OLDENBURG. 11-11rtc. grand duchy of the 1:19111:111 1.11111111Nell 14 the Diteliv of 1)1(14911,111'g and the two principalities of Biri:en fel,' (q.v.) and Liiheek. The Dimity of Olden burg. which constitutes the hulk of the state. is hounded by thy North lea 11n the mirth, by the Prussian Pt-mince of Ilanover and the State of Bremen on the east, and by Hamner cn the south and west I \lap; Cermany, 1' 2 t. Total area. square miles. The Dia.hy of Olden burg- forms ;i part of the northwestern plain of :ent1:1»v. is low and inar.liv along the (-oast 'Mier, it has to be proteptiql from sea. while :the interior, somewhat higher. is mostly sandy and largely occupied by moors and heaths. The region belongs to the basins of the Weser and the Ems. It is watered chiefly by the haute, a tributary of the Weser, and by the Haase and Soeste, both tributaries of the Ems. There t•re also a number of small streams into the Jade, an inlet of the North Sea, and there is an extensive canal system for draining purposes.
The climate is mild, humid, and somewhat unhealthful in the marshes of the north. About three-fifths of the total area of Oldenburg proper has been brought under cultivation. The laud is divided into small holdings, only 69 of the 59,100 holdings of the grand duchy in 1895 containing over 247 acres each. The best land i-; found in the marshy districts on the north. They produce cereals for export, 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 arc tobacco, corks. woolen yarn, linoleum, brick, knit goods, etc. The rail way; 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 chamber, 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 Lubeck have separate provincial diets. The executive power is vested in a responsible representing the Grand Duke. Oldenburg is represented by one member in the Bundesrat, and returns three Deputies to the lleichstag. 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 Liibeck are connected for judicial purposes with Cologne and rg, respectively.
The three divisions of the grand duchy have separate budgets. but there is also a common budget for the duchy. which derives its revenue from 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 State; in 1000 were 81,559,511 and $2,254,770, respectively.
The total indebtedness of the three constituent States amounted in 1900 to :;13,295.700. Popu lation of the Duchy of Oldenburg in 1890, 279,008; in 1900, 318.434. The population of the grand duchy was :151.908 in 1890 and :199.183 in 1900. Over thnp-fourths of the population is Protestant. Capital. Oldenburg, (q.v.). Slot of the inhabitants are of Saxon stock, but there are also descendants of the Frisians in the north and west of the Duchy of Oldenburg.
Tlisronv. The territory now included in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg w•:1-; in ancient times occupied by the Germanic tribe of the Chanel, who were subsequently merged with the Frisians. In the early centuries of the German Kingdom the dukes of Saxony held sway in the region. A Count of Oldenlmrg first appears about the beginning of the twelfth century. lit 1247 Count Otho IL founded the town of Delmenhorst, and his descendants were henceforth known as counts of Oldenburg and In 14 Is Count Christian of Oldenburg became by election King of Denmark. The Reformation was early intro duced into Oldenburg. After the dent In of Coma Anthony Whither. without heirs, in 1067, the territories of Oldenburg passed to the royal house of Denmark. In 1773 Christian VII. of Denmark transferred the principality to Paul, Duke of Holstein-Ilottorp (the future Paul I. of Russia). who immediately 111:1410 it over to his cousin. the Primp-Bishop of Liibeek. 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-Gottorp. This Prince in 1808 became a member of the Con federation of the Rhine. Ile soon grew restive under the obligations imposed upon him by Napo 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. The secularized See of Lit beck had been annexed to the principality in 1S03. The revolutionary movement of 1848 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 Lerman Confederation. In 1800 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 a small portion of Hol stein territory and an indeumity. In 1871 Olden burg became part of the new German Consult: .lahrbuch fiir die Ggsgbichfc des Herzogtums Oldenburg lIdenburg) ; Kollmann, Dos Iler:ogtuni Oldenburg (ih., 1893) ; Erdmann, Oesehichte der politisehen lielregungen in Olden burg 1897) ; Pleitner, 0/dotbury int 19. Jahrhumicrt (ib., 1899-1901).