County of Oldenburg

Territory of the Holy Roman Empire

The county of Oldenburg (Latin Oldenburgensis or Oldenburgicus Comitatus ) was a territory of the Holy Roman Empire, which the Lower Rhenish - Westphalian Circle and since 1653 the Westphalian Reichsgraf College of the Reichstag was a member since 1500.

History

Middle Ages

The county developed around the 1108 settlement was first mentioned in Oldenburg. The Count of Oldenburg came from a royal house in the root of Rüstringer Friesen. Throughout history, the counts were able to gain larger areas. After the battle of Altenesch the Oldenburg acquired the land in 1234 which also Frisian Stedinger, later, several Frisian areas ( Butjadingen, Rüstringen, were ). Initially a vassal of the Saxon princes Guelph Henry the Lion, they used the deposed by Emperor Barbarossa to independence.

Early Modern Times

Larger importance was the house of Oldenburg, as Count Dietrich of Oldenburg ( † 1440), a daughter of Gerhard VI. married of Schleswig- Holstein - Rendsburg. Dietrich's younger son led the Counts of Oldenburg - line on, which became extinct in 1667. Dietrich's older son Christian was elected in 1448 as a Christian I, King of Denmark and 1460 for the ruler of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. 1575 the House of Oldenburg inherited the dominion of Jever. In the 16th century the county became Lutheran during the Reformation, with the exception of direct imperial rule Kniphausen, which was reformed. 1647 County Delmenhorst, originally the seat of a branch line of the county of Oldenburg was awarded again. In 1667, after Count Anton Günther died without heirs, inherited this line also Oldenburg, which was thus in personal union with the crown of Denmark and the Danish flag led. Administratively, the territory was administered by the German firm in Copenhagen. However, Jever and Kniphausen were ( a rule in Accum, on the outskirts of present-day Wilhelmshaven ) is not affected. The rule Jever was bequeathed to the Principality of Anhalt- Zerbst, and came by the Zerbst division in 1795 as a so-called Kunkellehen in the possession of the Empress Catherine II, née Princess of Anhalt- Zerbst.

Increase in the Imperial Prince

By country exchange in the house Gottorp by the Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo (Holstein -Gottorp went to Denmark) is ruled by Danish governors County in 1774 collected by Emperor Joseph II in the imperial princes and henceforth referred to as the Duchy of Oldenburg.

See also

  • List of Counts of Oldenburg
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