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House of Glücksburg facts for kids

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Armoiries de Frédéric-Christian II de Schleswig-Holstein-Sondebourg-Augustenbourg.svg
Country:
Parent House: House of Oldenburg
Titles:
Founder: Friedrich Wilhelm
(August Philipp as Beck)
Current Head: Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Glücksburg
Founding Year: 6 July 1825; 199 years ago (1825-07-06)
(17 December 1633; 390 years ago (1633-12-17) as Beck)
Cadet Branches:
  • Danish royal family
  • Greek royal family
  • Norwegian royal family

The House of Glücksburg is a collateral branch of the German House of Oldenburg. Its members have reigned at various times in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Greece, and several northern German states.

Current monarchs King Charles III of the United Kingdom, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and King Harald V of Norway, as well as former queens consort Anne-Marie of Greece and Sofía of Spain, are patrilineal members of cadet branches of the House of Glücksburg.

Schloss Glücksburg 3
Glücksburg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance castles in northern Europe

Etymology

The House of Glücksburg is also spelled Glücksborg or Lyksborg. It is a shortened name stemming from House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg—a collateral branch of the House of Oldenburg.

The family takes its name from Glücksburg, a town in Schleswig and the Holstein region in Germany.

History

2 rigdalers Denmark 1863
2 rigsdaler - death of Frederik VII and accession of Christian IX marking the transfer of the throne to the Glucksburg branch of the House of Oldenburg

Glücksburg is a small coastal town on the German southern side of the fjord of Flensburg that divides Germany from Denmark. In 1460, Glücksburg came, as part of the conjoined Dano-German duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, to Count Christian of Oldenburg whom, in 1448, the Danes had elected their king as Christian I, the Norwegians likewise taking him as their hereditary king in 1450.

In 1564, Christian I's great-grandson, King Frederick II, in re-distributing Schleswig and Holstein's fiefs, retained some lands for his own senior royal line while allocating Glücksburg to his brother Duke John the Younger (1545–1622), along with Sønderborg, in appanage. John's heirs further sub-divided their share and created, among other branches, a line of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg dukes at Beck (an estate near Minden bought by the family in 1605), who remained vassals of Denmark's kings.

By 1825, the castle of Glücksburg had returned to the Danish crown (from another ducal branch called Glücksburg, extinct in 1779) and was given that year by King Frederick VI, along with a new ducal title, to his kinsman Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. Frederick suffixed the territorial designation to the ducal title he already held, in lieu of "Beck" (an estate the family had, in fact, sold in 1745). Thus emerged the extant Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.

The Danish line of Oldenburg kings died out in 1863, and the elder line of the Schleswig-Holstein family became extinct with the death of the last Augustenburg duke in 1931. Thereafter, the House of Glücksburg became the senior surviving line of the House of Oldenburg. Another cadet line of Oldenburgs, the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp, consisted of two branches which held onto sovereignty into the 20th century. But members of the Romanov line were executed in or exiled from their Russian Empire in 1917, while the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg was abolished in 1918, although its dynastic line survives.

Neither the Dukes of Beck nor of Glücksburg had been sovereign rulers; they held their lands in fief from the ruling Dukes of Schleswig and Holstein, i.e. the Kings of Denmark and (until 1773) the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp.

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, the fourth son of Duke Friedrich of Glücksburg, was recognized in the London Protocol of 1852 as successor to the childless King Frederick VII of Denmark. He became King of Denmark as Christian IX on 15 November 1863.

Prince Vilhelm, the second son of Crown Prince Christian and Crown Princess Luise, was elected King of the Hellenes on 30 March 1863, succeeding the ousted Wittelsbach Otto of Greece and reigning under the name George I.

Prince Carl, the second son of Frederick VIII of Denmark, Christian IX's eldest son, became King of Norway on 18 November 1905 as Haakon VII of Norway.

Christian IX's daughters, Alexandra and Dagmar (as Maria Feodorovna) became the consorts of, respectively, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Emperor Alexander III of Russia. As a result, by 1914 descendants of King Christian IX held the crowns of several European realms, and he became known as the "Father-in-law of Europe".

Christian IX's older brother inherited formal headship of the family as Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, followed by their brother Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. It is his descendants who now represent the senior line of the Schleswig-Holstein branch of the House of Oldenburg, with Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein, as its current head.

Patrilineal ancestry of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm

  1. Elimar I, Count of Oldenburg
  2. Elimar II, Count of Oldenburg
  3. Christian I, Count of Oldenburg (Christian the Quarrelsome)
  4. Maurice, Count of Oldenburg
  5. Christian II, Count of Oldenburg
  6. John I, Count of Oldenburg
  7. Christian III, Count of Oldenburg
  8. John II, Count of Oldenburg
  9. Conrad I, Count of Oldenburg
  10. Christian V, Count of Oldenburg
  11. Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg
  12. Christian I of Denmark
  13. Frederick I of Denmark
  14. Christian III of Denmark
  15. John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
  16. Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
  17. August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
  18. Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
  19. Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
  20. Karl Anton August, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
  21. Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
  22. Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Coat of arms of Duché Schleswig-Holstein-Sondebourg-Glucksbourg
Coat of arms of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein

The Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg constitute the senior male line of the branch. They hold the headship by primogeniture of the cadet house of Glücksburg. The headship by agnatic primogeniture of the entire House of Oldenburg is held by Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein.

