List of Houses
Copyright © V. Rozn 1999-2009
Comments and questions can be mailed to
the author
Last updated: Jan 12,
2009
Mecklenburg
The House of Mecklenburg descended from Niklot
(+1160), an hereditary chieftain of the Slavic Obotrites [10: Neue Folge;
Band I.3; t.302-310] [9: 1941; p.88-91].
The Lords of Mecklenburg and other descendents of
Niklot recognized the suzerainety of the Holy Roman Empire
(N.1).
Albrecht II (+1379) and Johann I (+1392), the
sons of Lord Heinrich II of Mecklenburg (+1329), divided their father
possessions and founded the branches of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and
Mecklenburg-Stargard (N.2).
In 1348, the Roman King Karl IV in 1348
elevated Albrecht II and Johann I to the rank of Dukes of Mecklenburg.
Adolf-Friedrich I (+1658) and Johann-Albrecht II
(+1636), the sons of Duke Johann of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (+1592) founded,
respectively, the new branches of Schwerin and Güstrow
(N.4).
In 1629, during the 30 years War, two Dukes of
Mecklenburg were banned by Emperor Ferdinand II who made his general Albrecht of
Wallenstein (+1634) Duke of Mecklenburg. In 1631, victories of King Gustav-Adolf
of Sweden allowed expelled Dukes returned their possessions.
Friedrich I (+1688) and Adolf-Friedrich II
(+1708), the sons of Duke Adolf-Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (+1658),
founded, respectively, the Younger Schwerin and Strelitz
branches.
Notes:
1. Niklot (+1160), an Obotrite chieftain from
1131, for nearly 30 years resisted the German princes until he was killed during
a joint campaign by Duke Heinrich "the Lion" of Saxony and King Valdemar of
Denmark.
The territory of the Obotrites was partitioned
between Saxon lords, but Pribislav (+1178), a son of Niklot, continued to fight
against Heinrich "the Lion" from Werle, the only territory remaining to
Pribislav and his brother Vratislav.
In 1167, in conflict with the Saxon nobility and
seeking an ally, Heinrich "the Lion" restored Pribislav, who had become
Christian, to power as his vassal.
Pribislav's descendents divided his possessions
and founded the branches of Mecklenburg, Werle, Parchim, Rostock, Güstrow,
Waren, etc.
All these branches but the one of Mecklenburg
became extinct.
2. In 1471, the descendents of Duke Johann I
became extinct and its possessions passed to the descendents of his brother
Albrecht II.
3. In 1364, Albrecht III (+1412), a son of Duke
Albrecht II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Eufemia of Sweden, became King of
Sweden, but was deposed by his enemies in 1389.
4. In 1695, the branch of
Mecklenburg-Güstrow became extinct in the male line and its possessions
passed to the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
1. Schwerin
-1918]; +2001
Duke Friedrich I (+1688), received Grabow and
founded of the branch that later became known as Schwerin.
Friedrich-Wilhelm (+1713), a son of Friedrich I
(+1688), inherited possessions of his cousin Christian-Ludwig I of Schwerin in
1692.
In Aug 1806, with the abolition of the
Holy Roman Empire, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became a sovereign
ruler.
In 1808, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin joined
the Confederation of the Rhine (with a voice in the Council of
Princes).
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna elevated
Mecklenburg-Schwerin to the rank of Grand Duchy.
In 1815, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin joined
the German Confederation.
In 1867, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
joined the North German Confederation.
In 1871, the Grand Duke of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin joined the German Empire.
In the course of the November Revolution of
1918, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was
deposed.
In 2001, with the death of Friedrich, the
Schwerin branch of the House of Mecklenburg became extinct in the male
line.
Notes:
1. In 1901, Heinrich (+1934), the youngest son of
Grand Duke Friedrich-Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, married Wilhelmina of
Nassau (+1962), Queen of the Netherlands. In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina abdicated in
favor of their daughter Juliana (+2004). Queen Juliana, who married Prince
Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, had only daughters. In 1980, she abdicated in
favor of their eldest daughter Beatrix.
