Holsatian

The Holsatians are the Low German people of Holstein, between the Elbe and Eider, northernmost territory of the Holy Roman Empire. Their name descends from the Holcetae, Saxons on the north bank of the Elbe. After Charlemagne's conquests an 811 treaty fixed the Eider border; Slavic Wagri held eastern Wagria until Schauenburg counts defeated them in 1138 and Adolf II settled Saxons and Hollanders there in 1143.

Danish rule after 1201 ended at Bornhöved in 1227. In 1386 the counts gained Schleswig; after their line died out in 1459, Christian I united Holstein and Schleswig by the 1460 Treaty of Ribe.

Holstein turned Lutheran under Christian III, absorbed Dithmarschen in 1559, and was split between the Danish crown and Gottorp dukes until the 1773 exchange reunited it under Copenhagen. With the Empire's end in 1806 it became a duchy in personal union with Denmark.