Portrait Name Life Reign
Prins Vilhelm 1785-1831.jpg Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 1785–1831 1825–1831
1813 Carl von Glucksburg.jpg Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 1813–1878 1831–1878
Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1841).jpg Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 1814–1885 1878–1885
DukeFRIEDRICHFERDINAND.jpg Friedrich Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein 1855–1934 1885–1934
PrinceFriedrich2.jpg Wilhelm Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein 1891–1965 1934–1965
Peter von Schleswig-Holstein c.1942.jpg Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein 1922–1980 1965–1980
Christoph of Schleswig-Holstein 2010 crop.jpg Christoph, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein born 1949 1980–present

The heir apparent is Friedrich Ferdinand, Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (born 1985).

Denmark

In 1853, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg became heir to the Kingdom of Denmark, and in 1863, he ascended the throne. He was the fourth son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, whose elder brother (and male-line descendants) retained the Glücksburg dukedom. The Danish royal family call itself Glücksborg, using a slightly Danicized form of Glücksburg.

Portrait Name Life Reign Additional titles
Christian IX af Henrik Olrik.jpg Christian IX 1818–1906 1863–1906 King of the Wends
King of the Goths
Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
Prior to ascending the throne:
Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
(Danish: Prins af Slesvig-Holsten-Sønderborg-Glückborg)
Frederik IIX - Otto Bache.jpg Frederick VIII 1843–1912 1906–1912 King of the Wends
King of the Goths
Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
Kong Christian 10.jpg Christian X 1870–1947 1912–1947 King of Iceland (used 1918–1944)
King of the Wends
King of the Goths
Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
Frederick IX of Denmark.jpg Frederick IX 1899–1972 1947–1972 King of the Wends
King of the Goths
Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg
Drottning Margrethe av Danmark.jpg Margrethe II born 1940 1972–present

The heir apparent is Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (born 1968), who belongs agnatically to the Monpezat family. See the present line of succession. Although there are no more male members of the dynastic line of Glücksburgs domiciled in Denmark, there are descendants of Christian IX who married without the monarch's permission, thus forfeiting their royal status.

Greece

Royal Coat of Arms of Greece
Coat of arms of the King of the Hellenes
Greek 30 Drachma 1963 small
Thirty-drachma coin of 1963, commemorating the centennial of the reign of the House of Glücksburg. Clockwise from the top: Paul, George II, Alexander, Constantine I and George I.

In 1863 and with the name George I, Prince Wilhelm of Denmark was elected King of the Hellenes on the recommendation of Europe's Great Powers. He was the second son of King Christian IX of Denmark.

Portrait Name Life Reign Additional titles
King George of Hellenes.jpg George I 1845–1913 1863–1913
Constantine I of Greece.jpg Constantine I 1868–1923
  • 1913–1917
  • 1920–1922
  • Prince of Denmark
  • Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
King Alexander of Greece.jpg Alexander 1893–1920 1917–1920
  • Prince of Denmark
  • Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Georgeiiofgreece.jpg George II 1890–1947
  • 1922–1924
  • 1935–1947
  • Prince of Denmark
  • Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Paul I of Greece.jpg Paul 1901–1964 1947–1964
  • Prince of Denmark
  • Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
King Constantine.jpg Constantine II 1940–2023 1964–1973
  • Prince of Denmark
  • Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece.jpg Crown Prince Pavlos born 1967 Crown Prince of Greece from birth, until monarchy abolished
  • Prince of Denmark
  • Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

The Hellenic constitutional monarchy was usurped in a coup d'état by a military junta in 1967 and the royal family fled into exile. The monarchy was abolished in 1973. After the collapse of the military dictatorship in 1974, 69.18% of votes recorded in a republic referendum were against the return of the monarchy.

Norway

In 1905, Prince Carl of Denmark became Norway's first independent monarch in 518 years, taking the regnal name Haakon VII. His father was King Frederick VIII of Denmark, and one of his uncles was King George I of Greece.

Portrait Name Life Reign Additional titles
Haakon7.jpg Haakon VII 1872–1957 1905–1957 Prince of Denmark,
Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Olav V of Norway.jpg Olav V 1903–1991 1957–1991 Prince of Denmark,
Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg,
Olympic Sailing Champion
Medvedev harald guards (crop).jpg Harald V born 1937 1991–present Prince of Denmark,
Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg,
Sailing World Champion

The heir apparent is Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (born 1973). See the present line of succession.

Iceland

In 1918, Iceland was elevated from an autonomous Danish province to a separate Kingdom of Iceland. Christian X of Denmark was henceforth King of Denmark and Iceland until 1944, when Iceland dissolved the personal union between the two countries.

Portrait Name Life Reign Additional titles
Kristjàn X Kristján 10 1870–1947 1918–1944
  • King of Denmark
  • King of the Wends
  • King of the Goths
  • Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg and Oldenburg

The heir apparent was his son, Frederick IX of Denmark (1899–1972).

United Kingdom

Coat of Arms of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Arms of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

In 1947, Philip Mountbatten married Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II). Born into the house of Glücksburg as a prince of Denmark and Greece, he later relinquished these titles and was created Duke of Edinburgh by his father-in-law, King George VI of the United Kingdom.

Portrait Name Life Tenure Additional titles
Prince Philip NASA cropped.jpg Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1921–2021 1947–2021
Earl of Merioneth
Baron Greenwich
Prince Charles in Aotearoa (cropped).jpg Charles III Born 1948 2021-2022 (as Duke of Edinburgh)
2022- (as monarch)
As Duke of Edinburgh:
Prince of Wales
Duke of Cornwall
Earl of Chester
Duke of Rothesay
Earl of Carrick
Baron of Renfrew
Lord of the Isles
Prince and Great Steward of Scotland
Earl of Merioneth
Baron Greenwich
As Monarch:
Duke of Lancaster
Head of the Commonwealth

Line of succession

By agnatic primogeniture:

  • Frederick I of Denmark (1471–1533)
    • Christian III of Denmark (1503–1559)
      • John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1545–1622)
        • Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1573–1627)
          • August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1612–1675)
            • Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1653–1728)
              • Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1697–1775)
                • Prince Karl Anton August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (1727–1759)
    • Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1526–1586)
      • John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1575–1616)
        • Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1597–1659)
          • Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1641–1695)
            • Frederick IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1671–1702)
              • Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1700–1739)
                • Peter III of Russia (1728–1762)
                  • Paul I of Russia (1754–1801)
                    • Nicholas I of Russia (1796–1855)
                      • Alexander II of Russia (1818–1881)
                        • Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia (1860–1919)
                          • Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia (1891–1941)
                            • Prince Paul Dimitrievich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (1928–2004)
                              • (36) Prince Dimitri Pavlovich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (b. 1954)
                              • (37) Prince Michael Pavlovich Romanovsky-Ilyinsky (b. 1961)
                        • Prince George Alexandrovich Yurievsky (1872–1913)
                          • Prince Alexander Georgijevich Yurievsky (1900–1988)
                            • (38) Prince George Alexandrovich Yurievsky (b. 1961)
                      • Grand Duke Michael Nicolaevich of Russia (1832–1909)
                        • Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia (1866–1933)
                          • Prince Andrei Alexandrovich of Russia (1897–1981)
                            • Andrew Andreevich, Prince of Russia (1923–2021)
                              • (39) Alexis Andreevich, Prince of Russia (b. 1953)
                              • (40) Prince Peter Andreevich of Russia (b. 1961)
                              • (41) Prince Andrew Andreevich of Russia (b. 1963)
                          • Prince Rostislav Alexandrovich of Russia (1902–1978)
                            • Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich of Russia (1938–1999)
                              • (42) Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich of Russia (b. 1985)
                                • (43) Prince Rostislav Rostislavovich of Russia (b. 2013)
                              • (44) Prince Nikita Rostislavovich of Russia (b. 1987)
                            • Prince Nicholas Rostislavovich of Russia (1945–2000)
                              • (45) Prince Nicholas Nicolaevich of Russia (b. 1968)
                              • (46) Prince Daniel Nicolaevich of Russia (b. 1972)
            • Prince Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp (1673–1726)
              • Prince Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp (1719–1763)
                • Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1755–1829)
                  • Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1783–1853)
                    • Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1827–1900)
                      • Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1852–1931)
                        • Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1897–1970)
                          • Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg (1923–2014)
                            • (47) Christian, Duke of Oldenburg (b. 1955)
                              • (48) Duke Alexander of Oldenburg (b. 1990)
                              • (49) Duke Philipp of Oldenburg (b. 1991)
                              • (50) Duke Anton Friedrich of Oldenburg (b. 1993)
                          • Duke Peter of Oldenburg (1926–2016)
                            • (51) Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg (b. 1952)
                            • (52) Duke Nikolaus of Oldenburg (b. 1955)
                              • (53) Duke Christoph of Oldenburg (b. 1985)
                              • (54) Duke Georg of Oldenburg (b. 1990)
                              • (55) Duke Oscar of Oldenburg (b. 1991)
                            • (56) Duke Georg Moritz of Oldenburg (b. 1957)
                          • Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg (1936–2017)
                            • (57) Duke Paul-Wladimir of Oldenburg (b. 1969)
                              • (58) Duke Kirill of Oldenburg (b. 2002)
                              • (59) Duke Carlos of Oldenburg (b. 2004)
                              • (60) Duke Paul of Oldenburg (b. 2005)
                          • (61) Duke Huno of Oldenburg (b. 1940)
                          • (62) Duke Johann of Oldenburg (b. 1940)
                            • (63) Duke Konstantin Nikolaus of Oldenburg (b. 1975)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Casa de Glücksburg para niños

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