A Simplistic History of Schleswig-Holstein:
945 Schleswig was largely under Danish rule 1106 The County of Holstein (Grafschaft Holstein) was founded within the Duchy of Saxony 1115 The Duchy of Schleswig (Hertogdømmet Slesvig) was established 1180 The County of Holstein became independent from Saxony 1386 From this time forward Schleswig and County Holstein were in personal union; Schleswig remained under Danish rule and Holstein as an Imperial fief 1474 The Counties of Holstein, Dithmarschen, Wagrien and Stormarn united as the Duchy of Holstein (Herzogtum Holstein) 1581-1713 Schleswig and Holstein were jointly ruled by the King of Denmark and a hereditary Duke 1713-1864 Schleswig solely controlled by the King of Denmark 1713-1762 Holstein controlled by a hereditary Duke and through marriage had dynastic links to Russia 1762-1765 The Czar of Russia acted as Duke of Holstein; Schleswig was still a possession of Denmark; The Treaty of 1765, between Russia and Denmark, gave Holstein to the King of Denmark 1765-1814 The King of Denmark controlled both Schleswig and Holstein 1807 England declared war on Denmark; Denmark lost and as a stipulation of the Treaty of Kiel, 1814, Holstein was lost to the German Confederation; The King of Denmark still retained control of Schleswig 1814-1864 Holstein was part of the German confederation; the King of Denmark retained control of Schleswig 1864-1866 War declared on Denmark by Prussia and Austria. Denmark initiated the war by ignoring the terms of the Treaty of London (1852). Denmark was defeated and the King of Denmark lost Schleswig to Prussia and Holstein to Austria 1866 War between Prussia and Austria left both Schleswig and Holstein under Prussian control. Combined, they became the province of Schleswig-Holstein 1920 A part of northern Schleswig is returned to Denmark by plebiscite 1946 Schleswig-Holstein became a state of West Germany 1990 Schleswig-Holstein became a state of re-unified Germany
Of Mecklenburg:
995 First mentioned as "Michelenburg" meaning "great fortress" 1348 Became the Duchy of Mecklenburg 1471-1695 The Duchy was split by many incomplete and informal territorial divisions which centered mainly on Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow 1496 The population was 130,000 1618-1648 The 30 years war. At the end of this war the population had decreased from 300,000 to 50,000! 1701 Mecklenburg officially divided into two Duchies: Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz (the new name of Mecklenburg-Güstow) 1871 Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined the German Empire 1934 United they became the German state of Mecklenburg 1945 Mecklenburg became part of East Germany 1990 Became the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in re-unified Germany Mecklenburg-Schwerin compromises 5068 square miles and Mecklenburg-Strelitz compromises 1131 square miles
Of Herzogtum Lauenburg:
Area: 453 square miles 1261 Became the Duchy of Lauenburg more formally known as Herzogtum Sachsen-Lauenburg 1689-1815 Herzogtum Lauenburg was first ceded in 1689 to Hannover, and in 1815 to Holstein 1803-1810 Occupied by Napoleon's French forces 1810-1813 Became part of the French Empire under Napoleon. 1814-1864 Herzogtum Lauenburg became a Danish posession 1864-1865 Jointly ruled by Prussia and Austria 1865-1876 Herzogtum Lauenburg was part of Prussia 2003 A county in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Of Ratzeburg:
The name is believed to be derived from the local Slavic ruler Ratibor, who was nicknamed Ratse 1143 Henry the Lion became the ruler of Ratzeburg 1154 Became the Bishopric of Ratzeburg (Hochstift Ratzeburg) 1261 Ratzeburg, the city, was a Free city and part of the Hanseatic League 1648 The Bishopric of Ratzeburg became part of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as a result of the Peace of Westphalia. It then became a Principality, or Fürstentum. 1693 The city of Ratzeburg was almost completely destroyed when forces of Christian VI of Denmark "shot it to ashes" 1701-1934 Fürstentum Ratzeburg became part of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 2003 Capital of Herzogtum Lauenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Of Lübeck:
The Free and Hanse city of Lübeck (Hansestadt Lübeck) : Area: 115 square miles. Lübeck comes from the original settlement which was called "Liubice" 1159 The current city of Lübeck was founded by Henry the Lion 1226 Granted privileges as a Free Imperial City. This meant that the city and its citizens were not subjects of a duke, count or bishop, but only of the emperor himself. This free status continued for 711 years, until 1937. 1266 The Hanseatic League, a trading confederation of over 100 cities and towns, was founded. Lübeck eventually emerged as the leading city in this confederation. In 1669 the last conference of the Hanseatic League was held in Lübeck with only 9 of the original 100 cities participating. 1329 Lübeck purchased the city of Travemünde to protect it's access to the Baltic Sea. 1420 The city annexes Bergedorf 1806-1811 Occupied by France 1813 Freed from French occupation 1868 Bergedorf transferred to Hamburg 2003 Part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
The Bishopric of Lübeck (Hochstift Lübeck) : Area: 521 square kilometers 948 Bishopric of Oldenburg in Holstein created 1163 The bishops residence was transferred to Lübeck and the Bishopric of Lübeck was created. 1350 Bishops residence transferred to Eutin 1803 The Bishopric is declared a Principality (Fürstentum Lübeck) by the Duke of Oldenburg 1804-1918 Principality of Lübeck was annexed by Oldenburg