Line of succession to the Mecklenburg thrones
Encyclopedia
The line of succession to the Mecklenburg thrones was an ordered list of people eligible to succeed to the grand ducal thrones of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
and Mecklenburg-Strelitz
. The monarchies in both these states were abolished in 1918 following the outbreak of the November Revolution in the German Empire
. Today only the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz survives.
stated that only males could succeed to the total exclusion of females and so this remains the succession law used by the House today. As a result the House of Mecklenburg-Schwein became extinct in 2001 on the death of the last male of the House, Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
, leaving the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz the only surviving line of the House of Mecklenburg
.
The House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz itself was on the brink of extinction until 1928 when the only male and head of the House, Charles Michael, Duke of Mecklenburg, adopted and recognised his morganatic nephew, Count George of Carlow, as his heir. The last Grand Duke from the Strelitz line, Adolphus Frederick VI, committed suicide on 23 February 1918 and as his cousin and heir Charles Michel was a national
of Russia and so not in Mecklenburg, Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, established a regency
in Strelitz until the establishment of a Free State
.
Count George was recognised as a Duke of Mecklenburg (Serene Highness
) on 18 July 1929 by the head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich, and then five months later on 29 December by Frederick Francis IV. On 18 December 1950 it was announced the style of Highness
was recognised for him and the rest of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz family. His position as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was also confirmed.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
and Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy and later grand duchy in northern Germany, consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district , and the western exclave of the former Bishopric of Ratzeburg in modern...
. The monarchies in both these states were abolished in 1918 following the outbreak of the November Revolution in the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. Today only the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz survives.
Succession
The Grand Duchies law of successionLaw of succession
Laws of succession govern the order of succession to various monarchies. Some laws of succession include:-United Kingdom:*British succession**Act of Settlement 1701-France:*Kings of France**Salic law* Legitimist claimants to the throne of France...
stated that only males could succeed to the total exclusion of females and so this remains the succession law used by the House today. As a result the House of Mecklenburg-Schwein became extinct in 2001 on the death of the last male of the House, Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the heir apparent to the throne of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and a member of the SS...
, leaving the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz the only surviving line of the House of Mecklenburg
House of Mecklenburg
The House of Mecklenburg is a North German dynasty of West Slavic origin that ruled until 1918.- Origins :Niklot was a lord of the Wendish tribe of Obotrites. When the Holy Roman Empire expanded eastwards, notably to the coast of Baltic in 13th century, a portion of Obotrite lords allied with...
.
The House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz itself was on the brink of extinction until 1928 when the only male and head of the House, Charles Michael, Duke of Mecklenburg, adopted and recognised his morganatic nephew, Count George of Carlow, as his heir. The last Grand Duke from the Strelitz line, Adolphus Frederick VI, committed suicide on 23 February 1918 and as his cousin and heir Charles Michel was a national
Nationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
of Russia and so not in Mecklenburg, Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, established a regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
in Strelitz until the establishment of a Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
.
Count George was recognised as a Duke of Mecklenburg (Serene Highness
Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein and Monaco. It also preceded the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties as well as some non-ruling but princely German noble families until 1918...
) on 18 July 1929 by the head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich, and then five months later on 29 December by Frederick Francis IV. On 18 December 1950 it was announced the style of Highness
Highness
Highness, often used with a possessive adjective , is an attribute referring to the rank of the dynasty in an address...
was recognised for him and the rest of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz family. His position as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was also confirmed.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Grand Duke: Frederick Francis IV (1882–1945)
- Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-SchwerinFriedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-SchwerinFriedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the heir apparent to the throne of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and a member of the SS...
(1910–2001), son of Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg - Duke Christian Ludwig of Mecklenburg (1912–1996), son of Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
- Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg (1857–1920), son of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
- Duke Adolf Friedrich of MecklenburgDuke Adolf Friedrich of MecklenburgDuke Adolf Friedrich Albrecht Heinrich of Mecklenburg was a German explorer in Africa, a colonial politician, the elected Duke of the United Baltic Duchy from 5 November to 28 November, 1918, and the first president of the National Olympic Committee of Germany .- Biography :Born in Schwerin, Adolf...
(1873–1963), son of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg - Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands (1876–1934), son of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
- Duke Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg (1852–1923), son of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
- Duke Henry Borwin of Mecklenburg (1885–1942), son of Duke Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Grand Duke: Vacant- Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg (1863–1934), grandson of George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
Current House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz line of succession
Head: Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg (b. 1956)- Duke Alexander of Mecklenburg (b. 1991), son of Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg
- Duke Michael of Mecklenburg (b. 1994), son of Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg
- Duke Carl Gregor of Mecklenburg (b. 1933), son of George, Duke of Mecklenburg