Adolf IV of Holstein

Adolf IV (before 1205 8 July 1261), was a Count of Schauenburg (1225–1238) and of Holstein (1227–1238), of the House of Schaumburg. Adolf was the eldest son of Adolf III of Schauenburg and Holstein by his second wife, Adelheid of Querfurt.

Adolf IV
Count of Holstein
Reign1227 - 1238
PredecessorValdemar II of Denmark
SuccessorGerhard I
John
Count of Schauenburg
Reign1225 - 1238
PredecessorAdolf III
SuccessorGerhard I
Bornbefore 1205
Died(1261-07-08)8 July 1261
the Franciscan Friary in Kiel
SpouseHeilwig of Lippe
IssueMechtild, Queen of Denmark
John I, Count of Holstein-Kiel
Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe
Ludolf
HouseHouse of Schauenburg
FatherAdolf III, Count of Holstein
MotherAdelheid of Querfurt

Life

Adolf IV in a sarcophagus: an ideal portrait painted about 1450, originally the lower part of a double portrait in the Maria-Magdalenen-Kloster, Kiel. At 2.77 metres long, the figure is greater than life-size

Adolf IV won several victories against the Danes. In 1225 he won the Battle of Mölln against Albert II, Count of Weimar-Orlamünde. On 22 July 1227 with his coalition army Adolf was victorious in the Battle of Bornhöved against King Valdemar II of Denmark with his Danish army and German allies (the Welfs), and thus regained Holstein. In 1235 he founded Kiel and in 1238 Itzehoe. In 1238 he took part in a crusade in Livonia.

In fulfilment of an oath taken during the heat of the Battle of Bornhöved, Adolf withdrew in 1238 to a Franciscan friary and in 1244 was ordained a priest in Rome (his two under-age sons passed into the guardianship of his son-in-law Duke Abel of Schleswig). Also in 1244 he founded Neustadt in Holstein. He died in 1261 in the Franciscan friary in Kiel, which he himself had founded, whereupon Holstein was divided between his sons John (of Holstein-Kiel) and Gerhard (of Holstein-Itzehoe).

Marriage and issue

He married Heilwig of Lippe, daughter of Herman II, Lord of Lippe and by her had the following children:

Sources


Adolf IV of Holstein
Born: before 1205 Died: 8 July 1261
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Valdemar II of Denmark
Count of Holstein
12271238
Succeeded by
John I and
Gerhard I
Preceded by
Adolf III
Count of Schauenburg
12251238
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