Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp

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Adolf of Denmark
Duke Adolf in cuirass, painting by an unknown author, 1586.
Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Reign	1544–1586
Predecessor	Christian III of Denmark
Successor	Frederick II of Holstein-Gottorp Frederick II of Denmark and Norway
Born	25 January 1526
Died	1 October 1586(1586-10-01) (aged 60)
Spouse	Christine of Hesse
Issue	Frederick II, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Sophia, Duchess of Mecklenburg Philip, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Christine, Queen of Sweden Elisabeth Johann Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Anna, Countess of East Frisia Bishop John Frederick
Father	Frederick I of Denmark
Mother	Sophie of Pomerania

Danish Royalty
House of Oldenburg Main Line
Frederick I
Children Christian III Dorothea, Duchess of Prussia John the Elder, Duke of Holstein-Haderslev Elizabeth, Duchess of Mecklenburg Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Princess Anna Dorothea, Duchess of Mecklenburg Frederick, Bishop of Hildesheim and Schleswig
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Adolf of Denmark or Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp (25 January 1526 –1 October 1586) was the first Duke of Holstein-Gottorp from the line of Holstein-Gottorp of the House of Oldenburg.

He was the third son of King Frederick I of Denmark and his second wife, Sophie of Pomerania. King Frederick I had his son educated by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. He spent four years at the Landgrave's castle in Kassel.

In 1544, Adolf, his brother Johann, and their half-brother King Christian III of Denmark, divided the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The areas were divided according to approximately equal tax proceeds. Adolf, as the youngest, was entitled to the first choice. Since he selected the part with the castle Gottorp, the line of the house Oldenburg created by him was called Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp.