Duchies in Sweden have been allotted since the 13th century to powerful Swedes, almost always to princes of Sweden (only in some of the dynasties) and wives of the latter. From the beginning these duchies were often centers of regional power, where their dukes and duchesses had considerable executive authority of their own, under the central power of their kings or queens regnant. Since the reign of King Gustav III the titles have practically been nominal, with which their bearers only rarely have enjoyed any ducal authority, though often maintaining specially selected leisure residences in their provinces and some limited measure of cultural attachment to them.
In Sweden today, Duke (hertig) is considered a dynastical title, and is only given to members of the Royal House (currently Bernadotte). Unlike British dukedoms, for example, these Swedish titles are not hereditary. Modern Swedish duchies have always been named for the historical provinces of Sweden, which are no longer governmental entities. Currently, there are eleven such duchies one of which includes two of the provinces:
The titles today are given to, and kept by, legitimate members of the Swedish royal family for life, except for Swedish monarchs, who do not continue to hold ducal titles after ascending the throne.[1] Only in connection with his ascension in 1973 has the current king occasionally been referred to as King of Sweden and Duke of Jämtland.[2] He became the Duke of Jämtland after his christening, and held that title until his ascension to the Swedish throne in 1973. However, his wife, current Queen Silvia, whom he married in 1976, is not a duchess, and no other queen consorts have ever continued to have any such title either, after their husbands became King. Otherwise, royal spouses of ducal title holders are also created dukes and duchesses upon marriage (this would not include spouses who do not become Swedish royalty, such as those who married former dukes who had given up their titles for unapproved marriages). The first example of a man acquiring the Swedish ducal title of a woman was at the 2010 marriage of Crown Princess Victoria to Prince Daniel. Currently the prerequisite for a ducal title has been assumed by the public to be the position of Prince or Princess of Sweden, and for that being a Swedish citizen, however no definite policy has been published.
The first use in Swedish of the title of hertig was in 1266 by Prince Magnus, son of Princess Ingeborg and Birger Jarl. That title (derived from German "herzog") then replaced the older Nordic "jarl", both translated into the Latin title dux,[3] However, professor of art history Jan Svanberg is of the opinion that since Birger Jarl (died 1266) was depicted with a ducal coronet of English and continental European design, he actually was a duke, and that his Latin title of Dux Sueorum should be given as Duke and Regent of Sweden in English.[4] Svanberg's opinion would then make duchesses of both of Birger's wives Ingeborg (died 1254) and Matilda (died 1288), in English usage.
From the 13th century and until 1618, in some Swedish royal houses, when a king had more than one son, he gave each or some of them duchies to rule as fiefs. The geography of these duchies could be unclear, as they were not always within the boundaries of one province and could also be reallotted with territorial changes. Feuds between a king and ducal brothers were common, and ended at times in assassination and fratricide. There was only one non-royal Swedish duke, Bengt Algotsson, Duke of Halland and Finland in 1350s.
After the Kalmar Union period, just before his death in 1560, King Gustav I continued the tradition by making his sons John, Magnus and Carl powerful dukes, together ruling much more of the kingdom than their older half-brother Eric, who had held a duchy in the southeast. When Eric became King Eric XIV, the imbalance of power his father had created became destructive. John, with the aid of Carl, eventually revolted, dethroned Eric and became king; Magnus proved unimportant due to mental health issues, but Carl's duchy of Södermanland prospered as a separate territory for several decades and also made his eventual rise to the throne possible. His duchy was inherited by his younger son, Carl Philip, who died in 1622 having been the last holder of one of the semi-autonomous Swedish duchies, which his brother, King Gustav II Adolph, officially abolished in 1618.
During the subsequent rule of Queen Christina of Sweden, however, her cousin and heir Carl Gustav of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken was titled Duke of Öland by the Swedish sovereign herself, but her government refused to acknowledge that title officially.[5] His father was created Duke of Stegeborg in 1651, a title that a younger brother of Carl Gustav's eventually inherited.
In 1772, King Gustav III reinstated the appointment of dukes, now non-hereditary, for his brothers as courtesy titles, which added to their international prestige and domestic influence. Since then, all Swedish princes have been created dukes of a province at birth, as well as one Great Prince or Grand Duke of Finland (who died in infancy). During the 20th century, because of constitutional restraints, several princes gave up their royal titles for marriages that were not approved by the King (see Bernadotte af Wisborg). Whether or not they then actually lost their ducal titles too has never been formally or legally determined.
