Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

For other people called Prince Christian, see Prince Christian (disambiguation).
Christian August II
Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
Reign 14 June 1814 - 11 March 1869
Predecessor Frederick Christian II
Successor Frederick VIII
Born (1798-07-19)19 July 1798
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died 11 March 1869(1869-03-11) (aged 70)
Primkenau (now Przemków), Kingdom of Prussia
Spouse Countess Louise Sophie of Danneskiold-Samsøe
Issue Alexander, Hereditary Prince
Princess Louise Auguste
Princess Caroline Amelie
Princess Wilhelmine
Frederick VIII
Prince Christian
Princess Henriette
Full name
English: Christian Charles Frederick Augustus
Danish: Christian Carl Frederik August
German: Christian Karl Friedrich August
House Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
Father Frederick Christian II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
Mother Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark
Religion Lutheranism

Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (19 July 1798 – 11 March 1869, Christian Carl Frederik August), usually simply known by just his first name, Christian, Duke of Augustenborg, was a claimant of the rulership of the provinces of Slesvig and Holstein, and a fiefholder of Augustenborg and Sønderborg. He was a prince of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg and a cadet-line descendant of the Danish royal House of Oldenburg.

He was the eldest son and heir of Louise Auguste of Denmark and Frederik Christian II, Duke of Augustenborg. As such, he was close to succeed in the Danish throne. He was the brother-in-law of King Christian VIII and nephew of King Frederick VI.

In 1848, Schleswig-Holstein had broken out into open insurrection on German-nationalistic motives. A provisional government had been established at Kiel under the Duke of Augustenborg, who travelled to Berlin to secure the assistance of Prussia in asserting his rights. The First War of Schleswig ensued.

However, European powers were united in opposing any dismemberment of Denmark. Among others, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, speaking with authority as Head of the elder Holstein-Gottorp line, regarded the Duke of Augustenborg a rebel. Russia had guaranteed Schleswig to the Danish crown by the treaties of 1767 and 1773.

A treaty of peace between Prussia and Denmark was signed at Berlin on 2 July 1850. Both parties reserved all their antecedent rights. Denmark was satisfied that the treaty empowered the king-duke to restore his authority in Holstein with or without the consent of the German Confederation. Augustenborg was ousted from any power, as Danish troops now marched in to coerce the refractory duchies.

The question of the Augustenburg succession made an agreement between the big powers impossible, and on March 31, 1852 the duke of Augustenburg resigned his claim in return for a money payment. Duke Christian sold his rights to the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark in aftermath of Treaty of London, but later renounced his rights to the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein in favor of his son Frederik August.

In 1864, his son Frederick of Augustenborg proclaimed himself as Duke of Schleswig and Holstein.

Duke Christian August died 1869.

Marriage and issue

Christian married in 1820 his second cousin Countess Lovisa-Sophie Danneskjold-Samsøe (1797–1867) who was a Danish noblewoman and relative of kings of Denmark, belonging to an illegitimate branch of the House of Oldenburg.

They had seven children:

Ancestry

References

Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg
Born: 19 July 1798 Died: 11 March 1869
Preceded by
Frederick Christian II
Duke of Augustenburg
1814-1869
Succeeded by
Frederick VIII
as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
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