Nikolaus (Holstein-Rendsburg)

Seal of Nikolaus von Holstein from around 1342–1343

Nikolaus von Holstein (also Klaus or Claas von Holstein ), * 1321 ; † May 8, 1397 in Itzehoe , was Count of Holstein-Rendsburg from 1340 to 1397 - until 1385 together with his older brother Heinrich II the Iron ("isern Hinerk") and in 1390, as the oldest member of the Rendsburg line, he became heir of Holstein- Plön and Kiel. He was thus the leading count of the North Elbe Schauenburg . Nicholas was never Duke of South Jutland or Schleswig, but called himself the true heir of the Duchy of South Jutland ("verus heres ducatus Sunderjutie").

Life

He was the second son of Gerhard III. (Holstein-Rendsburg) and his wife Sofie von Werle . In 1386, since he had only one daughter, he renounced the enfeoffment with the Duchy of Schleswig in favor of his nephew , after he had ruled over parts as pledger together with his older brother Heinrich since 1340 . Thereupon Gerhard VI. Schleswig from the Danish King Olav II as a fief .

To secure their rule, Nikolaus and his brother had the city of Flensburg fortified around 1345 .

In 1354 Nikolaus married the widow of Otto von Sachsen-Wittenberg , Elisabeth von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, daughter of Wilhelm II. The couple had a daughter.

• Elisabeth (* approx. 1360; † January 25, 1416 in Kammin )

(engaged in 1376) ⚭ Albrecht IV. Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (* 1363; † 1388)

⚭ 1404 Erich V Duke of Saxony-Lauenburg (* approx. 1374 † 1435)

Elisabeth was with Haakon VI since 1362 . (later King of Norway) was engaged. The engagement was broken for political reasons in 1363. Instead, Haakon married Margaret of Denmark .

Nikolaus von Holstein was buried in Itzehoe . His nephew Gerhard VI. became guardian of Elisabeth; Successor as Count von Rendsburg was his youngest nephew Heinrich III with the partition contract of August 28, 1397.

Web links

• fmg.ac

Individual evidence

1. ^ Karl Jansen:  Gerhard VI. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 8, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1878, p. 740 f.
2. ^ Andreas Oeding, Broder Schwensen, Michael Sturm: Flexikon. 725 aha experiences from Flensburg! , Flensburg 2009, article: Niehuus

predecessor	Office	successor
Heinrich	Duke of Schleswig 1340-1386	Gerhard VI.
Gerhard III.	Count of Holstein-Rendsburg 1340-1397	Albrecht II.