Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg

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Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg was a titular duchy under the king of Denmark; it existed from 1564 until 1668. The seat of the duke was Sonderburg. Parts of it were located in Denmark (in the Duchy of Schleswig), mainly on the islands of Als and Ærø and around Glücksburg, and other parts were located in the Holy Roman Empire (in the Duchy of Holstein), including the Ämter of Plön, Ahrensbök, and Reinfeld.

[edit] History

The Duchy was created when King Frederick II of Denmark shared his part of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein with his two brothers, each receiving a third of the royal part of Schleswig and Holstein. Sonderburg was the part received by John the Younger. However, the division was not recognized by the local nobles and was considered illegal. While the duke of Sonderburg received the ducal title and the income from the territory assigned to him, he did not have political rights in this territory. Sovereignty remained with the king of Denmark in his role as duke of Schleswig-Holstein.

The dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg repeatedly split their possessions among their heirs, so that a variety of very small territories came into existence. These included Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg, Schleswig-Holstein-Beck, Schleswig-Holstein-Augustenburg, and others.

In 1668, the king of Denmark confiscated Sonderburg because of excessive debt. Several of the lines that had split off from Sonderburg continued to exist, however. From the money that was left after all debts were paid, the last duke of Sonderburg bought properties in Franzhagen near Schulendorf; henceforth the line was known as Franzhagen.

[edit] Genealogy

The dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg form a line of the House of Oldenburg; it consists of the male-line descendants of Duke John the Younger. The current royal houses of Denmark and Norway, as well as the future royal house of the United Kingdom (assuming Charles, Prince of Wales, will ascend to the crown) belong to the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg line.