Schleswig

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This article is about the region of Schleswig on the German/Danish border. For the city of the same name see : Schleswig (city). There is also Schleswig, Iowa in the United States of America.

Schleswig prior to its partition (also encompassing Ribe as well as the Baltic islands of Fehmarn and Ærø, identified as 9a and 4b, respectively).

The contemporary transnational Euroregion Sønderjylland-Schleswig covers most of historical Schleswig.

The region of Schleswig (former English name: Sleswick, Danish: Sønderjylland or Slesvig, Low German: Sleswig, North Frisian: Slaswik or Sleesweg) covers the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark.

The area's traditional significance lies in the transfer of goods between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, connecting the trade route through Russia with the trade routes along Rhine and the Atlantic coast. See also Kiel Canal.

Schleswig was a Danish duchy that evolved in the 11-12th century. Feuds and marriage policies resulted in a close connection with the German Duchy of Holstein by the 15th century. The latter was a fief subordinated to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, while Schleswig remained a Danish fief. This caused several disputes between Germany and Denmark in the 19th century, when the ideas of the nation state won popular support (see Lied der Deutschen). The title Duke of Schleswig was adopted by the kings of Denmark in 1460, and the area was a fief under the Danish Crown until 1864.

In 1864, after the Second War of Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein became a part of Prussia.

Two referenda held in 1920 resulted in the region being partitioned, with Northern Schleswig joining Denmark, and Central Schleswig voting to remain a part of Germany. In Southern Schleswig no referendum was held as the possible outcome was apparent. Nowadays the name Southern Schleswig is used for all of German Schleswig.

Nowadays, both parts cooperate as a Euroregion.