895, Friedrich August, needing a male heir and a mother for his surviving daughter, remarried. His second wife was Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the daughter of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They married on October 24, 1896, and had five children:

Friedrich August became Grand Duke of Oldenburg upon his father’s death on June 13, 1900. His reign saw the development of waterways and the expansion of ports along the Weser River to allow for increased trade and economic power for the Grand Duchy. An avid sailor, he received his captain’s license at a young age and was recognized for his skill and efforts after making several water rescues. He was also recognized by the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who appointed him Admiral of the Imperial Navy – the only German prince to be given this status. Also possessing a brilliant technical mind, Friedrich August made several inventions, including a ship propeller which received numerous foreign patents. He served as honorary chairman of the Shipbuilding Technical Society and was one of the founders of the German Training Ship Association, which promoted expanded training for the German merchant navy.

Friedrich August II (left) with the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick, 1915. photo: Wikipedia

With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918. He retired to Schloss Rastede where he took up farming. Claiming an “extremely precarious” financial situation, Friedrich August petitioned the Oldenburg government for an annual allowance the year after his abdication.

Rastede Palace. photo: By N9713 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63250514

Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg, died at Schloss Rastede in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, on February 24, 1931. He is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg; source: Wikipedia

Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg (born a Princess of Saxe-Hildburghausen) was Grand Duchess of Oldenburg by her marriage to Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg. She was born Princess Elisabeth Pauline Alexandrine of Saxe-Hildburghausen, in Hildburghausen, on March 26, 1826, the fourth of six daughters of Joseph, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later the Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Amelia of Württemberg. Elisabeth’s sisters were:

Peter II of Oldenburg. source: Wikipedia

Elisabeth married the then Hereditary Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg on February 10, 1852. They were second cousins through their mutual descent from Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg. Elisabeth and Peter had two sons:

Elisabeth became Grand Duchess of Oldenburg upon her husband’s accession in 1853. As Grand Duchess, she oversaw the establishment of the Elisabeth Children’s Hospital and served as the patron of numerous charities and organizations focused on the well-being of children and the less fortunate. Much of this was done through her Elisabeth Foundation, established at the time of her marriage using funds given by her father.

Grand Duchess Elisabeth (left) photographed with Queen Amalie of Greece in the 1860s. source: Wikipedia

Grand Duchess Elisabeth died on February 2, 1896, in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. She was buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg: The Counts of Oldenburg died out in 1667, after which Oldenburg became a duchy until 1810, when it was annexed by the First French Empire under Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna elevated the Duchy of Oldenburg to a Grand Duchy in 1815. The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg consisted of three widely separated territories – Oldenburg, Eutin, and Birkenfeld – now in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918.

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Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Peter II was Grand Duke of Oldenburg from 1853 until he died in 1900. He was born Prince Nikolaus Friedrich Peter on July 8, 1827, in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony, the only child of Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg and his second wife, Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym.

Peter had five half-siblings from his father’s other marriages:

  • Duchess Amalie (1818-1875) – married Prince Otto of Bavaria, later King of Greece, no issue
  • Duchess Friederike (1820-1891) – married Baron Maximilian Emanuel von Washington, had issue
  • Duke Alexander (1834-1835) – died in infancy
  • Duke August (1836-1837) – died in infancy
  • Duke Elimar (1844-1895) – married Baroness Natalie Vogel von Friesenhof, had issue

Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

After receiving his education, Peter served in both the Prussian and Hanoverian armies. In February 1852, he married Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg, the daughter of Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Duchess Amelia of Württemberg.

The couple had two sons:

Peter became Grand Duke upon his father’s death in February 1853. He sided with Russia during the Crimean War and later, during the Second Schleswig-Holstein War, he laid claim to part of the territory seized by Prussia. In a treaty with Prussia, signed in February 1867, Peter gave up his claims. In exchange, he received the district of Ahrensbök and the Prussian part of the former Principality of Lübeck. This expanded territory gave Oldenburg direct access to the Baltic Sea. He also fought with Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War.

Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Grand Duke Peter II died at his summer residence, Rastede Castle, in Rastede, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony, on June 13, 1900. He is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony. Peter was succeeded by his elder son, Friedrich August, the last reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Cecilia of Sweden, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Cecilia of Sweden, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Cecilia of Sweden was the third wife of Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg, and the only one of his three wives to hold the title of Grand Duchess. She was born at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on June 22, 1807, the youngest child of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Princess Friederike of Baden. Cecilia had four siblings:

Cecilia was not yet two years old when her father was deposed as King of Sweden in 1809. The family moved to Baden, and her parents divorced three years later. After that, Cecilia was raised primarily by her maternal grandmother, Princess Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt, Hereditary Princess of Baden, at Schloss Bruchsal in Bruchsal, Grand Duchy of Baden, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Grand Duke August of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

In October 1830, Cecilia met her future husband. Grand Duke August stopped in Bruchsal during his travels, and within just an hour of conversation, he asked for her hand in marriage. Cecilia then moved to Vienna, where her brother was serving in the court of the Austrian Emperor Franz I. There, on May 5, 1831, Cecilia and August were married.

