John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev
Encyclopedia
John the Elder was the only Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev
. The predicate the Elder is sometimes used to distinguish him from his nephew John the Younger, who held Sønderborg
from 1564 as a partitioned-off duke
. As a co-ruler in the duchies of Holstein and of Schleswig John the Elder is numbered Duke John II, continuing counting John of Denmark as Duke John I of Holstein and of Schleswig.
of Denmark and his second wife Sophie of Pomerania
. As a possible heir to the throne, he enjoyed a careful education and spent several years at the court of his brother-in-law Albert in Königsberg
. This was in Lutheran Ducal Prussia
, a Polish fief, modernized into a secular state from the Teutonic State of Prussia since 1525. This successful policy would be seminal for John's understanding of politics and the state, as he also never became a fully sovereign prince.
and his half-brother of King Christian III
of Denmark. He ruled from Haderslev
Castle and later built Hansborg Castle in his hometown, a magnificent Renaissance castle, situated east of the city.
His territory consisted of the Counties of Haderslev
, including Tørning, Tønder
and Løgumkloster
and this islands of Nordstrand
and Fehmarn
in Schleswig, plus Rendsburg
and some smaller communities in Holstein
.
During his reign, John joined the Reformation
and founded several social and educational institutions, notably the Duke John Hospital in Haderslev. He introduced many reforms to the legal system and was regarded as a dedicated judge. As one of the first rulers between the seas, he sat down for an active land reclamation and coastal protection program, presumably he ruled over the most vulnerable stretch of Schleswig coastline. In 1559, John and Adolf and Christian's successor, his son Frederick II
, occupied the independent peasant republic of Dithmarschen
and divided them among themselves.
John died childless in 1580. After his death, his territory was divided between Adolf and Frederick.
, which was a ducal residence only during his time and has benefited ever since. he is still popular as a sort of patron saint. The largest annual summer festival in Haderslev, the Hertug-Hans-Fest is named after, and the local brewery Fuglsang has named a beer after him (Hertug Hans Pils). Even the Hospital (which he founded) still bears his name. His judgments were fully published in book form (De Hansborgske Dømme).
Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev
Schleswig-Holstein-Hadersleben was a branch line of the House of Oldenburg, and of the territory held by the Duke of this branch.It was founded in 1544 by John II, as was compensated for not inheriting the Danish throne, with parts of Schleswig and Holstein...
. The predicate the Elder is sometimes used to distinguish him from his nephew John the Younger, who held Sønderborg
Sønderborg
Sønderborg Municipality , is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark partially on the Jutland peninsula and partially on the island of Als in south Denmark, at the border with Germany. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 76,236...
from 1564 as a partitioned-off duke
Partitioned-off duke
thumb | upright | John III was the first of the partitioned-off Dukes. After his death his territory was divided into several partitioned off [[microstates]]...
. As a co-ruler in the duchies of Holstein and of Schleswig John the Elder is numbered Duke John II, continuing counting John of Denmark as Duke John I of Holstein and of Schleswig.
Family
John was the son of King Frederick IFrederick I of Denmark
Frederick I of Denmark and Norway was the King of Denmark and Norway. The name is also spelled Friedrich in German, Frederik in Danish, and Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian...
of Denmark and his second wife Sophie of Pomerania
Sophie of Pomerania
Sophie of Pomerania was a Queen consort of Denmark and Norway as the spouse of King Frederick I of Denmark...
. As a possible heir to the throne, he enjoyed a careful education and spent several years at the court of his brother-in-law Albert in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
. This was in Lutheran Ducal Prussia
Ducal Prussia
The Duchy of Prussia or Ducal Prussia was a duchy in the eastern part of Prussia from 1525–1701. It was the first Protestant duchy with a dominant German-speaking population, as well as Polish and Lithuanian minorities...
, a Polish fief, modernized into a secular state from the Teutonic State of Prussia since 1525. This successful policy would be seminal for John's understanding of politics and the state, as he also never became a fully sovereign prince.
Reign as Duke (1544–1580)
From 1544, he ruled the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein jointly with his brother AdolfAdolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp was the first Duke of Holstein-Gottorp from the line of Holstein-Gottorp of the House of Oldenburg....
and his half-brother of King Christian III
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
of Denmark. He ruled from Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
Castle and later built Hansborg Castle in his hometown, a magnificent Renaissance castle, situated east of the city.
His territory consisted of the Counties of Haderslev
Haderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
, including Tørning, Tønder
Tønder
Tønder is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,278 km², and has a total population of 40,367...
and Løgumkloster
Løgumkloster
Løgumkloster , is a town in Tønder municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark with a population of 3,618...
and this islands of Nordstrand
Nordstrand, Germany
Nordstrand is a peninsula and former island in North Frisia on the North Sea coast of Germany. It is part of the Nordfriesland district in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Its area is 50 km², and its population is 2,300...
and Fehmarn
Fehmarn
Fehmarn is an island and - since 2003 - a town on this island in the Baltic Sea, off the eastern coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and ca. 18 kilometers south of the Danish island of Lolland...
in Schleswig, plus Rendsburg
Rendsburg
Rendsburg is a town on the River Eider and the Kiel Canal in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. As of 2006, it had a population of 28,476.-History:...
and some smaller communities in Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
.
During his reign, John joined the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
and founded several social and educational institutions, notably the Duke John Hospital in Haderslev. He introduced many reforms to the legal system and was regarded as a dedicated judge. As one of the first rulers between the seas, he sat down for an active land reclamation and coastal protection program, presumably he ruled over the most vulnerable stretch of Schleswig coastline. In 1559, John and Adolf and Christian's successor, his son Frederick II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
, occupied the independent peasant republic of Dithmarschen
Dithmarschen
Dithmarschen is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Nordfriesland, Schleswig-Flensburg, Rendsburg-Eckernförde, and Steinburg, by the state of Lower Saxony , and by the North Sea.-Geography:The district is located on the North Sea...
and divided them among themselves.
John died childless in 1580. After his death, his territory was divided between Adolf and Frederick.
Legacy
In contrast to most of the dukes of Schleswig and Holstein, posterity has a very positive view of John the Elder. This holds especially for his capital HaderslevHaderslev
Haderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
, which was a ducal residence only during his time and has benefited ever since. he is still popular as a sort of patron saint. The largest annual summer festival in Haderslev, the Hertug-Hans-Fest is named after, and the local brewery Fuglsang has named a beer after him (Hertug Hans Pils). Even the Hospital (which he founded) still bears his name. His judgments were fully published in book form (De Hansborgske Dømme).
Ancestry
Sources
- Thomas Otto Achelis: Haderslev i gamle Dage 1292–1626, Haderslev, 1929
- Troels Fink: Hertug Hans den Ældre, in: Sønderjyske Årbøger, 1997, p. 37–58
- Lennart S. Madsen: Junker Christian og hertug Hans den Ældre, in: Inge Adriansen, Lennart S. Madsen and Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen: De slesvigske hertuger, Aabenraa, 2005, p. 87–118
- Emilie Andersen (ed.): De Hansborgske Registranter, two volumes, Copenhagen 1943 and 1949
- Emilie Andersen (ed.): De Hansborgske Domme 1545–1578, three volumes, Copenhagen, 1994