Duke of Schleswig

The following is a list of jarls and dukes, who ruled over Schleswig respectively Southern Jutland (Sønderjylland).

First jarls/dukes[]

Houses of Estridsen and Schauenburg (1080–1460)[]

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	House	Consort	Notes
Olaf I Hunger		c.1050	1080–1095	18 August 1095	Estridsen	Ingegerd of Norway c.1070 one child	Jarl (earl) of Jutland, since 1086 king of Denmark.
Eric (I) the Good		c.1050	1095–1103	10 July 1103	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Boedil Thurgotsdatter before 1086 one child	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Nicholas (I)		c.1065	1103–1115	25 June 1134	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Margaret Fredkulla c.1105 two children Ulvhild Håkansdotter 1130 no children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Canute I Lavard		12 March 1096	1115–1131	7 January 1131	Estridsen	Ingeborg of Kiev 1116 four children	Titled dux Daciae[1] (i.e. Duke of Denmark)
Magnus I		c.1106	1131–1134	4 June 1134	Estridsen	Richeza of Poland c.1127 two children	Also King of Sweden
Eric (II) the Memorable		c.1090	1134–1137	18 September 1137	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Malmfred of Kiev c.1130 no children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Eric (III) Lamb		c.1120	1137–1146	27 August 1146	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Lutgard of Salzwedel c.1144 no children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Sweyn III of Denmark		c.1125	1146–1152	23 October 1157	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Adela of Meissen c.1152 two children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Canute V of Denmark		c.1129		9 August 1157		Helena of Sweden c.1156 no children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Valdemar I of Denmark		14 January 1131		12 May 1182		Sophia of Minsk c.1144 Viborg Cathedral eight children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Valdemar I		14 January 1131	1152–1154	12 May 1182	Estridsen	Sophia of Minsk c.1144 Viborg Cathedral eight children	Between 1152 and 1154, titled dux Daciae[2] (i.e. Duke of Denmark), also king of Denmark.
Sweyn III of Denmark		c.1125	1154–1157	23 October 1157	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Adela of Meissen c.1152 two children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Canute V of Denmark		c.1129		9 August 1157		Helena of Sweden c.1156 no children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Valdemar I of Denmark		14 January 1131	1154–1170	12 May 1182		Sophia of Minsk c.1144 Viborg Cathedral eight children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
		1150	1170–1173	1173	Estridsen
Valdemar I of Denmark		14 January 1131	1173–1182	12 May 1182	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Sophia of Minsk c.1144 Viborg Cathedral eight children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Canute VI of Denmark		c.1163	1182–1183	12 November 1202	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Gertrude of Bavaria February 1177 Lund Cathedral no children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Valdemar II the Victorious		9 May or 28 June 1170	1183–1216	28 March 1241	Estridsen	Dagmar of Bohemia 1205 one son Berengaria of Portugal 1214 four children	titled dux slesvicensis[3] (i.e. Sleswickian duke), represented by the regent Bishop Valdemar Knudsen (1182–1193), Valdemar II became Danish king in 1202.
Valdemar (III) the Young		c.1209	1209–1216	28 November 1231	Estridsen	Eleanor of Portugal 24 June 1229 Ribe Cathedral one child	Minor duke as co-duke of Valdemar II.
Eric (I) Ploughpenny		c.1216	1216–1232	9 August 1250	Estridsen	Jutta of Saxony 17 November 1239 six children	Minor duke as co-duke of Valdemar II.
Abel		c.1218	1232–1252	29 June 1252	Estridsen	Matilda of Holstein 25 April 1237 Schleswig Cathedral four children	Also king of Denmark from 1250.
Christopher I of Denmark		c.1219	1252–1254	29 May 1259	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Margaret Sambiria 1248 five children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Valdemar III		c.1238	1254–1257	c.1257	Estridsen	Unmarried
Eric I		c.1242	1257–1272	27 May 1272	Estridsen	1259 or 1260 three children
Margaret Sambiria (regent)		c.1219	1272–1282	29 December 1282	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Christopher I of Denmark 1248 five children	Regent of Schleswig-Denmark.
Eric V of Denmark		c.1249	1282–1283	22 November 1286	Estridsen Part of Denmark	Agnes of Brandenburg 11 November 1273 Schleswig Cathedral seven children	Duke-King of Schleswig-Denmark.
Valdemar IV		c.1265	1283–1312	26 March or 7 July 1312	Estridsen	1287 one child
Eric II		c.1290	1312–1325	12 March 1325	Estridsen	Adelaide of Holstein-Rendsburg 1313 two children
Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (regent)		1292	1325–1326	1 April 1340	In the name of the House of Estridsen	1315 four children	Regent in name of his nephew, Valdemar V, placed him on Denmark in 1326 and ruled Schleswig himself.
Valdemar V		c.1314		c.1364	Estridsen	Richardis of Schwerin c.1329? two children	Under regency of his uncle, in 1326 became king of Denmark.
Gerhard I the Great		1292	1325–1330	1 April 1340	Schauenburg	1315 four children	Regent in name of his nephew, Valdemar V, placed him on Denmark in 1326 and ruled Schleswig himself.
Valdemar V		c.1314	1330–1364	c.1364	Estridsen	Richardis of Schwerin c.1329? two children
Henry I		c.1342	1364–1375	August 1375	Estridsen	Kunigunde no children
Nicholas I		1321	1375–1386	8 May 1397	Schauenburg	Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1354 one child	Joint rule with his brother. In 1386 abdicated for his nephew Gerhard. Also count of Holstein-Rendsburg.
Henry II of Iron		1317	1375–1384	1384	Schauenburg	Matilda of Lippe one child Ingeborg of Mecklenburg-Schwerin before 1374 four children	Joint rule with his brother. Also count of Holstein-Rendsburg.
Gerhard II		1367	1384–1404	5 August 1404	Schauenburg	Catherine Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1390 six children	Also count of Holstein-Rendsburg.
Catherine Elisabeth of Brunswick-Lüneburg (regent)		1385	1404–1413	After 1423	Schauenburg	Gerhard II 1390 six children	Respectively mother and uncle, took the regency in name of Henry III.
Henry III, Count of Schauenburg-Holstein (regent)		c.1372		February 1421		Unmarried
Henry III		1397	1413–1427	28 May 1427	Schauenburg	Unmarried	Died without descendants. Passed the land to his brothers.
Adolphus I		1401	1427–1459	4 December 1459	Schauenburg	Matilda before 1433 no children 1433 no children	He was the mightiest vassal of Danish crown at his time. Gained royal Danish recognition in 1440. After his death his patrimony is annexed by Denmark.
Gerhard III		1404	1427–1433	24 July 1433	Schauenburg	Agnes of Baden 2 June 1432 Baden ten children	Co-ruler, also Count of Holstein-Rendsburg as Gerhard VII, younger brother of Adolf VIII, during his lifetime, the claim to dukedom remained disputed by the Danish crown

House of Oldenburg[]

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Part	Consort	Notes
Christian I (Christian 1.)		February 1426	1460–1481	21 May 1481	Schleswig	Dorothea of Brandenburg 28 October 1449 Copenhagen five children	First ruler of Schleswig, which was inherited from Holstein-Rendsburg. Also King of Denmark and of the Kalmar Union.
John I (Hans)		2 February 1455	1481–1513	20 February 1513	Schleswig	Christina of Saxony 6 September 1478 Copenhagen five children	Ruled jointly in Schleswig, John and Frederick, brothers, ruled together, and after the death of John, Frederick, kept the co-rulership with his nephew, Christian II. In 1523 the latter was deposed in both Denmark and Schleswig. They were also in succession Kings of Denmark: John 1481–1513, Christian 1513–23, Frederick 1523–33. John and Christian were also Kings of the Kalmar Union.
Frederick I (Frederik 1.)		7 October 1471	1490–1533	20 February 1533	Schleswig	Anna of Brandenburg 10 April 1502 Stendal two children Sophie of Pomerania 9 October 1518 Kiel six children
Christian II the Tyrant (Christian 2.)		February 1426	1513–1523	21 May 1481	Schleswig	Isabella of Austria 12 August 1515 Copenhagen six children
Christian III (Christian 3.)		12 August 1503	1533–1544	1 January 1559	Schleswig	Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 29 October 1525 Lauenburg five children	Christian was also King of Denmark. In 1544 divided Schleswig with his half-brothers. John received Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev, and Adolph Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp.
			1544–1559		Schleswig-Schleswig
John II the Elder		21 June 1521	1544–1580	1 October 1580	Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev	Unmarried
Adolph		25 January 1526	1544–1586	1 October 1586	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Christine of Hesse 17 December 1564 Schleswig ten children
Haderslev divided between Schleswig and Gottorp
Frederick II (Frederik 2.)		1 July 1534	1559–1588	4 April 1588	Schleswig-Schleswig	Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 20 July 1572 Copenhagen eight children	Also King of Denmark.
Frederick III		21 April 1568	1586–1587	15 June 1587	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Unmarried	Died without descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Philip		10 August 1570	1587–1590	18 October 1590	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Unmarried	Died without descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Council of Regency: 1588–1596
Christian IV (Christian 4.)		12 April 1577	1596–1648	28 February 1648	Schleswig-Schleswig	Anne Catherine of Brandenburg 27 November 1597 Haderslev seven children Kirsten Munk 31 December 1615 Copenhagen (morganatic) twelve children	Also King of Denmark.
John Adolph		27 February 1575	1590–1616	31 March 1616	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Augusta of Denmark 30 August 1596 Copenhagen eight children
Frederick IV		22 December 1597	1616–1659	10 August 1659	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Marie Elisabeth of Saxony 21 February 1630 Dresden sixteen children
Frederick V (Frederik 3.)		18 March 1609	1648–1670	9 February 1670	Schleswig-Schleswig	Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1 October 1643 Glücksburg eight children	Also King of Denmark as Frederick III.
Christian Albert		3 February 1641	1659–1695	6 January 1695	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Frederica Amalia of Denmark 24 October 1667 Glücksburg four children
Christian V (Christian 5.)		15 April 1646	1670–1699	25 August 1699	Schleswig-Schleswig	Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel 25 June 1667 Nykøbing Falster eight children	Also King of Denmark.
Frederick VI		18 October 1671	1695–1702	19 July 1702	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Hedvig Sophia of Sweden 12 May 1698 Karlberg one child
Frederick VII (Frederik 4.)		11 October 1671	1699–1713	12 October 1730	Schleswig-Schleswig	Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 5 December 1695 Copenhagen five children Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg 26 September 1703 (morganatic and bigamous) one child Anne Sophie Reventlow 4 April 1721 Copenhagen three children	Also King of Denmark as Frederick IV. In 1713 reunited Schleswig.
			1713–1730		Schleswig
Hedvig Sophia of Sweden (regent)		26 June 1681	1702–1708	22 December 1708	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp	Frederick VI 12 May 1698 Karlberg one child	Regent on behalf of her son.
Charles Frederick		30 April 1700	1708–1739	18 June 1739	Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (until 1713) Holstein-Gottorp (after 1713)	Anna Petrovna of Russia 21 May 1725 St Petersburg one child
Christian VI (Christian 6.)		30 November 1699	1730–1746	6 August 1746	Schleswig	Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 7 August 1721 Pretzsch three children	Also King of Denmark.
Charles Peter Ulrich		21 February 1728	1739–1762	17 July 1762	Holstein-Gottorp	Sophie Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst 21 August 1745 St Petersburg one child	He later ascended as Peter III of Russia.
Frederick VIII (Frederik 5.)		31 March 1723	1746–1766	14 January 1766	Schleswig	Louise of Great Britain 11 December 1743 Altona five children Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 8 July 1752 Hillerød one son	Also King of Denmark as Frederick V.
Paul I		1 October 1754	1762–1773	23 March 1801	Holstein-Gottorp	Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt 20 September 1773 St Petersburg no children Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt 7 October 1776 St Petersburg ten children	He later ascended as Peter III of Russia.
Gottorp reunited with Schleswig
Christian VII (Christian 7.)		29 January 1749	1766–1773	13 March 1808	Schleswig	Caroline Matilda of Great Britain 8 November 1766 Copenhagen two children	Also King of Denmark. In 1773 reunited Schleswig and Holstein.
			1773–1784		Schleswig-Holstein
Frederick IX (Frederik 6.)		28 January 1768	1784–1808 (as Regent) 1808–1839	8 December 1839	Schleswig-Holstein	Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel 31 July 1790 Schleswig eight children	Also King of Denmark as Frederick VI. He had been regent in name of his father, with mental instability, since 1784.
Christian VIII (Christian 8.)		18 September 1786	1839–1848	20 January 1848	Schleswig-Holstein	Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 21 June 1806 Ludwigslust two children Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 22 May 1815 Augustenborg no children	Also King of Denmark.
Frederick X (Frederik 7.)		6 October 1808	1848–1863	15 November 1863	Schleswig-Holstein	Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark 1 November 1828 Copenhagen (annulled 1837) no children Caroline Mariane of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 10 June 1841 Neustrelitz (annulled 1846) no children Louise Rasmussen 7 August 1850 Hillerød (morganatic) no children	Also King of Denmark as Frederick VII.
Christian IX (Christian 9.)		8 April 1818	1863–1864	29 January 1906	Schleswig-Holstein	Louise of Hesse-Kassel 26 May 1842 Copenhagen six children	He was from the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg branch of the Oldenburgs. Also King of Denmark. In 1864 the duchy was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia.

In 1864, following the Second Schleswig War, the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein became an occupied territory of the German Confederation and two years later, following the Austro-Prussian War, part of the new Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein.

See also[]

• List of Danish monarchs
• List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein

Notes[]