House of Holstein-Gottorp

The House of Holstein-Gottorp, a branch of the Oldenburg dynasty, rose to several thrones.

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The dynastic policy of the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp resulted in their descendants ruling Sweden from 1751 until 1818 and Russia briefly in 1762 and then again from 1796 until 1917.

Related Topics:
Sweden - 1751 - 1818 - Russia - 1762 - 1796 - 1917

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Holstein-Gottorp originally was a ducal family that ruled certain areas within Schleswig and Holstein, in present-day Denmark and Germany. Its founder was Adolf, the half-brother of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway.

Related Topics:
Schleswig - Holstein - Denmark - Germany - Adolf - Christian III

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The Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp shared the rule of Schleswig and Holstein with the Kings of Denmark.

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However, they were often allies of the Swedes, the great enemies to the Danes.

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Duke Karl Friedrich married to Grand Duchess Anna, daughter of Tsar Peter the Great. From this marriage was born Karl Peter Ulrich, who succeeded to Holstein-Gottorp in 1739, and became heir to the Russian throne upon the accession of his aunt Elisabeth in 1741.

Related Topics:
Karl Friedrich - Peter the Great - Karl Peter Ulrich - 1739 - Elisabeth - 1741

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Although Karl Peter Ulrich, who acceded the Russian throne as Peter III in 1762, was very interested in regaining his lands in Schleswig from the Danes, he was soon overthrown. His successor, his son Paul, was under the regency of his mother Catherine the Great, who in 1773 agreed with the Danes for her son's abdication of his rights in Schleswig-Holstein in favor of the Prince-Bishop of Lübeck, representative of a younger branch, and to a trade which would allow the Danes to take over the Holstein-Gottorp lands, giving the Prince-Bishop the County of Oldenburg in exchange.

Related Topics:
1762 - Paul - Catherine the Great - 1773 - Oldenburg

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