For the first time since the 14th century a princess of Sweden was created duchess in her own right in 1980, coinciding with the amendment of the Act of Succession allowing female succession to the throne. Thus, King Carl XVI Gustaf's eldest daughter Victoria became Crown Princess (displacing her younger brother Carl Philip) and received the title of Duchess of Västergötland. Her younger sister Madeleine was the first princess to be created duchess at birth, and also the first to get a double duchy (see above), roughly corresponding with the modern governmental limits of Gävleborg County. Such modern ducal titles are handled by the King of Sweden personally, are unregulated by law and not registered as names in the Swedish Tax Agency's population census.
Now the title holders are mainly known domestically as Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia, Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Prince Julian, Princess Madeleine, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Princess Adrienne though the ducal titles often are included in formal communication and royal court usage. In writing to them, it is considered correct to address all of them but the Crown Princess by ducal title. As of 1772, the dukes and duchesses do not normally reside permanently within their duchies, though they are associated with them to some extent by making occasional visits, seen as beneficial to public relations for the County Administrative Boards and local business.
Since Magnus III of Sweden was the first bearer of the Swedish title hertig, this list begins, in the chronological aspect, with him.
This list of dukes and duchesses in Sweden excludes minor duchies (individual towns, manors, mines, estates) as well as dominions such as Estonia and Bremen-Verden. For ease of reference, most provinces are listed by their modern Swedish names with Latin or English exonyms,[6] by which many past dukes have been known, given as alternatives. Years given are those during which ducal titles incontestably were held, regardless of subsequent status as monarchs or former royalty. Since the accession of Charles XIII in 1809, the Royal Court of Sweden has neither recognized that ducal titles are continued to be borne by kings, nor that those were still valid that had been given to princes who subsequently lost their royal status (also see Sigvard Bernadotte). There is also no evidence that domestic provincial ducal titles continued to be borne by kings in earlier eras.
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1252–1275 | appointed, became King 1275, died 1290 | ||
| 1275 | Prince Eric | appointed (also Småland), died with title | |
| 1284–1310 | Prince Eric[7] | appointed, gave up title (also Södermanland) 1310, then Duke of Dalsland, North Halland, Värmland & Västergötland | |
| 1318–1321 | widow of previous Eric, appointed & held this title in her own right as regent, continued as Duchess of North Halland | ||
| Title discontinued 1321 |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Bernadotte | |||
| 1831–1873 | Prince August | from birth, died with title | |
| 1864–1914 | Princess Teresia | as wife & widow of Prince August, died with title | |
| 1916–1946 | Prince Carl Johan | from birth, title no longer recognized due to unapproved marriage, died 2012 | |
| 2017–present | Prince Gabriel | from birth | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1310–1318 | Prince Eric | appointed, also Duke of North Halland, Värmland & Västergötland (also see Swealand 1284–1310), died with titles | |
| 1312–1326 | Princess Ingeborg | as wife & widow of Prince Eric, also Duchess of Värmland & Västergötland, deposed, continued as Duchess of North Halland | |
| 1560–1595 | Prince Magnus | see Östergötland (same years) |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1284-1291 | Prince Benedict | appointed, also Bishop of Linköping, died with title | |
| 1302-1318 | Valdemar | appointed, also Duke of Uppland & Öland from 1310, died with titles | |
| 1302-1305 | Christina | as first wife of Waldemar above, until divorce | |
| 1312-1353 | Ingeborg | as second wife and widow of Valdemar above, deposed, continued as Duchess of Öland in her own right, died c.1357 | |
| 1353-1357 | Benedict | appointed, deposed, also Duke of Halland until 1356, died c.1360 | |
| 1465-1467 | Charles | appointed Lord of Finland, became King of Sweden and Finland again in 1467, died in 1470 | |
| 1556-1563 | John | appointed, deposed, became King of Sweden & Finland 1569, died 1592 (see below King John III) | |
| 1562-1563 | Catherine | as (first) wife of Prince John above, deposed, became queen in 1569, died in 1583 | |
| 1589-1606 | John | from birth, deposed, continued as Duke of East Gothland, died with that title 1618 | |
| 1580s-1599 | Kings John III &<br>Sigmund | as monarchs also held the nominal title of Grand Duke of Finland, simultaneously with John just above | |
| 1606-1632 | Gustav Adolph | appointed, also Duke of Estonia 1607-1618, Södermanland 1604-1607 & Västmanland 1610-1611, became King of Sweden and Finland in 1611 |
From the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, Grand duke of Finland was a part of the official titles of the king of Sweden until the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809.
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1859–1888 | Prince Oscar | from birth, title no longer recognized due to non-royal marriage, died 1953 |
| 2014–present | Princess Leonore | from birth |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Halland: 1310–1318 | Prince Eric | see Dalsland (same years) | |
| 1312–1341 | Princess Ingeborg | as wife & widow of Eric above (see further Halland below) | |
| South Halland: 1327–1330 | Lord Canute Porse | second husband of Ingeborg above, appointed, died with title | |
| Halland: 1327–1353 | Duchess Ingeborg (above) | as wife & widow of Lord Canute above & from 1341 in her own right (also see Swealand 1318–1321), deposed | |
| 1330–1350 | Lord Canute Canuteson Porse | son of Ingeborg & Canute above, inherited & held title with brother Hacon below & mother, died with title | |
| 1330–1350 | Lord Hacon Canuteson Porse | son of Ingeborg & Canute above, inherited & held title with brother Canute above & mother, died with title | |
| 1353–1356 | Lord Benedict Algotson | appointed (not royal) & deposed (also Duke of Finland till 1357) | |
| 1356–1361 | Duchess Ingeborg | again appointed in her own right (see 1327-1353 above), died with title | |
| House of Bernadotte | |||
| 1912–1997 | Prince Bertil | from birth, died with title | |
| 1976–2013 | Princess Lilian | as wife & widow of Prince Bertil above, died with title | |
| 2021–present | Prince Julian | from birth | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1560–1604 | Prince Carl | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1579–1589 | Princess Maria | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1592–1604 | Princess Christina | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1607–1618 | Prince Carl Philip | see Södermanland (same years) |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1865–1947 | Prince Eugen | from birth, died with title |
| 1947–present | Vacant | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1310–1318 | Prince Waldemar | appointed, also Duke of Uppland (and Finland from 1302), died with titles | |
| 1312–c.1357 | Princess Ingeborg | as wife & widow of Waldemar above, also Duchess of Uppland (& Finland), died with this title | |
| 1318–c.1328 | Prince Eric | son of Waldemar and Ingeborg above, inherited (at age 2) & held title with mother, died with title | |
| 1557–1560 | Crown Prince Eric | see Småland (same years) | |
| 1650–1654 | Crown Prince Carl Gustav | appointed, became King 1654, died 1660 |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1560–1595 | Prince Magnus | appointed, also Duke of Dalsland, died with titles |
| 1606–1618 | appointed, died with title (also Duke of Finland 1589-1607) | |
| 1612–1618 | Princess Maria Elizabeth | as wife & widow of Prince John above, died with title |
| 1772–1803 | Prince Frederick Adolf | appointed, died with title |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1829–1872 | Prince Oscar | from birth, became King 1872, died 1907 |
| 1857–1872 | Princess Sophia | as wife of Prince Oscar above, became his queen 1872, died 1913 |
| 1911–1937 | Prince Carl | from birth, title no longer recognized due to unapproved marriage, died 2003 |
| 2012–present | Princess Estelle | from birth |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Bernadotte | |||
| 1826–1859 | Prince Carl | from birth, became King 1859, died 1872 | |
| 1850–1859 | Crown Princess Louise | as wife of Carl above, became his queen 1859, died 1871 | |
| 1882–1950 | Prince Gustaf Adolf | from birth, became King 1950, died 1973 | |
| 1904–1920 | Crown Princess Margareta | as first wife of Prince Gustaf Adolf above, died with title | |
| 1923–1950 | Crown Princess Louise | as second wife of Gustaf Adolf above, became his queen 1950, died 1965 | |
| 2016–present | Prince Oscar | from birth | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1275 | Eric | see Swealand (same year) |
| 1557–1560 | Crown Prince Eric | appointed, also Duke of Öland, became King 1560, deposed as such 1569, died 1577 |
| 1782–1783 | Prince Carl Gustav | from birth, died with title |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1909–1932 | Prince Lennart | from birth, title no longer recognized due to unapproved marriage, died 2004 |
| 1932–present | Vacant | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1302–1310 | Prince Eric | see Swealand 1284-1310 |
