History of Schleswig Holstein
Schleswig Holstein Music Festival
FOREWORD:
To understand the causes of the various wars and conflicts in Schleswig-Holstein, it is necessary to understand its political developments. The relationships between the various governing families and dynasties and their disputes and conflicts must also be explored.
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost state of Germany, located mostly on the base of the peninsula of Jutland between the North Sea in west and the Baltic Sea (Ostsee) in east. The state shares an international border with Denmark in north, within Germany it borders the federal states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in south east, and Lower.
However, I am not a historian. I gleaned these historical data from a variety of sources. Therefore, the reader should not expect a detailed exploration of Schleswig-Holstein’s history; rather, I am outlining it in broad strokes only.
- Schleswig-Holstein Online Genealogy Records These are genealogy links to Schleswig-Holstein online databases to assist in researching your family history. This Online Collection has links to online databases and indexes that may include birth records, marriage records, death records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration.
- Schleswig-Holstein: History German Empire in 1871, the Schleswig-Holstein question narrowed to a contest between Germany and Denmark over North Schleswig. The duchy of Schleswig (Slesvig) was a dependency of Denmark in the 13th and 14th centuries, but from 1386 to 1460 it.
Towards the end of the Great Migrations of the Germanic peoples which beganaround A.D. 250, the Saxons who had come from the area around the northern Elbe River had settled in central and western Holstein. The Slav tribes had populated eastern Holstein. Danes and Jutes had moved to southeastern Schleswig, and the Frisians had populated western Schleswig and the islands in the North Sea.
The area settled by the Saxons was bounded by the Eider river in the north, the North Sea towards the west, and the Elbe river in the south. The eastern boundary was formed by a line running from the Kiel Fjord via the Schwentine river and the middle Trave river to Boizenburg. Around 800, three distinct areas had formed: Dithmarschen, Holstein and Stormarn.
Around 800, in the course of expanding Christianity northward, the Frankish tribes of Charlemagne occupy this area. In 810 Charlemagne builds a castle on the River Stör near Itzehoe. The western boundary of Frankish influence lies at the line Kiel Fjord - Boizenburg, the northern boundary is the Eider river. In 974 a conflict arises between the Franks and theDanes; the latter are defeated at the Danevirke, a series of ramparts begun in 737 between the Hollingstedt on the Treene river in the west and the head of the Sliefjord near Haithabu and the present-day Schleswig in the east. Christianity expands throughout northern Europe. Denmark develops into a world power and conquers England. The King of Denmark assumes the titles and powers of King of England, King of Scotland and King of Norway.
The King of Denmark and Emperor Konrad II develop friendly relations. The Emperor relinquishes his control over the area between the Eider river and the Sliefjord; this area remains uninhabited. The Eider river is recognized as the southern boundary of the Danish empire.
After further wars with the Slavs who are defeated around 1090, Duke Lothar of Saxony invests Count Adolf of Schauenburg with Holstein and Stormarn.
Schleswig Holstein Pronunciation
In 1187 the Danes occupy the island of Rügen as well as Pomerania and Mecklenburg. During the war of 1200-1203, the Danish King Knud and his brother, Duke Waldemar of Schleswig, conquer Holstein, Stormarn, Hamburg, Lübeck and Ratzeburg.
In the Battle of Bornhöved on July 22, 1227, the Danish King Waldemar II is defeated. Denmark loses the conquered provinces and cities and the Eider river is re-established as the southern boundary of the Danish kingdom.
Count Adolf IV of Schauenburg reclaims the County of Holstein-Stormarn.
In 1237, Duke Abel of Schleswig marries the daughter of Count Adolf IV of Holstein-Stormarn and thus establishes a relationship between the two houses. In 1275 the title of “Duke of Schleswig” becomes a hereditary one, thereby ensuring the succession within the family. Extraordinary taxes are no longer remitted to the King of Denmark but instead are paid to the Duke of Schleswig. In 1260, Mechtild, the widow of Duke Abel of Schleswig, mortgages her possessions between the Eider river and the Sliefjord in favour of her brothers the counts Gerhard I and Johann I.
Other areas, such as the City of Eckernförde and the Danish Wold, are mortgaged in favour of the Holsteiners. The borders are now open, and many members of the Holstein nobility penetrate into the border areas and settle there.
In Denmark, disputes arise between the nobles and the Danish King Christopher II. The nobles request the Duke of Schleswig for assistance. Count Gerhard III of Rendsburg is acting on behalf of his minor nephew, Duke Valdemar V of Schleswig (the son of Duke Abel of Schleswig).
In 1326, King Christopher II is defeated in the battle of Hesterberg near Schleswig, and is banished. Count Gerhard III forces the Danish nobility to elect his nephew, Duke Valdemar V of Schleswig, King of Denmark. Count Gerhard III is appointed guardian and regent, and governs the kingdom. The charter of 1326 documenting these events and decisions stipulates that the Duchy of Schleswig shall never be possessed by the King of Denmark. In light of Valdemar V’s accession to the throne,Count Gerhard III is invested with the Duchy of Schleswig as a hereditary possession. For the first time, Schleswig and Holstein are united under a member of the Schauenburg dynasty.
Accordingly, since 1290 there are five ruling branches of the House of Schauenburg, named after the locations of their respective strongholds: Segeberg, Kiel, Plön, Pinneberg and Rendsburg.
Additionally, Gerhard III is ceded the island of Fun, Johann III of Plön receives the island of Lolland in addition to Fehmarn. When King Christopher II returns to the throne in 1330, the Duchy of Schleswig reverts to a Duke of the Abel lineage, however, Count Gerhard III retains control of Schleswig, receives Northern Jutland as security and the island of Fun as hereditary fiefdom.