Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/915

* OLDENBURG. 781 OLDENBURG. largely occupied by moors and heaths. The region Ijcloiigs to llie basins of the Weser and the Knis. It is watered cliiclly by the Ilunte, a tributary of the Weser, and by the Ilaase and Soeste, both tributaries of the Ems. There are al»u a number of small streams llowing into the Jade, an inlet of the Xorth Sea, and there is an extensive canal system for draining i)ur|>oses. The climate is miUl, humid, and somewhat unhealtliful in the marslies of the north. About three-fifths of the total area of Oldenburg proper has been brought under cultivation. The land is divided into small holdings, onlj' 69 of the 5!>,10G holdings of the grand duchy in 1895 containing over 247 acres each. The best land is found in the mar.shy districts on the north. They produce cereals for exjjort, and are famous for their excellent cattle. In the interior, cereals are the chief product, and the proportion of uncultivated land is much greater. The forest area is small. The manufacturing industries are developed but slightly, and the domestic system of production still largely prevails. The chief manufactures are tobacco, corks, woolen yarn, linoleum, brick, knit goods, etc. The rail- ways of the grand duchy had a total length of 343 miles in 1900, and are all operated by the State. The throne of the grand duchy is hereditary in the male line. The Constitution, adopted in 1S49 and revised in 1852, provides for one cluimber, whose members are elected indirectly at the rate of one Deputy for every 10,000 inhabitants. The Landtag ordinarily assembles every three years, and during its intermission is represented by a permanent committee. The principalities of Birkenfeld and Liibeck have separate provincial diets. The executive power is vested in a responsible Minister representing the Grand Duke. Oldenburg is represented by one member in the Bundesrat, and returns three Deputies to the Eeiclistag. For the administra- tion of justice the Duchy of Oldenburg has a provincial court of appeal and a supreme court. The principalities of Birkenfeld and T.iibpck are connected for judicial purposes with Cologne and Hamburg, respectively. The three divisions of the grand duchy have separate budgets, but there is also a common budget for the grand duchy, which derives its rc-enue from customs duties. State domains, and contributions from its constituent States. The budget of the grand duchy balanced in 1900 at .$901,425. The total estimated revenue and ex- penditure for the three constituent States in 1900 were .$1,859,511 and $2,254,770, respectively. The total indebtedness of the three constituent Slates amounted in 1900 to $13,295,700. Popu- lation of the Duchv of Oldenburg in 1890, 279,008; in 1900. 31,8.434. The population of the grand duchy was 354,908 in 1890 and 399,183 in 1900. Over three-fourths of the population is Protestant. Capital. Oldenburg (q.v.). Alost of the inhabitants are of Saxon stock, but there are also found descendants of the Frisians in the nortli and west of the Duchy of Oldenburg, History. The territory now included in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg was in ancient times occupied by the Ccrninnic tribe of the Chauci, who were subscqiumtly merged with the Frisians. Tn the early centuries of the German Kingdom the dukes of Saxony held sway in the region. A Count of Oldenburg first appears about the beginning of the twelfth century. In 1247 Count Ollio II. fouuded the town of Dclnienhorst, and his descendants were henceforth known as counts of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. In 1448 Count Christian of Oldenburg became bj' election King of Denmark. The Keformation was early intro- duced into Oldenburg. After the death of Count Anthony Giinther, without heirs, in 10G7, the territories of Oldenburg passed to the royal house of Denmark. In 1773 Christian VI 1, of Denmark transferred the principality to Paul, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (the future Paul 1. of Russia), who immediately made it over to his cousin, the Prince-Bishop of Liibeck, In 1777 Oldenburg was raised to the rank of a duchy. The present reigning family is descended from Duke Peter, of the line of Holstein-tiottorp. This Prince in 1808 became a member of the Con- federation of the Rhine. He soon grew restive under the obligations imposed upon him by Xapo- leon, and, abandoning the French alliance, left the country, which was thereupon (1810) an- nexed to the French Empire, The victories of the Allies restored Peter to power in 1813. The Congress of Vienna increased the territory of Oldenburg, and raised it to the rank of a grand duchy, llie secularized See of Lii- beck had been annexed to the principality in 1803. The revolutionary movement of 'l848 affected Oldenburg, and in 1849, after having lived for centuries without even a show of con- stitutional or legislative freedom, the country entered suddenly into possession of the most liberal of constitutions. The reaction in favor of absolutism, which the want of purpose of the popular party induced, led in 1852 to a revision and modification of the Constitution, In the Seven Weeks' War Oldenburg sided with Prus- sia, and afterwards joined the North (ierman Confederation. In 1806 a treaty was concluded with Prussia, by which the Grand Duke re- nounced his claims to the Holstein succession in return for the cession of ii small jjortion of Hol- stein territory and an indemnity. In 1871 Olden- burg became part of the new CJerman Empire. Consult: Jalirhuch fiir die Oeschichfe (fcs Eerzogtums Oldcnhurg (Oldenburg) ; Kollmann, Das Herzogtum Oldenburg (ib,, 1893) ; Erdmann, Geschichte der politischrn Bru<'gungcn in Olden- burg (ib„ 1897) ; Pleitner, Oldenburg im 19. Jahrhuitdcrt (ib,, 1899-1901). OLDENBURG. The capital of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, on the Hunte, and the Hunte-Ems Canal, 25 miles west of Bremen (Jlap: Gernuiny. B 2). Its Church of Saint Lambert, built in the thirteenth century, and restored in 1874, contains the vaults of the leigning family. The palace, surrouniled with fine gardens, has a choice collection of paintings and sculptures, and a large library. The city has a museum of natural history, a gj'ninasium, a higher Heulsnliule, and a public library of over 100,000 volumes. There are manufactures of glass, cigars, leather, machinery, and musical instruments. There is a trade in grain and cattle. Population, in 1890, 23,118: in 1900, 26,635. Oldenburg is mentioned as early as 1108, It became a city in 1345. OLDENBURG, ITorsE of. A princely family which has given rulers to a number of European countries. Count Dietrich the Fortunate, of Oldenburg, married in 1424 the daughtea' of Ger-