| 1318–1321 | Duchess Ingeborg | see Swealand (same years) |
| 1560–1604 | Prince Carl | appointed, also Duke of Närke and Värmland, became King 1604, died 1611 |
| 1579–1589 | Princess Maria | as first wife of Prince Carl above, also Duchess of Närke and Värmland, died with titles |
| 1592–1604 | Princess Christina | as second wife of Prince Carl above, also Duchess of Närke and Värmland, became his queen 1604, died 1625 |
| 1604–1607 | Crown Prince Gustav Adolph | appointed, deposed here, later Duke of Västmanland, became King 1611 |
| 1607–1618 | Prince Carl Philip | appointed, deposed |
| 1772–1809 | Prince Carl | appointed, became King 1809, died 1818 |
| 1774–1809 | Princess Charlotte | as wife of Prince Carl above, became his queen 1809, died 1818 |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1811–1844 | Prince Oscar | appointed, became King 1844, died 1859 |
| 1823–1844 | Crown Princess Josephine | as wife of Crown Prince Oscar above, became his queen 1844, died 1876 |
| 1852–1854 | Prince Carl Oscar | from birth, died with title |
| 1884–1965 | Prince Wilhelm | from birth, died with title |
| 1909–1914 | Princess Maria | as wife of Prince Wilhelm above, until divorce |
| 2016–present | Prince Alexander | from birth |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1651–1652 | Prince John Casimir | appointed, as prince consort widower of Princess Catherine (who was styled Countess of Stegeborg), died with title | |
| 1652–1654 | Crown Prince Carl Gustav | inherited title as son of Prince John Casimir and Princess Catherine above, see Öland 1650-1654 | |
| 1654-1689 | Prince Adolph John | inherited title as brother of Carl Gustav above, died with title | |
| 1662–1689 | Elsa Elizabeth | as wife of Prince Adolph John above, died with title | |
| Title defunct 1689 |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1310–1318 | Prince Waldemar | see Öland (same years) |
| 1312–1318 | Princess Ingeborg | see Öland 1312–1357, deposed here |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1827–1852 | Prince Gustaf | from birth, died with title |
| 1907–1934 | Prince Sigvard | from birth, title no longer recognized due to unapproved marriage, died 2002 |
| 1934–present | Vacant | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1310–1318 | Prince Eric | see Dalsland (same years) |
| 1312–1326 | Princess Ingeborg | see Dalsland (same years) |
| 1560–1604 | Prince Carl | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1579–1589 | Princess Maria | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1592–1604 | Princess Christina | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1607–1618 | Prince Carl Philip | see Södermanland (same years) |
| 1798 | Prince Carl Adolph | from birth, died with title |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1858–1907 | Prince Gustaf | from birth, became king 1907, died 1950 |
| 1881–1907 | Crown Princess Victoria | as wife of Gustaf above, became his queen 1907, died 1930 |
| 1979–present | Prince Carl Philip | from birth |
| 2015–present | Princess Sofia | as wife of Prince Carl Philip above |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1610–1611 | Crown Prince Gustav Adolph | appointed, earlier Duke of Södermanland, became King 1611, died 1632 (also Grand Duke of Finland 1607-1611) |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1889–1918 | Prince Erik | from birth, died with title |
| 1918–present | Vacant | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1906–1947 | Prince Gustaf Adolf | from birth, died with title |
| 1932–1972 | Princess Sibylla | as wife & widow of Prince Gustaf Adolf above, died with title |
| 1947–present | Vacant | |
| Title held (years) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1310–1318 | Prince Eric | see Dalsland (same years) |
| 1312–1326 | Princess Ingeborg | see Dalsland (same years) |
| House of Bernadotte | ||
| 1861–1951 | Prince Carl | from birth, died with title |
| 1897–1958 | Princess Ingeborg | as wife & widow of Prince Carl above, died with title |
| 1980–present | Crown Princess Victoria | appointed |
| 2010–present | Prince Daniel | as husband of Crown Princess Victoria above |
Five of Sweden's 25 modern provinces are not listed above because as yet (2023) they have never had any dukes or duchesses:
Hertig
