List of rulers of Mecklenburg

This list of dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg dates from the origins of the German princely state of Mecklenburg's royal house in the High Middle Ages to the monarchy's abolition at the end of World War I. Strictly speaking, Mecklenburg’s princely dynasty was descended linearly from the princes (or kings) of a Slavic tribe, the Obotrites, and had its original residence in a castle (Mecklenburg) in Dorf Mecklenburg (Mikelenburg) close to Wismar.[1] As part of a feudal union under German law from 1160—at first under the Saxons—Mecklenburg was granted imperial immediacy in 1348 and its princely rulers styled Dukes of Mecklenburg.[2] Despite several partitions, Mecklenburg remained an integral state until the end of the monarchy. The First Partition of Mecklenburg came in 1234, causing the principality to lose land. Thus arose the partial principalities (lordships) of Werle, Parchim-Richenberg, Rostock and Mecklenburg.[3] In modern times it was divided into the two (partial) duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (I) and Mecklenburg-Stargard (1348–1471), Mecklenburg-Schwerin (II) and Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1555–1695), and with the Treaty of Hamburg (1701) into Mecklenburg-Schwerin (III) and Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[1][4] However, the dynasty always retained feudal rights to the entire fief and the rulers of both parts of the country always had identical titles,[4] which led to diplomatic confusion.

Monarchy of Mecklenburg
Provincial/State
Grand ducal coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Details
Style	His Royal Highness
First monarch	Niklot
Last monarch	Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Formation	1130
Abolition	1918
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg

The Congress of Vienna in 1815 granted the ruling dukes an adjustment in rank with the title Grand Duke of Mecklenburg and the personal style Royal Highness.[1] Both parts of the country were henceforth designated Grand Duchies. Besides both rulers, each heir to the throne, their respective wives and all other members of the princely family used the title of Duke (or Duchess) of Mecklenburg, notwithstanding the customary name of Princes and Princesses. The rulers of Mecklenburg were styled Duke of (from 1815 Grand Duke of) Mecklenburg, Prince of the Wends, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, and Count of Schwerin, Lord of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard (Herzog zu / Großherzog von Mecklenburg, Fürst zu Wenden, Schwerin und Ratzeburg, auch Graf zu Schwerin, der Lande Rostock und Stargard Herr).[5]

At the end of the monarchy in 1918, the House of Mecklenburg was the oldest ruling princely dynasty in Germany. During the Weimar Republic, the former princely title was turned into a commoner’s surname, Herzog zu Mecklenburg ("Duke of Mecklenburg").[5]

The Land of the Obotrites

See also: Obotrites

As allies of the Carolingian kings and the empire of their Ottonian successors, the Obotrites fought from 808 to 1200 against the kings of Denmark, who wished to rule the Baltic region independently of the empire. When opportunities arose, for instance upon the death of an emperor, they would seek to seize power; and in 983 Hamburg was destroyed by the Obotrites under their king, Mstivoj. At times they levied tribute from the Danes and Saxons. Under the leadership of Niklot, they resisted a Christian assault during the Wendish Crusade.

The Limes Saxoniae forming the border between the Saxons to the west and the Obotrites to the east

German missionaries such as Vicelinus converted the Obotrites to Christianity. In 1170 they acknowledged the suzerainty of the Holy Roman Empire, leading to Germanisation and assimilation over the following centuries. The ruling clan of the Obotrites kept its power throughout the Germanisation and ruled their country (except of a short interruption in Thirty Years' War) as House of Mecklenburg until the end of monarchies in Germany in November Revolution 1918.

List of Obotrite leaders

Niklot (1090 – 1160) chief of the Obotrite confederacy

Ruler	Reign	Notes
Witzlaus	?–ca. 795
Thrasco	?–ca. 795-810
Slavomir (de)	?–810-819	Ally of the Frankish Empire. In 816, he joined the rebellion of the Sorbs. Eventually captured and abandoned by his own people, being replaced by Ceadrag in 818.
Ceadrag (de)	819 - after 826	Ally of the Frankish Empire. He rebelled against the Franks with alliance with the Danes, but later was reconciled with Franks.
Selibur
Nako	954-966	Nako and his brother Stoigniew were defeated at the Raxa river (955) by Otto I, after which Stoigniew was beheaded and Nako accepted Christianity, resulting in thirty years of peace.
Mstivoj and Mstidrag	966 - 995	Sons of Nako. They abandoned Christianity and revolted against the Germans (Great Slav Rising).
Mieceslas III	919 - 999	in 995 defeated by Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor.
Mstislav	996 - 1018
Udo or Przybigniew	1018 - 1028
Ratibor	1028 - 1043
Gottschalk	1043 to 1066
Budivoj	1066 and 1069
Kruto	1066-1069 and 1069-1093
Henry	1093 - 1127
Niklot	1131–1160	Born around 1090. Also ruled the subdued Polabian Slav tribes of Kessinians and Circipanians.
Pribislav	1160–1167	Last Obotrite prince. Accepted Saxon suzerainty in 1167.

The rulers of Obotrite lands were later the Dukes and Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg.

The Saxon suzerainty and the land of Mecklenburg

See also: Mecklenburg

From the 7th through the 12th centuries, the area of Mecklenburg was taken over by Western Slavic peoples, most notably the Obotrites and other tribes that Frankish sources referred to as "Wends". The 11th century founder of the Mecklenburgian dynasty of Dukes and later Grand Dukes, which lasted until 1918, was Nyklot of the Obotrites.

In the late 12th century, Henry the Lion, Duke of the Saxons, conquered the region, subjugated its local lords, and Christianized its people, in a precursor to the Northern Crusades. From 12th to 14th century, large numbers of Germans and Flemings settled the area (Ostsiedlung), importing German law and improved agricultural techniques. The Wends who survived all warfare and devastation of the centuries before, including invasions of and expeditions into Saxony, Denmark and Liutizic areas as well as internal conflicts, were assimilated in the centuries thereafter. However, elements of certain names and words used in Mecklenburg speak to the lingering Slavic influence. An example would be the city of Schwerin, which was originally called Zuarin in Slavic. Another example is the town of Bresegard, the 'gard' portion of the town name deriving from the Slavic word 'grad', meaning city or town.

Partitions of Mecklenburg

Like many German territories, Mecklenburg was sometimes partitioned and re-partitioned among different members of the ruling dynasty. The division started in 1227.

Partition of 1227

In 1227, Henry Borwin II divided his lands of Mecklenburg among his sons: John received the area called Mecklenburg; Nicholas received Werle; Henry Borwin III Rostock and Pribislaus Parchim-Rinchenberg. In 1256, the latter showed incapacity for government and his brothers deposed him, dividing his lands among themselves.

In 1314 the land of Nicholas the Child of Rostock died without heirs; his lands were annexed to Mecklenburg-Mecklenburg.

In 1348 Mecklenburg-Mecklenburg and its possessions were elevated as an unified duchy, with seat at Schwerin. The line of Mecklenburg-Mecklenburg then took the seat's name for their branch: from 1348, when elevated, the line of Mecklenburg-Mecklenburg changed to Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

In 1352 the duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was again divided: from Schwerin grew a new line of dukes, called Mecklenburg-Stargard.

In 1436 the Werle line, and in 1471 the Stargard line were annexed to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, reuniting all the lands of Mecklenburg.

Partition of 1520

In 1520 the united Mecklenburg, bearing the name Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was redivided. The line of Mecklenburg-Güstrow splits off from the elder line of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1695 Mecklenburg-Schwerin-Güstrow was reabsorbed in Mecklenburg, reuniting the duchy one more time.

Partition of 1701

In 1701 the united Mecklenburg, bearing the name Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was redivided. The line of Mecklenburg-Strelitz splits off from the elder line of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1918, at the end of World War I, the monarchy was abolished, with the duchy still divided.

Rulers of Mecklenburg: the House of Mecklenburg

Partitions of Mecklenburg under Mecklenburg rule

Lordship of Mecklenburg (1167-1347)
Lordship of Rostock (1227-1314)			Lordship of Parchim-Rinchenberg (1227-1256)
		Lordship of Werle (1227-1436)
Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1st creation) (1347-1471)
Duchy of Mecklenburg-Stargard (1352-1471)
Duchy of Mecklenburg (1471-1520)
Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (2nd creation) (1520-1695)		Duchy of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1520-1695)
Duchy of Mecklenburg (Schwerin line) (1695-1701)
Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (3rd creation) (1701-1918)		Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1701-1918)

Table of rulers

(Note: The current numbering system established for the rulers of Mecklenburg is based in the following: Mecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Gustrow and Mecklenburg-Strelitz form one group of a single numbering. The other parts of Mecklenburg (Parchim, Werle, Rostock and Mecklenburg-Stargard) have their own and independent numberings for their rulers.)

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Pribislaus I		?	1167-1178	30 December 1178	Mecklenburg	Woizlava of Pomerania before 1178 at least one child	First lord of Mecklenburg. (Son of Niklot), Prince of the Obotrites, Lord of Mecklenburg
Henry Borwin I		?	1178-1219	28 January 1227	Mecklenburg	Matilda of Saxony c.1170 two children Adelaide before 1227 one child	Henry Borwin ruled jointly with his cousin Nicholas I (son of Warcislaus of Rostock). Abdicated in 1219.
Nicholas I		1164	1178-1200	25 May 1200	Mecklenburg	Unmarried
Henry Borwin II		1170	1219-1226	5 June 1226	Mecklenburg	Christina of Sweden c.1200 six children	Sons of Henry Borwin I, ruled jointly.
Nicholas II		1180	1219-1225	28 September 1225	Mecklenburg	Unmarried
John I the Theologian		c.1211	1227-1264	1 August 1264	Mecklenburg	Luitgard of Henneberg c.1230 seven children	Son of Henry Borwin II. Received the land of Mecklenburg.
Nicholas I		c. 1210	1227-1277	14 May 1277	Werle	Judith of Anhalt 1231 seven children	Son of Henry Borwin II. Received the land of Werle.
Henry Borwin III		c. 1220	1227-1278	1 August 1278	Rostock	Sophia of Sweden 1237 four children	Son of Henry Borwin II. Received the land of Rostock.
Pribislaus I		1224	1227-1256	after 12 February 1275	Parchim-Richenberg	Unmarried	Son of Henry Borwin II. Received the land of Parchim-Richenberg, but he hadn't the capacity for rule, and was deposed by his brothers, who divided his land between them.
Henry I the Pilgrim		c.1230	1264-1271 (1299-1302 probably only titular)	2 January 1302	Mecklenburg	Anastasia of Pomerania c.1259 three children	In 1271, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Along the way, he was taken prisoner and deported to Cairo, where he was held in captivity by the Arabs for 27 years. During his absence, Mecklenburg was ruled by his brothers John II and Nicholas III, after a fight between his brothers and cousins about the regency and the guardianship of his children. After John II died in 1283, Nicholas III ruled with his nephew John III until the latter's death in 1289. Nicholas died that year. Henry I returned to Mecklenburg via Morea and Rome in 1298. In 1299, he formally resumed his reign, although he probably left the business of government mostly to his son Henry II.
Albert I		c.1230	1264-1265	15 May or 17 May 1265	Mecklenburg	Unknown
Nicholas III		c.1230	1264-1289	8 June 1289 or 1290	Mecklenburg	Unknown
John II		c.1250	1264-1299	12 October 1299	Mecklenburg	Unknown
John III		c.1250	1287-1289	27 May 1289	Mecklenburg	Helena of Rügen 3 November 1288 one child
Henry I		c. 1245	1277-1291	8 October 1291	Werle (1277-81) Werle-Güstrow (1281-91)	Richeza of Sweden 1262 three children Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg I 1291 no children	Henry I, John I and Bernard I were sons of Nicholas I, and ruled jointly until 1281. Henry kept Güstrow, John Parchim and Bernard Prisannewitz. Bernard left no descendants, and his lands were divided between Parchim and Güstrow.
