Category Archives: Former Monarchies

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.

********************

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.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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.

********************

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.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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.

********************

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.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friederike of Württemberg, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Friederike of Württemberg, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp; Credit – Wikipedia

Friederike of Württemberg was the wife of the future Grand Duke Peter I of Oldenburg. She was born Duchess Friederike Elisabeth Amalie Auguste on July 27, 1765, in Treptow an der Rega, Pomerania, now Trzebiatów, Poland, the daughter of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Friederike had 11 siblings:

Peter of Holstein-Gottorp, later Peter I Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

At just 15 years old, Friederike married Prince Peter of Holstein-Gottorp, later Peter I, Duke of Oldenburg, on June 6, 1781. The marriage was promoted by her sister Sophie, who was married to the future Paul I, Emperor of All Russia, and was intended to help strengthen the relationship between Württemberg and Russia. Friederike and Peter had two surviving children:

Ducal Mausoleum, Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg. photo: by Corradox – Own Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12178691

Friederike died in Vienna, Austria on November 24, 1785, several weeks after having given birth to a stillborn son. She was just twenty years old. Some reports imply that she never recovered from childbirth, while others suggest that she died from breast cancer. Friederike was initially interred in the chapel at Eutin Castle in Eutin, Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.   In 1790, her remains were moved to the newly built Ducal Mausoleum in Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Peter 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.

********************

Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg – source: Wikipedia

Peter I was the second Grand Duke of Oldenburg and like his predecessor, he did not formally use the title of Grand Duke. He was born Prince Peter Friedrich Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp in Riesenberg, Kingdom of Prussia now Prabuty, Poland, on January 17, 1755, to Prince Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Sophie Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. Peter had two older brothers:

  • Friedrich (1751-1752) – died in infancy
  • Wilhelm (1753-1772) – died in his teens

After both parents died in 1763, Peter was raised at the court of his uncle, Friedrich August, Prince-Bishop of Lübeck and later the first Duke of Oldenburg, and later at the court of Catherine II (the Great), Empress of All Russia. He received his initial education privately before studying for four years in Bern and then another four years in Bologna. He also embarked on a military career, serving as an officer during the Russian-Turkish War in 1774.

Duchess Friederike of Württemberg. source: Wikipedia

On June 6, 1781, Peter married Duchess Friederike of Württemberg, the daughter of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Before her death in 1785, Peter and Friederike had two sons:

Friedrich August I, Duke of Oldenburg. source: Wikipedia

In July 1785, Peter’s uncle, Friedrich August I, Duke of Oldenburg, died and was succeeded by his son Wilhelm. However, Wilhelm was mentally incapacitated, and Peter was appointed Regent, as well as Prince-Bishop of Lübeck. As Regent, Peter established one of the first public Savings Banks, which helped to support widows and orphans. In 1803, the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck was secularized and became the Principality of Lübeck. This new principality was given to Peter and became part of the Duchy of Oldenburg.

Despite having previously agreed to the Sovereignty of Oldenburg in 1807, Napoleon’s forces occupied the Duchy in 1810, sending Peter into exile in Russia. He returned in November 1813 and once again took control of Oldenburg. Two years later, his son oversaw the duchy’s elevation to a Grand Duchy at the Congress of Vienna. Peter established a new government for the Grand Duchy, introduced general conscription, and established the Oldenburg Infantry Regiment. Upon his cousin’s death in 1823, Peter became the reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg. However, like Wilhelm, he chose not to use the title of Grand Duke and was styled as Duke of Oldenburg.

Just short of six years after assuming the throne, Peter suffered a stroke and died in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau, now in Hesse, Germany, on May 21, 1829. He was buried nearly two months later, in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. He was succeeded by his elder son August who became the first ruler of Oldenburg to use the title of Grand Duke.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Peter Friedrich Wilhelm, 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.

********************

Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. source: Wikipedia

Peter Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

Peter Friedrich Wilhelm, known as Wilhelm, was the first Grand Duke of Oldenburg, although he never formally used the title. He was born a Prince of Holstein-Gottorp on January 3, 1754, at Eutin Castle in the Principality of Holstein-Gottorp, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was the only son of Friedrich August I, later Duke of Oldenburg, and Princess Ulrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel. Wilhelm had two younger sisters:

Wilhelm studied for a year at the University of Kiel before embarking on a grand tour of Europe. In June 1773, the Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo was signed between Russia and Denmark. As part of the agreement, Russia ceded the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Denmark, while Denmark ceded control of the County of Oldenburg to Russia. Oldenburg was given to the Prince Bishops of Lübeck, with Wilhelm’s father becoming Count, and later the first Duke of Oldenburg.

By 1777, Wilhelm was suffering from mental illness. An intended engagement to Princess Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt was called off, and he lived the remainder of his life in seclusion. King Christian VII of Denmark provided him with Plön Castle, then in Denmark now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where Wilhelm lived the rest of his life, with a large household.

Upon his father’s death on July 6, 1785, Wilhelm became the reigning Duke of Oldenburg. But due to his illness, it was in name only. Instead, his cousin, Peter, Prince-Bishop of Lübeck, served as Regent during his entire reign. Peter would eventually succeed Wilhelm as Peter I. Thirty years later, as a result of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Oldenburg was elevated to a Grand Duchy. Although technically now a Grand Duke, Wilhelm never formally used the title.

Plön Castle, c1864. source: Wikipedia

At the age of 69, Grand Duke Wilhelm died at Plön Castle in Plön, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on July 2, 1823. He is buried in the Prince-Bishop’s Mausoleum at Lübeck Cathedral. in the independent free city of Lübeck, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty