Städte Oldenburg, Neustadt, Heiligenhafen, and Lütjenburg
The site of Oldenburg has been well settled for millennia. Between 972 and 1163, it was the seat of the local diocese until the seat was moved to Lübeck. The modern city was legally recognized as such in 1235. Neustadt was founded in 1245 and seems to have been instantly recognized as a city. Both cities were assigned to Holstein-Gottorp in the partition of 1544 and did not revert to the core duchy until 1773.
Lütjenburg was granted city rights in 1275 and Heiligenhafen followed in 1305. After the 1544 partition, they remained part of the core duchy.
Chronological list of countries to which Oldenburg and Neustadt belonged
- Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp 1544 - 1773
- Duchy of Holstein (unified) 1773 - 1864
Chronological list of countries to which Lütjenburg and Heiligenhafen belonged
- Duchy of Holstein (-Segeberg) 1544 - 1648
- Duchy of Holstein (-Glückstadt) 1648 - 1773
- Duchy of Holstein (unified) 1773 - 1864