John I		c. 1245	1277-1283	15 October 1283	Werle (1277-81) Werle-Parchim (1281-83)	Sophia of Lindow-Ruppin before 1275 six children
Bernard I		c. 1245	1277-1286	c.1286	Werle (1277-81) Werle-Prisannewitz (1281-86)	Unmarried
Valdemar		before 1241	1278-1282	9 November 1282	Rostock	before 1262 three children
Agnes of Holstein-Kiel (regent)		before 1241	1282-1284	9 November 1282	Rostock		Regent in name of her minor son.
Nicholas I the Child		before 1262	1284-1314	25 November 1314	Rostock	Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast 1299 one child	Died without male heirs. His inheritance went to Henry II of Mecklenburg.
Rostock was definitely annexed to Mecklenburg
Henry II		before 1283	1291-1294	1307	Werle-Güstrow	Beatrice of Pomerania before 1290 two children	After his death with no descendants, Güstrow was annexed to Parchim.
Werle-Güstrow was definitely annexed to Werle-Parchim, which became Werle (1294-1316)
Nicholas II		before 1283	1291-1316	18 February 1316	Werle-Parchim (1283-94) Werle (1294-1316)	Richeza of Denmark 1292 two children Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg II after 1308 no children	Co-ruled with his uncles Henry I and Bernard I since 1283. In 1294 reunited Werle.
Henry II the Lion		after 14 April 1266	1290-1329 (with his father as titular duke 1299-1302)	21 January 1329	Mecklenburg	Beatrix of Brandenburg c.1290 one child Anna of Saxe-Wittenberg after 6 July 1315 seven children Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin After 1324 no children	Son of Henry I, ruled from 1287 under regency of his uncles Nicholas III and John II, as his father Henry I was taken prisoner in the Holy Land. In 1298, he returned and Henry IV became co-ruler. Ruled alone from 1302.
John II the Bald		after 1250	1316-1337	27 August 1337	Werle-Güstrow	Matilda of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 1311 four children	Brother of Nicholas VI. In 1316 there was a new subdivision of Werle in Goldberg and Güstrow, this last subdivided again in -Gustrow and -Waren in 1337.
John III Ruoden		before 1300	1316-1350	1352	Werle-Goldberg	Richeza of Denmark 1292 two children Matilda of Pomerania 1317 three children Richardis before 1350 two children	In 1316 there was a subdivision of Werle in two districts, Goldberg and Güstrow
Albert II the Great		c.1318	1329-1379	18 February 1379	Mecklenburg (1329-47) Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1347-52)	Euphemia of Sweden 10 April 1336 five children Adelheid of Hohenstein after 1370 no children	Was raised to duke in 1348. In that year he moved the seat of government to Schwerin, and his branch took the name Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Nicholas III Staveleke		after 1311	1337-1360	1360/1361	Werle-Güstrow	Agnes of Mecklenburg 6 January 1338 two children Matilda of Holstein-Plön after 1341 one child	In 1337 Werle-Gustrow was subdivided again in -Gustrow and -Waren in 1337.
Bernard II		c.1320	1337-1382	between 16 January and 13 April 1382	Werle-Güstrow-Waren	Elisabeth of Holstein-Plön 1341 three children
Nicholas IV the Pig-Eyed		after 1311	1350-1354	1360/1361	Werle-Goldberg	Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin before 1350 three children
John I		c.1326	1352-1392/93	9 August 1392/9 February 1393	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Rixa no children Anna of Holstein-Pinneberg before 1358 one child Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin 1358 five children	First of his line in a duchy that split off from Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
John IV		before 1350	1354-1374	1374	Werle-Goldberg	Unmarried	Under regency of Albert II and Nicholas III until 1360. His part of Goldberg went to Werle-Gustrow after his death.
Werle-Goldberg was definitely annexed to Werle-Güstrow
Lorenz		between 1338 and 1340	1360-1393/94	between 24 February 1393 and 6 May 1394	Werle-Güstrow	Matilda of Mecklenburg-Werle-Goldberg c.1375 three children	Ruled in Werle-Gustrow with his brother John V.
John V		between 1338 and 1340	1360-1378	before 9 September 1378	Werle-Güstrow	Euphemia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin before 1378 no children	Ruled in Werle-Gustrow with his brother Lorenz.
Henry III		c.1337	1379-1383	24 April 1383	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Ingeborg of Denmark 1362 four children Matilda of Werle 26 February 1377 no children
Magnus I		c.1345	1379-1384	1 September 1384	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Elizabeth of Pomerania-Wolgast after 1362 two children	Ruled jointly with his brother Henry III.
John VI		c.1320	1382-1395	c. 1395	Werle-Güstrow-Waren	Agnes of Mecklenburg-Werle-Goldberg before 1395 four children
John IV		before 1370	1384-1422	16 October 1422	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Jutta von Hoya before 1415 no children Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg 1416 two children	Ruled jointly with Albert III, Albert IV, Eric I and Albert V.
Albert III		c.1338	1384-1412	March 1412	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Richardis of Schwerin 1365 two children Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg 12/13 February 1396 Schwerin one child	His maternal Swedish descendance allowed him to succeed as King of Sweden between 1364 and 1389.
Albert IV		before 1363	1384-1388	between 24 and 31 December 1388	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Elisabeth of Holstein-Rendsburg before 1388 no children	Ruled jointly with his uncle Albert III.
Eric I		after 1359	1396-1397	16 July 1397	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Sophie of Pomerania-Wolgast 12/13 February 1396 Schwerin no children	Ruled jointly with his father Albert III.
Albert V		1397	1412-1423	between 1 June and 6 December 1423	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Margaret of Brandenburg 1423 no children
John II		before 1370	1392/93-1416	6 July/9 October 1416	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Wilheida-Catherine of Lithuania 1388 three children	Sons of John I, ruled jointly.
Ulrich I		before 1382	1392/93-1417	8 April 1417	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Margaret of Pomerania-Stettin before 1400 three children
Albert I		before 1377	1392/93-1397	between 11 February and 15 July 1397	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Unmarried
Nicholas V		between 1341 and 1385	1395-1408	after 21 January 1408	Werle-Güstrow-Waren(-Güstrow-Waren)	Sophie of Pomerania-Wolgast after 1397 no children	Sons of John VI, ruled jointly. After Christopher's death, Werle-Gustrow-Waren went to Werle-Gustrow.
Christopher		before 1385	1385 1395-1425	25 August 1425	Mecklenburg-Werle (-Güstrow-Waren)	Unmarried
Werle-Güstrow-Waren was definitely annexed to Werle-Güstrow
Balthasar		c.1375	1393/4-1421	5 April 1421	Werle-Güstrow	Euphemia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 18 October 1397 no children Helvig of Holstein-Rendsburg 18 April 1417 no children	Ruled in Werle-Gustrow with his brothers William and John VII.
John VII		ca. 1375	1393/4-1414	between 14 August and 17 December 1414	Werle-Güstrow	Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg before 1414 no children	Ruled in Werle-Gustrow with his brothers William and Balthasar.
William		before 1398	1401-1436	8 September 1436	Werle-Güstrow (until 1425) Werle (from 1425)	Anna of Anhalt 1422 no children Sophia of Pomerania after 1426 one child	Ruled in Werle-Gustrow with his brothers Balthasar and John VII. Reunited Werle, but left no descendants. Werle went to Mecklenburg.
Werle was definitely annexed to Mecklenburg
John III		1389	1416-1438	after 11 November 1438	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Luttrud of Anhalt-Köthen before 1438 no children	Son of John II. Ruled jointly with his cousins, Albert II and Henry.
