John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev
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John the Elder | |
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Hansborg Castle, Haderslev, Denmark | |
Burial | February 1581 |
House | Oldenburg |
Father | King Frederick I of Denmark |
Mother | Sophie of Pomerania |
Religion | Lutheranism |
Danish Royalty |
House of Oldenburg Main Line |
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Frederick I |
John of Denmark or John the Elder (aka Hans the Elder) (German: Johann der Ältere or Hans der Ältere; Danish: Hans den Ældre;) (29 June 1521 - 1 October 1580; born and died in Haderslev) 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 as John II, continuing counting King John of Denmark as John I, Duke of Holstein and Schleswig.[citation needed]
Family
John was the son of King
Reign as Duke (1544–1580)
From 1544, John ruled the duchies of
His territory consisted of the
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 the Schleswig coastline. In 1559, John, his brother Adolf, and King Christian's successor, Frederick II of Denmark, occupied the independent peasant Republic of Dithmarschen, and divided it among themselves.
John died unmarried and childless in 1580. After his death, his territory was divided between his brother and nephew, Adolf and Frederick II of Denmark respectively.
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 Haderslev, 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
Ancestors of John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Haderslev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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