OLDENBURG, a title of the royal house of Denmark. The origin of this illustrious family, we are told, is this:—
On the death of Christopher king of Denmark, &c. in 1448, without issue, there was a great contest about the succession; and a variety of factions were raised, particularly in Sweden and Norway, for the promotion of different persons; and various animosities and numerous discords were excited by the several parties, in order each to obtain their own ends.
As soon as these intrigues were known in Denmark, the senate resolved to proceed to the election of a king; for it did not appear expedient to commit the government of affairs to the queen dowager, at a time when they had every thing to fear from the two neighbouring crowns. At this time a lord of great weight, property, and ambition, fought the queen in marriage, the more easily to pave his way to the throne. This is a fact mentioned by Pontanus and Meursius, though neither takes notice of his name. But as for a great number of years there was no precedent for electing a king out of the body of nobility, though agreeable to law, the queen entered into the views of the senate, and declared she would give her hand to no prince who should not be judged deserving of the crown by the supreme council of the nation.
The advantages which would have accrued from annexing the duchy of Stedwick and Holstein to the crown, made the senate first cast their eyes on Adolphus. This matter required no long deliberation; all saw the conveniences resulting from such an union, and gave their assent. Immediately an embassy was despatched with the offer to Adolphus; but that prince consulting the good of his subjects, whose interest would have been absorbed in the superior weight of Denmark, declined it, with a moderation and disinterestedness, altogether uncommon among princes. However, that he might not be wanting in respect to the senate, he proposed to them his nephew Christian, second son to Theodoric, count of Oldenburg, a prince bred up at the court of Adolphus from his infancy. The proposition was so agreeable to the senate, that, without loss of time, the ambassadors were sent to Theodoric, to demand either of his sons he should pitch upon for their king. Theodoric's answer to the ambassadors was remarkable: "I have three sons, says he, of very opposite qualities. One is passionately fond of pleasure and women; another breathes nothing but war, without regarding the justice of the cause; but the third is moderate in his disposition, prefers
R
prefers
Oldenburg prefers peace to the din of arms, yet stands unrivalled in valour, generosity, and magnanimity." He said he painted these characters for the senate's information, desiring they would choose which of the young princes they believed would render the kingdom happiest. It was a matter which would admit of no hesitation: with one voice the senate declared for that prince whose panegyric the father had so warmly drawn; and under these happy auspices commenced the origin of the grandeur of the house of Oldenburg, at this day seated on the throne of Denmark.