Cecilia and August had three sons:

  • Duke Alexander (1834-1835) – died in infancy
  • Duke Nikolaus (1836-1837) – died in infancy
  • Duke Elimar (1844-1895) – married Baroness Natalie Vogel von Friesenhof, had issue

As Grand Duchess, Cecilia worked to promote the arts in Oldenburg, helping to found the city’s first theater, and writing the melody of a hymn that would later become the unofficial anthem of the Grand Duchy. Despite her efforts, she never found a connection to the people of Oldenburg outside of her court, and those within the artistic communities.

Grand Duchess Cecilia died in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on January 27, 1844, just days after giving birth to her youngest son. She is buried in the Grand Ducal Mausoleum in Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, Hereditary Princess of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, Hereditary Princess of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was the second wife of the future Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg. She was born at Schaumburg Castle in the Principality of  Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, now in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany on March 10, 1804, to Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amalie of Nassau-Weilburg. Ida had three sisters:

August of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On June 24, 1825, Ida married the then Hereditary Prince August of Oldenburg. He had previously been married to her elder sister, Adelheid, who had died in 1820. In addition to becoming stepmother to her two nieces, Ida and her husband had one son:

Sadly, Hereditary Princess Ida died on March 31, 1828, just three years after her marriage, in Oldenburg, Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. She is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum at Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, 1st wife of Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was the first wife of the future Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg. She was born at Schaumburg Castle in the Principality of  Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, now in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on February 23, 1800, to Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amalie of Nassau-Weilburg. Adelheid had three sisters:

August of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On July 24, 1817, Adelheid married the then-Duke August of Oldenburg at Schaumburg Castle. The couple had two daughters:

Duchess Adelheid died suddenly on September 13, 1820, in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony. She was just twenty years old. She is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum at Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg. Five years after her death, her husband married her youngest sister Ida.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

August I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg: The Counts of Oldenburg died out in 1667, after which Oldenburg became a duchy until 1810, when it was annexed by the First French Empire under Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna elevated the Duchy of Oldenburg to a Grand Duchy in 1815. The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg consisted of three widely separated territories – Oldenburg, Eutin, and Birkenfeld – now in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918.

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August I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

August I was the first ruler of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg to formally use the title of Grand Duke. He was born Duke Paul Friedrich August of Oldenburg at Schloss Rastede in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on July 13, 1783. August was the eldest son of the future Peter I, Duke of Oldenburg and Duchess Friederike of Württemberg. He had one younger brother:

August with his brother Georg, 1790s. Credit: Wikipedia

After being privately educated at home, August and his brother Georg attended the University of Leipzig before taking an extensive trip through England and Scotland from 1805-1807. The following year, August accompanied his father to the Congress of Erfurt, the famed meeting between Napoleon, Emperor of the French and Alexander I, Emperor of All Russia.

In 1810, Oldenburg was annexed by the French Empire, causing August and his father to go into exile in Russia. In 1811, August was appointed Governor of Estonia and served there until returning to Oldenburg in 1816. During this time, he also fought in the Napoleonic Wars (1812-1814).

Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. Credit: Wikipedia

On July 24, 1817, at Schaumburg Castle in the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, now in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, August married Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, the daughter of Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amalie of Nassau-Weilburg. Adelheid died suddenly in 1820, after giving birth to two daughters:

Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. Credit: Wikipedia

On June 24, 1825, August married Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, the younger sister of his first wife, Adelheid. They had one son before Ida died in 1828:

Cecilia of Sweden. Credit: Wikipedia

August married again on May 5, 1831, in Vienna. His third wife was Princess Cecilia of Sweden, the daughter of the former King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Princess Friederike of Baden. The couple had met the previous October while August was visiting Schloss Bruschal, the home of Cecilia’s maternal grandmother, and he proposed after just an hour of conversation.

August and Cecilia had three sons:

  • Duke Alexander (1834-1835) – died in infancy
  • Duke August (1836-1837) – died in infancy
  • Duke Elimar (1844-1895) – married Baroness Natalie Vogel von Friesenhof, had issue

August became Grand Duke of Oldenburg upon his father’s death in May 1829 and was the first ruler to formally use the title of Grand Duke. His reign saw the development of Oldenburg into one of the cultural centers of Germany, with August also promoting social causes along with the arts and sciences. However, he was unwilling to establish a Constitution, despite being obligated by the rules of the German Confederation. It was only in 1849, after the Revolutions of 1848, that he relented.

After a reign of nearly 24 years, Grand Duke August I died in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on February 27, 1853. He is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

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Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty