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

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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

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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

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See also

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References

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  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
  NODES
Note 1