Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (19 July 1798 – 11 March 1869, Christian Carl Frederik August), commonly known as Christian, Duke of Augustenborg, was a Danish/German prince and statesman. During the 1850s and 1860s, he was a claimant to first duke of the whole provinces of Schleswig and Holstein, and a candidate to become king of Denmark following the death of King Frederick VII. He was the father-in-law of Princess Helena (daughter of Queen Victoria) and the paternal grandfather of Augusta Victoria, German Empress and wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
He was closely related to Kings Christian VII, Frederick VI and Christian VIII of Denmark through his mother and was a claimant for the Danish throne in the 1860s.
Christian August was the eldest son and heir of Frederik Christian II, Duke of Augustenburg and his wife Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark. His father was the head of the senior cadet branch of the ruling house of Denmark, and thus the nearest agnatic kin of the kings of Denmark. Furthermore, his mother Louisa Auguste was (officially) the daughter of King Christian VII of Denmark, the sister of King Frederick VI and the first cousin of King Christian VIII. Due to all this, Christian August was high in the line of succession to the Danish throne. He also enjoyed additional influence in the Danish court because his sister, Caroline Amalie, was the beloved second wife of King Christian VIII (his mother's cousin).
Christian August's family lost out in the competition for the throne of Denmark mainly because of the widely accepted belief that his mother was actually fathered by Johann Friedrich Struensee, Christian VII's royal physician. If true, this would mean Christian August was not a true legitimate descendant of Frederick III, the first hereditary monarch of Denmark. His claim was further weakened by having married for love to Countess Louise Sophie Danneskiold-Samsøe, a woman of unequal rank.
Biographyedit
In 1848, German-nationalist sympathies prompted a rebellion in Schleswig-Holstein against Danish rule. A provisional government was established at Kiel under the Duke of Augustenborg, who travelled to Berlin to secure the assistance of Prussia in asserting his rights. The First War of Schleswig ensued.
However, European powers were united in opposing any dismemberment of Denmark. Among others, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, speaking with authority as Head of the elder Holstein-Gottorp line, regarded the Duke of Augustenborg a rebel. Russia had guaranteed Schleswig to the Danish crown by the treaties of 1767 and 1773.
A treaty of peace between Prussia and Denmark was signed at Berlin on 2 July 1850. Both parties reserved their antecedent rights. Denmark was satisfied that the treaty empowered the king-duke to restore his authority in Holstein with or without the consent of the German Confederation. Augustenburg was ousted from power, as Danish troops marched in to subdue the duchies.
The question of the Augustenburg succession made an agreement between the major powers impossible, and on 31 March 1852 the duke of Augustenburg resigned his claim in return for a money payment. Duke Christian sold his rights to the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark in the aftermath of the Punctation of Olmütz, but later renounced his rights to the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein in favor of his son Frederik August.
In November 1863, his son Frederick proclaimed himself rightful second Duke of Schleswig and Holstein.
Johannes Heinrich Gebauer: Christian August, Herzog von Schleswig Holstein. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Befreiung Schleswig-Holsteins. Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart u. a. 1910.
Karl Lorentzen: Christian Karl Friedrich August, Herzog von Schleswig-Holstein. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 4, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1876, S. 205–211.
Mikkel Venborg Pedersen: Die Herzöge von Augustenburg; in: Die Fürsten des Landes. Herzöge und Grafen von Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg, im Auftrag der Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte herausgegeben, S. 310–341.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg.
Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
christian, august, duke, schleswig, holstein, sonderburg, augustenburg, other, people, called, prince, christian, prince, christian, july, 1798, march, 1869, christian, carl, frederik, august, commonly, known, christian, duke, augustenborg, danish, german, pri. For other people called Prince Christian see Prince Christian Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg 19 July 1798 11 March 1869 Christian Carl Frederik August commonly known as Christian Duke of Augustenborg was a Danish German prince and statesman During the 1850s and 1860s he was a claimant to first duke of the whole provinces of Schleswig and Holstein and a candidate to become king of Denmark following the death of King Frederick VII He was the father in law of Princess Helena daughter of Queen Victoria and the paternal grandfather of Augusta Victoria German Empress and wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II Christian August IIPhotograph of Christian August II c 1860Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg AugustenburgReign14 June 1814 11 March 1869PredecessorFrederick Christian IISuccessorFrederick VIIIBorn 1798 07 19 19 July 1798Copenhagen DenmarkDied11 March 1869 1869 03 11 aged 70 Primkenau now Przemkow Silesia PrussiaSpouseCountess Louise Sophie Danneskiold SamsoeIssueAlexander Hereditary Prince of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg AugustenburgPrincess Louise AugustePrincess Caroline AmeliePrincess WilhelmineFrederick VIII Duke of Schleswig HolsteinPrince ChristianPrincess HenrietteNamesEnglish Christian Charles Frederick Augustus Danish Christian Carl Frederik AugustGerman Christian Karl Friedrich AugustHouseSchleswig Holstein Sonderburg AugustenburgFatherFrederick Christian II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg AugustenburgMotherPrincess Louise Auguste of DenmarkReligionLutheranism Contents 1 Family and lineage 2 Biography 3 Marriage and issue 4 Place in Danish royal family and claim to throne 5 Ancestry 6 References 6 1 Bibliography 7 External linksFamily and lineage edit nbsp Augustenborg Palace in 1845He was closely related to Kings Christian VII Frederick VI and Christian VIII of Denmark through his mother and was a claimant for the Danish throne in the 1860s Born a prince of the House of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg and scion of a cadet line descendant of the Danish royal House of Oldenburg Christian August was the fiefholder of Augustenborg and Sonderborg He was also a claimant to the rulership of the provinces of Sleswig and Holstein and he was also a candidate to become king of Denmark during the succession crisis caused by the childlessness of King Frederick VII of Denmark He lost the chance to ascend the throne to his distant kinsman Prince Christian of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Beck Christian August was the eldest son and heir of Frederik Christian II Duke of Augustenburg and his wife Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark His father was the head of the senior cadet branch of the ruling house of Denmark and thus the nearest agnatic kin of the kings of Denmark Furthermore his mother Louisa Auguste was officially the daughter of King Christian VII of Denmark the sister of King Frederick VI and the first cousin of King Christian VIII Due to all this Christian August was high in the line of succession to the Danish throne He also enjoyed additional influence in the Danish court because his sister Caroline Amalie was the beloved second wife of King Christian VIII his mother s cousin Christian August s family lost out in the competition for the throne of Denmark mainly because of the widely accepted belief that his mother was actually fathered by Johann Friedrich Struensee Christian VII s royal physician If true this would mean Christian August was not a true legitimate descendant of Frederick III the first hereditary monarch of Denmark His claim was further weakened by having married for love to Countess Louise Sophie Danneskiold Samsoe a woman of unequal rank Biography editIn 1848 German nationalist sympathies prompted a rebellion in Schleswig Holstein against Danish rule A provisional government was established at Kiel under the Duke of Augustenborg who travelled to Berlin to secure the assistance of Prussia in asserting his rights The First War of Schleswig ensued However European powers were united in opposing any dismemberment of Denmark Among others Emperor Nicholas I of Russia speaking with authority as Head of the elder Holstein Gottorp line regarded the Duke of Augustenborg a rebel Russia had guaranteed Schleswig to the Danish crown by the treaties of 1767 and 1773 A treaty of peace between Prussia and Denmark was signed at Berlin on 2 July 1850 Both parties reserved their antecedent rights Denmark was satisfied that the treaty empowered the king duke to restore his authority in Holstein with or without the consent of the German Confederation Augustenburg was ousted from power as Danish troops marched in to subdue the duchies The question of the Augustenburg succession made an agreement between the major powers impossible and on 31 March 1852 the duke of Augustenburg resigned his claim in return for a money payment Duke Christian sold his rights to the Duchy of Schleswig Holstein to Denmark in the aftermath of the Punctation of Olmutz but later renounced his rights to the Duchy of Schleswig Holstein in favor of his son Frederik August In November 1863 his son Frederick proclaimed himself rightful second Duke of Schleswig and Holstein Duke Christian August died in 1869 Marriage and issue edit nbsp Portrait of Christian August II c 1845Christian married in 1820 his second cousin Countess Lovisa Sophie af Danneskjold Samsoe 1797 1867 a Danish noblewoman who belonged to the House of Danneskiold Samsoe which in turn was an illegitimate branch of the Danish royal House of Oldenburg They had seven children Prince Alexander Frederick William Christian Charles Augustus 20 July 1821 3 May 1823 died young Princess Louise Auguste 28 August 1823 30 May 1872 Princess Caroline Amelie 15 January 1826 3 May 1901 Princess Wilhelmine 24 March 1828 4 July 1829 died young Prince Frederick Christian August 6 July 1829 14 January 1880 later Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg He married Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe Langenburg and had issue one surviving son and four daughters including Augusta Viktoria Dona Empress of Germany as wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II Frederick Christian Charles Augustus 22 January 1831 28 October 1917 later 1866 married his third cousin Princess Helena of the United Kingdom daughter of Queen Victoria and settled in England They were the parents of Albert Duke of Schleswig Holstein Princess Caroline Christiane Auguste Emilie Henriette Elisabeth 2 August 1833 1917 Place in Danish royal family and claim to throne editFamily of Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg AugustenburgChristian III of DenmarkFrederick II of DenmarkJohn II Duke of Schleswig Holstein SonderburgChristian IV of DenmarkAlexander Duke of Schleswig Holstein SonderburgFrederick III of DenmarkErnest GuntherAugust PhilippChristian V of DenmarkFrederick WilliamFrederick LouisFrederick IV of DenmarkChristian AugustPeter AugustChristian VI of DenmarkFrederick Christian IKarl Anton AugustFrederick V of DenmarkFrederick Christian IIm Princess Louise Auguste of DenmarkFriedrich Karl LudwigChristian VII of DenmarkFrederick Hereditary Prince of DenmarkChristian August II son of Princess Louise Auguste of DenmarkFriedrich WilhelmFrederick VI of DenmarkPrincess Louise Auguste of DenmarkChristian VIII of DenmarkPrincess Louise Charlotte of Denmark Prince Christian CHRISTIAN IX OF DENMARKPrincess Caroline of DenmarkChristian August II Frederick VII of DenmarkLouise of Hesse KasselAncestry editAncestors of Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg8 Christian August Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg4 Frederick Christian I Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg9 Countess Frederikke Louise Danneskiold Samsoe2 Frederick Christian II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg10 Frederick Charles Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Plon5 Princess Charlotte Amalie Wilhelmine of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Plon11 Countess Christine Ermegaard Reventlow1 Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg12 Frederick V of Denmark6 Christian VII of Denmark13 Princess Louisa of Great Britain3 Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark14 Frederick Prince of Wales7 Princess Caroline Matilda of Great Britain15 Princess Augusta of Saxe GothaReferences editBibliography edit Johannes Heinrich Gebauer Christian August Herzog von Schleswig Holstein Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Befreiung Schleswig Holsteins Deutsche Verlags Anstalt Stuttgart u a 1910 Jorgensen Adolph Ditlev 1896 Christian Carl Frederik August Hertug af Augustenborg In Bricka Carl Frederik ed Dansk Biografisk Lexikon tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537 1814 in Danish Vol III 1st ed Copenhagen Gyldendal pp 546 556 Karl Lorentzen Christian Karl Friedrich August Herzog von Schleswig Holstein In Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ADB Band 4 Duncker amp Humblot Leipzig 1876 S 205 211 Hans Harald Hennings Christian Karl Friedrich August In Neue Deutsche Biographie NDB Band 3 Duncker amp Humblot Berlin 1957 ISBN 3 428 00184 2 S 237 f Mikkel Venborg Pedersen Die Herzoge von Augustenburg in Die Fursten des Landes Herzoge und Grafen von Schleswig Holstein und Lauenburg im Auftrag der Gesellschaft fur Schleswig Holsteinische Geschichte herausgegeben S 310 341 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg AugustenburgHouse of OldenburgBorn 19 July 1798 Died 11 March 1869Preceded byFrederick Christian II Duke of Augustenburg1814 1869 Succeeded byFrederick VIII Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christian August II Duke of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Augustenburg amp oldid 1185837633, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
