Historical overview
Schloss Glücksburg and the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg can look back on a history spanning more than 400 years. It is characterized by change, political alliances and family connections that extend far beyond the borders of Schleswig-Holstein. Even today, the castle embodies the history that has shaped Europe right up to the present day.
The descendants of Christian IX can be found today in almost all European royal houses - including Belgium, England, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Germany and Austria. Hardly any other family has had such a lasting impact on the history of the European aristocracy.
Glücksburg House today
Friedrich Ferdinand Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg is the current head of the Glücksburg family. After the death of his father, he took over the management of the Glücksburg Castle Foundation, continuing a family tradition that goes back over a hundred years.
He is committed to the preservation of the castle and its cultural and historical significance. His commitment forms the basis for passing on the castle's heritage to future generations.
The castle as a cultural beacon
Christoph Prinz zu Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg shaped Glücksburg Castle for over four decades as Chairman of the Glücksburg Castle Foundation. He devoted himself intensively to the preservation of the castle and the promotion of art, culture and monument protection.
Under his leadership, the castle developed into a cultural beacon of Schleswig-Holstein. With his four children, Sophie (1983), Friedrich Ferdinand (1985), Constantin (1986) and Leopold (1991) from his marriage to Elisabeth Princess zur Lippe-Weissenfeld, he laid the foundations for the next generation of the family.
Leadership in social change
From 1965, Duke Peter (Friedrich Ernst Peter von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg) led the House of Glücksburg through the foothills of the post-war period and a phase of great social change. He was married to Princess Maria Alix zu Schaumburg-Lippe, with whom he had four children, including his successor Christoph Prinz zu Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.
A duke in an age of upheaval
Friedrich's full name was Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Günther Albert Adolf Georg Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and he took over the duchy in 1934 after the death of his father Friedrich Ferdinand. His life and time in office coincided with a politically turbulent era characterized by two world wars and profound social upheavals.
Despite these challenges, he managed to preserve the family continuity. He led Haus Glücksburg into the period of reconstruction after 1945. In 1949, with the support of the reform pedagogue Kurt Hahn, he founded the Louisenlund Foundation, which still exists today as a school and boarding school.
In the circle of the emperor
Friedrich Ferdinand Georg Christian Karl Wilhelm von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg left his mark on the House of Glücksburg during the imperial era, as Glücksburg belonged to the Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein after 1867. Through his marriage to Caroline Mathilde von Augustenburg, the family was closely linked to the German imperial family. The imperial couple Wilhelm II and Auguste Viktoria were frequent guests in Glücksburg - a sign of the high status of the house at the time. Friedrich Ferdinand strengthened the role of the House of Glücksburg as part of the European aristocracy.
Return of the dukes and transition to Prussia
(JG) The keeper of the younger Glücksburg line
Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg succeeded his brother Charles as Duke of Glücksburg. Although his term of office was comparatively short, he ensured the continuation of the line and was the only brother of King Christian IX of Denmark to leave descendants. He and his family successfully continued the younger line.
(JG) Loss, banishment and the recovery of the castle
Duke Karl von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg took over the leadership of the younger Glücksburg line after the death of his father Friedrich Wilhelm. He was happily married to Wilhelmine, daughter of the Danish King Frederick VI, but the marriage remained childless.
He served in the Schleswig-Holstein army from 1831-1851. After the war, he therefore temporarily lost his rights, was expelled from the country and was only rehabilitated in 1853. On May 19, 1863, the city of Kiel awarded him honorary citizenship on the occasion of his silver wedding anniversary. In 1871, Glücksburg Castle was returned to him - a turning point that strengthened the house once again.
(JG) The father-in-law of Europe
Christian IX of Denmark was born Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg in 1818 and married Princess Luise of Hesse-Kassel in 1842. He became King of Denmark in 1863. The European success story of the House of Glücksburg began with him. He is considered the "father-in-law of Europe", as his descendants still reign in several royal houses on the continent today.
