Adolph VIII, Count of Holstein facts for kids

Seal of Adolf VIII dating from around 1447

Adolphus XI of Schauenburg (also known as Adolph I Duke of Schleswig and Adolph VIII Count of Holstein-Rendsburg) was a very powerful leader in his time. He lived from 1401 to 1459. He was one of the most important nobles connected to the Danish kingdom.

Early Life and Family

Adolphus came from the House of Schauenburg, a noble family that had been in charge of Holstein for many centuries. Holstein was a territory that was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

His great-grandfather, Gerhard III, had once been a ruler in Denmark. He was given the Duchy of Sønderjylland (also known as Schleswig) by the Danish king. This meant it would be passed down in his family. However, the Schauenburg family lost control of this duchy for a while. They got it back, but then lost it again between 1414 and 1440.

Adolphus's parents were Gerhard VI, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg and Catherine Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg. When Adolphus was only three years old, his father died in a battle in 1404. Adolphus grew up and was educated at the court of Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg, a very important ruler.

Becoming a Powerful Leader

Adolphus's older brother, Henry IV, Count of Holstein, became the leader after their father died. Henry was still young, so the Danish king looked after the Duchy of Schleswig. But when Henry grew up, the king would not let him have the duchy. Henry, his mother, and his brothers fought to get it back. During a war between Denmark, Holstein, and the Hanseatic League (a group of trading cities), Henry was killed in 1427.

Adolphus and his younger brother, Gerhard VII, Count of Holstein, then took over as Counts of Holstein-Rendsburg. They kept trying to get the Duchy of Schleswig back. Sadly, Gerhard died in 1433.

In 1435, Adolphus and the Danish King Eric of Pomerania made a peace agreement called the Treaty of Vordingborg. This agreement confirmed that Adolphus was in charge of the areas he already held in Schleswig. Then, in 1439, the new Danish King Christopher III officially gave Adolphus the entire Duchy of Schleswig. This meant it would be passed down through Adolphus's family. Adolphus's lands were located on both sides of the border between Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire.

A Royal Offer

In 1448, the Danish royal family line ended when King Christopher III died without children. Adolphus was related to an earlier Danish king, Eric V of Denmark. Because of this family connection, Adolphus was offered the throne of Denmark by the Danish council (called the Rigsråd).

At this time, Adolphus was older and did not have any children. He decided not to become king. Instead, he supported his nephew, the Count of Oldenburg, who then became Christian I of Denmark.

Adolphus married Margaret of Höllenstein in 1435. They had one son, but he died when he was very young. When Adolphus died in 1459, he had no children to take over his lands. His sisters also did not have heirs who could inherit.

Because Adolphus had no direct heirs, there were many people who wanted to claim his lands in Holstein-Rendsburg and Schleswig. To solve this, representatives from Schleswig and Holstein met in a town called Ribe. In 1460, they decided that Christian I of Denmark, Adolphus's nephew, would become the new Duke of Schleswig and Count of Holstein-Rendsburg.

What Was His Seal Like?

Adolphus XI's seal shows the coats of arms of Schleswig and Holstein.

A seal was like a special stamp used to show who signed a document. Adolphus's seal showed the symbols of his lands. It had two lions for Schleswig and a special "nettle leaf" symbol for Holstein. The words on his seal said: "Seal of Adolphus, Duke of Schleswig, Count of Holstein."

See Also

• Treaty of Ribe
• History of Schleswig-Holstein

Images for kids

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  Adolphus XI's seal shows the coats of arms of Schleswig and Holstein.