Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Friedrich Wilhelm Paul Leopold^[1][2] (4 January 1785; Lindenau, Prussia^[1][2] - 17 February 1831; Gottorp, Schleswig, Duchy of Schleswig^[1][2]) was the first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and founder of a line that includes the Royal Houses of Denmark, Greece, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Friedrich Wilhelm is a grandfather to Alexandra of Denmark, and subsequently is an ancestor to the present-day British Royal Family, including Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Friedrich Wilhelm was born in Lindenau on January 4, 1785 to Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (August 20, 1757 - April 24, 1816)^[1][2] and Countess Friederike of Schlieben (February 28, 1757 - December 17, 1827)^[1][2]. He was the third and last child of the couple.^[1][2]

The prince became heir to his father due to the principle of agnatic primogeniture though he had two older sisters:

• HSH Princess Elisabeth Friederike Sophie Amelie Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (December 13, 1780 - January 19, 1862), married Baron Samuel von Richthofen in 1800.
• HSH Princess Maria Dorothea Henriette Luise of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (September 28, 1783 - November 24, 1803), married Ferdinand Friedrich, Duke of Anhalt-Köthen in 1803.

On January 26, 1810, Friedrich Wilhelm married Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel (September 28, 1789 - March 13, 1867)^[1][2], a granddaughter of Frederik V of Denmark through her mother Princess Louise of Denmark and Norway. Friedrich Wilhelm and Louise Caroline had ten children^[1][2]:

• HSH Princess Luise Marie Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 23, 1810 - May 11, 1869).
• HSH Princess Friederike Karoline Juliane of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 9, 1811 - July 10, 1902).
• Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (September 30, 1813 - October 24, 1878).
• Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 23, 1814 - November 27, 1885).
• HSH Prince Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (April 10, 1816 - September 5, 1893).
• Christian IX of Denmark (April 8, 1818 - January 29, 1906).
• HSH Princess Luise, Abbess of Itzehoe (November 18, 1820 - November 30, 1894).
• HSH Prince Julius of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 14, 1824 - June 1, 1903).
• HSH Prince Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (December 5, 1825 - May 27, 1911).
• HSH Prince Nikolaus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (December 22, 1828 - August 18, 1849).

On March 25, 1816, Friedrich Wilhelm succeeded his father as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. On July 6, 1825, he became Duke of Glücksburg and changed his title to Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. Friedrich Wilhelm died on February 17, 1831 at Gottorp^[1][2].

His grandchildren include among others Frederick VIII of Denmark, Alexandra of Denmark, George I of Greece, and Dagmar of Denmark, and Princess Thyra of Denmark.

[edit] Titles, styles, honours and arms

[edit] Titles and styles

• 4 January 1785 - 25 March 1816: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• 25 March 1816 - 6 July 1825: His Serene Highness The Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
• 6 July 1825 - 17 February 1831: His Serene Highness The Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

[edit] Ancestry

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• A pedigree of the Oldenburg dynasty