John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

Johann Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp (27 February 1575 – 31 March 1616) was a Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.

John Adolf
John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Reign	18 October 1590 – 31 March 1616
Predecessor	Philip
Successor	Frederick III
Born	27 February 1575 Gottorf Castle
Died	31 March 1616(1616-03-31) (aged 41) Schleswig
Burial	Schleswig Cathedral
Spouse	Augusta of Denmark ​ (m. 1596)​
Issue Detail	Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Elisabeth Sofie, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg [da] Adolf of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp [da] Dorothea Augusta, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön. Hedwig, Countess Palatine of Sulzbach [da] Princess Anna John X of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp
House	Holstein-Gottorp, Oldenburg
Father	Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Mother	Christine of Hesse

Life

He was a third son of Duke Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp and his wife Christine of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel). He became the first Lutheran Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck (1586–1607) and the Administrator of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen (1589–1596). He became the Duke after the deaths of his two elder brothers; as Duke of a sovereign state in the early 17th century, he became involved with the religious wars of the time.^[1]

After succeeding his brother as Duke in 1590, the Bremian Chapter enforced his resignation in favour of his younger brother John Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince-Bishop.

Diplomatic efforts

John Adolf entered into a secret treaty with his cousin, King Christian IV, to suppress the nobility,^[2] in 1608.^[3] He wrote at least one diplomatic letter to Queen Elizabeth I.^[4]

Patronages

See also: Royal patronage

He donated to the Hamburg Confraternity of Saint Anne of the Iceland Merchants, which indicated that he was involved in trade with Iceland.^[5] He was also a patron of touring English theatre troupes.^[6]

Family and children

He was married on 30 August 1596 to Princess Augusta of Denmark, daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark. They had the following children:

1. Frederick III of Holstein-Gottorp (22 December 1597 – 10 August 1659).
2. Elisabeth Sofie (12 October 1599 – 25 November 1627), married on 5 March 1621 to Duke Augustus of Saxe-Lauenburg.
3. Adolf (15 September 1600 – 19 September 1631).
4. Dorothea Auguste (12 May 1602 – 13 March 1682), married in 1633 to Joachim Ernest, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön.
5. Hedwig (23 December 1603 – 22 March 1657), married on 15 July 1620 to Augustus, Count Palatine of Sulzbach.
6. Anna (19 December 1604 – 20 March 1623).
7. John (18 March 1606 – 21 February 1655).
8. Christian, died young in 1609.

Ancestors

Ancestors of John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

16. Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg 8. Christian I of Denmark 17. Hedvig of Holstein 4. Frederick I of Denmark 18. John, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 9. Dorothea of Brandenburg 19. Barbara of Saxe-Wittenberg 2. Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp 20. Eric II, Duke of Pomerania 10. Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania 21. Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp 5. Sophie of Pomerania 22. Casimir IV Jagiellon 11. Anna Jagiellon 23. Elizabeth of Austria 1. John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp 24. Louis II, Landgrave of Lower Hesse 12. William II, Landgrave of Hesse 25. Mechthild of Württemberg-Urach 6. Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse 26. Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg 13. Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 27. Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin 3. Christine of Hesse 28. Albert III, Duke of Saxony 14. George, Duke of Saxony 29. Sidonie Podiebrad 7. Christine of Saxony 30. Casimir IV Jagiellon (= 22) 15. Barbara Jagiellon 31. Elizabeth of Austria (= 23)

See also

• History of Schleswig-Holstein