Religion Lutheranism | Name Christian, of | |
 | ||
Spouse Countess Caroline zu Rantzau Issue Duke AlexanderDuke PhilippDuke Anton FriedrichDuchess Katharina Mother Princess Ameli of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg | ||
Christian, Duke of Oldenburg (German: Christian Nikolaus Udo Peter Herzog von Oldenburg; born 1 February 1955) is the head of the Grand Ducal Family of Oldenburg.
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Family and life
Christian was born in Rastede, Lower Saxony, the only son of Duke Anton-Günther of Oldenburg and his wife Princess Ameli of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (b. 1923). Christian has an elder sister, Duchess Helene (b. 1953) who is unmarried. Christian has a diplom in Business.
Christian is a great-grandson of the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg to reign, Frederick Augustus II and through his mother he is related to the Princes of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, who belong to a morganatic branch of the House of Wittelsbach descending from Frederick I, Elector Palatine.
Christian became heir to the headship of the Grand Ducal family on 3 April 1970 when his grandfather Hereditary Grand Duke Nikolaus died. Under the monarchy the Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duke and their wives were entitled to the style Royal Highness. First as heir to the headship of the House and now head of the House Christian bears this style.
Marriage and children
Christian married Countess Caroline zu Rantzau (b. 1962) at Pronstorf on 26 September 1987. They have four children: