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
Died3 April 1970(1970-04-03) (aged 72)
Rastede, West Germany
SpousePrincess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Anne-Marie von Schutzbar gennant Milchling
IssueAnton-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
HouseHolstein-Gottorp
FatherFrederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg
MotherDuchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
ReligionLutheranism

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

Early life

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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.[1]

Marriage and issue

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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,[2] and they had issue.

His wife died in 1948, he married secondly on 20 September 1950 in Güldenstein to Anne-Marie von Schutzbar gennant Milchling (1903–1991), former wife of Count Bechtold von Bernstorff,[3] daughter of Rudolf von Schutzbar gen. Milchling (1853-1935) and his wife, Rose Marston (1872-1957).[2] They had no children.

Ancestry

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Notes and sources

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  1. ^ https://www.genealogics.org/relationship.php?altprimarypersonID=I00023385&savedpersonID=&secondpersonID=I00007180&maxrels=1&disallowspouses=0&generations=6&tree=LEO&primarypersonID=I00023385
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, 1997, p. 79.
  • Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Reference: 1971
Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg
Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg
Born: 10 August 1897 Died: 3 April 1970
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Grand Duke of Oldenburg
1931–1970
Reason for succession failure:
Grand Duchy abolished in 1918
Succeeded by