Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg

Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg (German: Nikolaus Friedrich Wilhelm von Holstein-Gottorp, Erbgroßherzog von Oldenburg; 10 August 1897 – 3 April 1970) was the eldest son of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, who was the last ruling Grand Duke of Oldenburg.

Nikolaus
Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Born	(1897-08-10)10 August 1897 Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg
Died	3 April 1970(1970-04-03) (aged 72) Rastede, West Germany
Spouse	Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont Anne-Marie von Schutzbar gennant Milchling
Issue	Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg Duchess Rixa Duke Peter Eilika, Princess of Leiningen Duke Eigilmar Duke Friedrich August Altburg, Baroness Rüdiger von Erffa Duke Huno Duke Johann
Names German: Nikolaus Friedrich Wilhelm
House	Holstein-Gottorp
Father	Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Mother	Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Religion	Lutheranism

In 1931, Nikolaus succeeded to his father's titles and assumed the role of pretender to the Grand Duchy, until his death in 1970.

Early life

Nikolaus was born at Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, the third child and first son of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1852–1931) (son of Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg) and his wife, Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1869–1955) (daughter of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt).

He was a first cousin of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and with his wife and other family members was a guest at her 1937 wedding to Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage

Nikolaus married on 26 October 1921 in Arolsen to Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1899–1948), only daughter of Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his wife, Princess Bathildis of Schaumburg-Lippe.^[1] and they had issue.

• Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg (16 January 1923 – 20 September 2014), married Princess Ameli of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg 7 August 1951, and had issue.
• Duchess Rixa (28 March 1924 – 1 April 1939), who died after she fell off her horse.
• Duke Peter (7 August 1926 – 18 November 2016), married Princess Gertrud of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (24 Jan 1926-4 Feb 2011; sister of Princess Ameli of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg) on 7 August 1951, and had issue.
• Duchess Eilika (2 February 1928 - 26 January 2016), a bridesmaid at the 1937 wedding of Juliana of the Netherlands., married Emich, 7th Prince of Leiningen 10 August 1950, and had issue.
• Duke Egilmar (14 October 1934 - 2013)
• Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg (11 January 1936 - 9 July 2017), married Princess Marie Cécile of Prussia 4 December 1965, divorced 1989, and had issue. He remarried Countess Donata of Castell-Rüdenhausen 9 February 1991.
• Duchess Altburg (14 October 1938), married Baron Rüdiger von Erffa (born on 19 April 1936) on 8 July 1967 and had issue (five sons and twelve grandchildren):
• Duke Huno Friedrich Peter Max of Oldenburg (3 January 1940), married Countess Felicitas-Anita Schwerin von Krosigk (born 5 July 1941) on 6 June 1970 and had issue, including Beatrix von Storch.
• Duke Johann Friedrich of Oldenburg (3 January 1940), married Countess Ilka of Ortenburg (born 29 June 1942) on 9 October 1971 and had issue, including Archduchess Eilika of Austria.

His wife died in 1948, he married secondly on 20 September 1950 in Güldenstein to Anne-Marie von Schutzbar gennant Milchling (1903–1991), daughter of Rudolf von Schutzbar gen. Milchling and Rose Marston.^[1] They had no children.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg

8. Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg 4. Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg 9. Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym 2. Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg 10. Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 5. Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg 11. Duchess Amelia of Württemberg 1. Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg 12. Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 6. Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 13. Princess Alexandrine of Prussia 3. Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 14. Prince Adolf of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 7. Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 15. Princess Mathilde of Schönburg-Waldenburg

Notes and sources

1. C. Arnold McNaughton, The Book of Kings: A Royal Genealogy, in 3 volumes (London, U.K.: Garnstone Press, 1973), volume 1, page 206. Hereinafter cited as The Book of Kings.

• Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Reference: 1971

Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg House of Holstein-Gottorp Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg Born: 10 August 1897 Died: 3 April 1970
Titles in pretence
Preceded by Frederick Augustus II	— TITULAR — Grand Duke of Oldenburg 1931–1970 Reason for succession failure: Grand Duchy abolished in 1918	Succeeded by Anton-Günther