Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

Peter II (8 July 1827 – 13 June 1900) was the reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg from 1853 to 1900. He claimed hereditary parts of Duchy of Holstein after the Second Schleswig War in 1864. After signing a treaty on 23 February 1867 in Kiel, he renounced his claims. In return, he received the district of Ahrensbök and the Prussian parts of the former Principality of Lübeck other than the village of Travenhorst, and was given a million taler as compensation from Prussia. Thus the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg gained access to the Baltic Sea.

Birth and family Duke Nikolaus Friedrich Peter was the only son of Augustus, Grand Duke of Oldenburg by his second wife Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. He was born on 8 July 1827 in Oldenburg.

Early life In his youth, he served as a General of Cavalry in the Prussian army. He also served as General of Infantry in the Hanoverian Army. Peter ruled over a population of roughly 800,000. She died a year after their daughter-in-law Elisabeth Anna.

After he suffered from heart trouble resulting from overwork, Peter's physicians recommended he have a long trip abroad. He died the following year, on 13 June 1900 at his summer residence in Rastede. Grand Cross of the White Falcon, 25 May 1847 Ernestine duchies: Grand Cross of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, June 1847 Ascanian duchies: Grand Cross of Albert the Bear, 30 November 1847 Kingdom of Prussia: Knight of the Black Eagle, 17 May 1850; with Collar, 1868 Grand Cross of the Red Eagle, 8 August 1866 Iron cross 2nd class 1870 Knight of the Elephant, 2 April 1853 Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, 3 April 1853 Knight of the House Order of Fidelity, 1853 Grand Cross of the Zähringer Lion, 1853 Knight of St. Hubert, 1853 Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold, 10 April 1853 Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown, 1853 Knight of St. George, 1855 Grand Cross of St. Stephen, 1858 Knight of the Rue Crown, 1876

Ancestry and descent Ancestry

Issue NameBirthDeathNotes Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg 16 November 1852 24 February 1931 married firstly Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia and secondly Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Duke Georg Ludwig of Oldenburg 27 June 1855 30 November 1939