# Frederick IV, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp

> Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (1671-1702)

**Wikidata**: [Q60286](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60286)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_IV,_Duke_of_Holstein-Gottorp)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/frederick-iv-duke-of-schleswig-holstein-gottorp

## Summary
Frederick IV was an aristocrat who served as Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, ruling a territory within the Holy Roman Empire (1474-1867). As a member of the nobility with hereditary titles, he governed the Duchy of Holstein which was an administrative region of the Empire.

## Biography
- Nationality: Not specified (implied to be German based on historical context)
- Field(s): Aristocracy, governance, territorial administration
- Known for: Serving as Duke of Holstein-Gottorp within the Holy Roman Empire

## Contributions
No specific contributions are documented in the source material beyond his role as Duke of the territory.

## FAQs
- What title did Frederick IV hold? He held the title of Duke of Holstein-Gottorp.
- What was the Duchy of Holstein? It was a territory of the Holy Roman Empire that existed from 1474 to 1867.
- What kind of position did Frederick IV occupy? Frederick IV was an aristocrat who possessed hereditary titles granted by a monarch.
- When did the Duchy of Holstein exist? The territory existed from 1474 to 1867 as part of the Holy Roman Empire and its successors.

## Why They Matter
Frederick IV's significance lies in his role as a noble ruler during the period when the Duchy of Holstein was part of the Holy Roman Empire. As an aristocrat with hereditary titles, his governance would have contributed to the political structure of the region during this historical period. The Duchy itself was significant as an administrative territory within the Empire for nearly 400 years.

## Notable For
- Holding the hereditary title of Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
- Being part of the aristocratic class that governed territories within the Holy Roman Empire
- Ruling during the historical period when the Duchy of Holstein existed (1474-1867)

## Body
### Historical Context
Frederick IV, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp was an aristocrat who served as ruler of the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp. This position placed him within the hierarchy of the Holy Roman Empire, which operated between 1474 and 1867 when the territory ceased to exist in its original form.

### Aristocratic Status
As an aristocrat, Frederick IV belonged to the class of individuals who possessed hereditary titles granted by a monarch. This status was hereditary, meaning the title would have passed down through his family lineage. Aristocrats in this era held significant political power and often governed territories on behalf of the empire or larger monarchical entities.

### Territorial Governance
The Duchy of Holstein, which Frederick IV ruled, was established in 1474 and existed until 1867. It was formally a territory of the Holy Roman Empire and its successor states. The duchy represented a specific administrative division where rulers like Frederick IV would have exercised authority, managed local affairs, and represented the territory in broader imperial matters.

### Historical Significance
While specific policies or actions of Frederick IV are not documented in the source material, his role as Duke places him within the broader context of European nobility during the Holy Roman Empire period. The longevity of the Duchy of Holstein (nearly 400 years) indicates that rulers like Frederick IV maintained stable governance during significant historical transitions across Europe.

### Legacy
The Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, under Frederick IV's rule, was part of the territorial landscape that would eventually be incorporated into larger nation-states following the decline of the Holy Roman Empire. The hereditary nature of his title demonstrates the continuity of aristocratic governance in European territories during this historical period.

## References

1. CbDD –  Corpus of Baroque Ceiling Painting in Germany
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. The Peerage
5. Dansk Biografisk Leksikon
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. CERL Thesaurus
8. Sejm-Wielki.pl