List of the Rulers
Friedrich-Franz I (1756-1837) [1785-1837]
Paul-Friedrich (1800-1842) [1837-1842]
Friedrich-Franz II (1823-1883) [1842-1883]
Friedrich-Franz III (1851-1897) [1883-1897]
Friedrich-Franz IV (1882-1945) [1897-1918]
Titles
1648-1815
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg;
Prince of the Wendes, Schwerin,
Ratzeburg;
Count of Schwerin;
Lord of the Lands of Rostock and
Stargard;
1815-1884
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg;
Prince of the Wendes, Schwerin,
Ratzeburg;
Count of Schwerin;
Lord of the Lands of Rostock and
Stargard;
Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in
1789 [2: p.13] [6: p.706-708]
The Lower Saxony:
- Mecklenburg-Schwerin;
- Mecklenburg-Güstrow;
- Schwerin;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789
Individual voices in the Council of
Princes:
- Mecklenburg-Schwerin;
- Mecklenburg-Güstrow;
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [2:
p.18-19] [6: p.706-708]
The Imperial Circle of the Lower
Saxony:
-% Mecklenburg;
- Schwerin (Principality);
- Schwerin (County);
- Rostock;
Territorial Acquisitions and Losses since
1789
- In 1803, the King of Sweden pledged Wismar to
Mecklenburg-Schwerin, reserving, however, the right of redemption after 100
years. In 1903 Sweden finally renounced its claims.
2. Strelitz -1918];
+1934
Duke Adolf-Friedrich II (+1708) founded the
branch of Strelitz.
In Aug 1806, with the abolition of the
Holy Roman Empire, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz became a sovereign
ruler.
In 1808, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined
the Confederation of the Rhine (with a voice in the Council of
Princes).
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna elevated
Mecklenburg-Strelitz to the rank of Grand Duchy.
In 1815, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined
the German Confederation.
In 1867, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
joined the North German Confederation.
In 1871, the Grand Duke of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined the German Empire.
In Nov 1918, in the course of the
Revolution, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was declared Republic
(N.1).
In 1934, with the death of Karl-Michael,
the Strelitz branch of the House of Mecklenburg became extinct in the
male line (N.2).
Notes:
1. In June 1914, after the death of Grand Duke
Adolf-Friedrich V of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Duke Karl-Michael of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz (+1934) became second in line to the Throne of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Karl-Michael wrote to the new Grand Duke Adolf-Friedrich
VI informing him that he wished to renounce his rights to the Throne (In Aug
1914, shortly after the outbreak of the World War I, he became a naturalized
Russian citizen).
In Feb 1918, Grand Duke Adolf-Friedrich VI of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz committed suicide, which left Mecklenburg-Strelitz with a
succession crisis, as the only surviving member of the Strelitz branch, was Duke
Karl-Michael, whose renunciation arrived only in 1919. Grand Duke
Friedrich-Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became Regent and remained such until
Nov 1918 Mecklenburg-Strelitz was declared Republic.
2. In 1928, Duke Karl-Michael of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz (+1934), adopted his nephew Count Georg of Carlow (+1962),
a morganatic son of his brother Duke Georg-Alexander (+1909). In 1934, Count
Georg of Carlow (+1962) succeeded him as Head of the House of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
List of the Rulers
Adolf-Friedrich IV (1738-1794) [1752-1794]
Karl II (1741-1816) [1794-1816]
Georg (1779-1860) [1816-1860]
Friedrich-Wilhelm (1822-1904) [1860-1904]
Adolf-Friedrich V (1848-1904) [1904-1914]
Adolf-Friedrich VI (1882-Feb 1918) [1914-1918]
Titles
1648-1815
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg;
Prince of the Wendes, Schwerin,
Ratzeburg;
Count of Schwerin;
Lord of the Lands of Rostock and
Stargard;
1815-1884
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg;
Prince of the Wendes, Schwerin,
Ratzeburg;
Count of Schwerin;
Lord of the Lands of Rostock and
Stargard;
Voices in the Imperial Circle assemblies in
1789 [2: p.13] [6: p.706-708]
The Lower Saxony:
- Ratzeburg;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1789
Individual voices in the Council of
Princes:
- Ratzeburg;
Territorial Possessions in 1789 [2:
p.18-19] [6: p.706-708]
The Imperial Circle of the Lower
Saxony:
-% Mecklenburg;
- Stargard;
- Ratzeburg;
Voices in the Imperial Assembly in 1803
(Changes by the Final Recess of the Imperial
Deputation)
Individual voices in the Council of
Princes:
- Ratzeburg;
- Stargard;
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