His eldest daughter Alexandra married the future Edward VII of England, daughter Dagmar became the wife of the Russian Tsar Alexander III as Maria Fyodorovna, and the youngest daughter Thyra married Duke Ernst August of Cumberland, the pretender to the throne of Hanover.
His sons also carried the Glücksburg name into the world. As early as 1863, the Greek National Assembly elected Christian's son Wilhelm as King of the Hellenes - as George I of Greece. Later, in 1905, his grandson Carl ascended the Norwegian throne as Haakon VII.
To this day, the Danish royal family is a direct descendant of Christian IX - as are the Norwegian and Greek royal families. The House of Glücksburg thus remains deeply rooted in European history.
(JG) Founder of the younger line
Friedrich Wilhelm Paul Leopold von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck founded the younger line of the Glücksburg dukes in 1825. His marriage in 1810 to Louise Karoline von Hessen-Kassel strengthened the connection to the Danish royal family.
In 1824, he received Glücksburg Castle as a gift and thus laid the foundation for the new line. Despite his early death, he laid the foundations for the later rise of the house, particularly through his son Christian IX.
The Beck line
(BL) The progenitor of the Beck line
August Philipp Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck was the progenitor of the Beck line, which took its name from the Beck estate near Minden. Although the line did not have its own domain, it maintained ducal rank and cultivated close relations with the courts of Europe. His 12 descendants, from three marriages, carried on the tradition of the house for generations. This line later gave rise to the younger Glücksburg line.
(BL) Architect of the future of Glücksburg
Alexander of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, son of John the Younger, continued his father's Sonderburg line. His marriage to Princess Dorothea of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen produced 10 children. His family laid the foundations for the later Beck and Glücksburg lines. He was a central figure in the early dynastic development of the house. His work was characterized by securing the estate and strengthening family ties.
The older Glücksburg line
(ÄG) The end of the older Glücksburg line
As the last duke of the older Glücksburg line, Friedrich Heinrich Wilhelm von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg entered Danish service at an early age and became a major general at the age of 29. His marriage remained childless, so that the line became extinct with him.
His life was characterized by military discipline and close ties to Denmark. After the death of his widow Anna Carolina von Nassau-Saarbrücken, Glücksburg Castle and the title fell to Duke Friedrich Wilhelm from the Beck line, who founded the younger Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg line.
(ÄG) Back to old borders
Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg continued the tradition of his ancestors and embarked on a military career himself. In order to pay off debts, he had to sell off parts of the ducal estate, as a result of which the territory returned to its original size.
He was known for his sense of duty and family responsibility. He had six children with his wife Countess Henriette Auguste zu Lippe-Detmold.
(ÄG) The Glücksburg in the service of the crown
Philipp Ernst von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg was the only Glücksburg duke to make a career outside the duchy. He entered Danish military service at the age of 19 and served in the Danish army, with which he fought in Flanders from 1692-1695. He forged a close relationship with King Frederick IV.
Even after his return to Glücksburg in 1698, he remained in Danish service. As a Knight of the Order of the Elephant (the highest and oldest Danish order of knighthood), he was regarded as a respected military man and diplomat. His three marriages strengthened the dynastic ties of the house.
(ÄG) Between diplomacy and tragedy
As Duke, Duke Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg continued his father's innovative administrative policy. His marriage to the educated Sibylle Ursula von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel is considered one of the most remarkable unions of the house.
He was involved in protracted disputes with the Danish king, which he eventually settled diplomatically. Christian was married twice and became a father 11 times, with only three children reaching adulthood.
(ÄG) The founder of the Elder Line
Philipp von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg was the founder of the older Glücksburg line and the first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg from 1622 to 1663.
Following the death of his brother Christian on the island of Ærø in 1633, he inherited part of the island. Overall, he was able to almost double his possessions. His reign was characterized by reconstruction work, modernization and economic consolidation. He laid the foundations for over 150 years of Glücksburg history.
