Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg

Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg (Anton-Günther Friedrich August Wilhelm Josias von Holstein-Gottorp, Erbgroßherzog von Oldenburg, Prinz von Lübeck; 16 January 1923 – 20 September 2014) was the head of the Grand Ducal Family of Oldenburg.

Anton-Günther
Duke of Oldenburg
Born(1923-01-16)16 January 1923
Lensahn, Germany
Died20 September 2014(2014-09-20) (aged 91)
Harmsdorf, Ostholstein, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
SpousePrincess Ameli of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg
(m. 1951)
IssueDuchess Helene
Christian, Duke of Oldenburg
Names
Anton-Günther Friedrich August Josias von Oldenburg
HouseHolstein-Gottorp
FatherNikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg
MotherPrincess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont
ReligionLutheranism

Life edit

He was born in Lensahn the son of Hereditary Grand Duke Nikolaus of Oldenburg (1897–1970) and his first wife Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1899–1948). Duke Anton-Günther was a grandson of Frederick Augustus II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg, and through his mother a grandson of Friedrich, the last Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont.

He studied for a Diploma in Forestry and succeeded as head of the Grand Ducal Family of Oldenburg upon the death of his father, the Hereditary Grand Duke, on 3 April 1970. He died in September 2014 aged 91.[1]

The ancestral home of the House of Oldenburg is Oldenburg castle, nowadays a museum owned by the state. Private seats of the Duke of Oldenburg are Rastede Palace near Oldenburg and Güldenstein Manor, Harmsdorf, in Schleswig-Holstein. Eutin Castle in Schleswig-Holstein is a museum owned by a family foundation set up by Duke Anton-Günther.

According to his obituary issued by the family his ancestral titles (however not all part of his official German surname) were: HRH The Duke of Oldenburg, Heir in Norway, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen and Oldenburg, Prince of Lübeck and Birkenfeld, Lord of Jever and Knyphausen.

Marriage and children edit

Duke Anton-Günther was married to Princess Ameli of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1923-2016) at Kreuzwertheim on 7 August 1951. They have two children:

The Duke and the Duchess lived at Güldenstein Manor, Harmsdorf, Schleswig Holstein. The Duke also owned Eutin Castle and Rastede Castle.

Ancestry edit

See also edit

Counts, dukes and grand dukes of Oldenburg

References edit

  1. ^ "Adel Oldenburg/Rastede/Lensahn: Oldenburg trauert um Herzog". 23 September 2014.
Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg
Cadet branch of the House of Oldenburg
Born: 16 January 1923 Died: 20 September 2014
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Grand Duke of Oldenburg
3 April 1970 – 20 September 2014
Reason for succession failure:
Grand Duchy abolished in 1918
Succeeded by