Albert II		before 1400	1417-1421/23	between 11 February 1421 and 4 October 1423	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Unmarried	Son of Ulrich I. Ruled jointly with his brother Henry and cousin John III.
Henry I Gaunt		before 1412	1417-1466	between 26 May and 20 August 1466	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Judith of Mecklenburg-Werle-Gustrow-Waren before 1427 no children Ingeborg of Pomerania-Stolp after 1427 two children Margaret of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1452 two children	Son of Ulrich I. Ruled jointly with his brother Albert II and cousin John III.
Ulrich II		before 1428	1466-1471	13 July 1471	Mecklenburg-Stargard	Catherine of Mecklenburg-Werle-Gustrow between 24 February and 15 September 1454 no children	Son of Henry I. After his death Stargard was reunited to Mecklenburg.
Stargard was definitely annexed to Mecklenburg
John V		1418	1423-1442/43	1 November 1442/13 January 1443	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Anna of Pomerania-Stettin 17 September 1436 no children	Sons of John XI, Henry VII and John XV ruled jointly. Henry survived to reunite Mecklenburg in 1471. Since 1451 he also associated his son John XVI to rule, and together they reunited Mecklenburg. However John XV didn't survive to replace his father.
Henry IV the Fat		before 1417	1423-1471	9 March 1477	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Dorothea of Brandenburg May 1432 seven children
			1471-1477		Mecklenburg
John VI		1439	1451-1471	1472	Mecklenburg-Schwerin I	Unmarried
			1471-1472		Mecklenburg
Magnus II		before 1417	1477-1503	20 November 1503	Mecklenburg	Sophia of Pomerania-Stettin 29 May 1478 seven children	Magnus II, Albert VI and Balthasar, as sons of Henry IV, ruled jointly. Balthasar was also Bishop of Schwerin in 1479-1482, and ruled with his nephews Albert VII, Henry V and Eric II from 1503. In 1520 a new division was made: Henry kept Schwerin and Albert Güstrow.
Albert VI		1438	1477-1483	before 27 April 1483	Mecklenburg	Catherine of Lindow-Ruppin 1466 or 1468 no children
Balthasar		1451	1477-1507	16 March 1507	Mecklenburg	Unmarried
Eric II		3 September 1483	1503-1508	22 December 1508	Mecklenburg	Unmarried
Henry V the Peaceful		3 May 1479	1503-1520	6 February 1552	Mecklenburg	Sophia of Pomerania-Stettin 29 May 1478 seven children
			1520-1552		Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Albert VII the Handsome		25 July 1486	1503-1520	7 January 1547	Mecklenburg	Anna of Brandenburg 17 January 1524 Berlin ten children
			1520-1547		Mecklenburg-Güstrow
John Albert I		23 December 1525	1547-1552	12 February 1576	Mecklenburg-Güstrow	Anna Sophia of Prussia 24 February 1555 Wismar three children	Son of Albert VII, left Güstrow to his brother Ulrich, to rule in Schwerin with his cousin Philip. His son inherited Schwerin., as Philip died without heirs.
			1552-1576		Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Philip I		12 September 1514	1552-1557	4 January 1557	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Unmarried
Ulrich I		5 March 1527	1555-1603	14 March 1603	Mecklenburg-Güstrow	Elizabeth of Denmark 14 February 1556 one child Anna of Pomerania-Wolgast 9 December 1588 no children
John VII		7 March 1558	1576-1592	22 March 1592	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Sophia of Holstein-Gottorp 17 February 1588 three children
Adolf Frederick I		15 December 1588	1592-1658	27 February 1658	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Anna Maria of East Frisia 4 September 1622 eight children Maria Katharine of Brunswick-Dannenberg 1635 eleven children	In 1628, the Emperor Ferdinand II deposed him and took his fiefs from him, but he was reinstated in 1631. In the period 1628-1631 the duchy was ruled by Albrecht von Wallenstein.
Charles I		28 December 1540	1603-1610	22 July 1610	Mecklenburg-Güstrow	Unmarried	Brother of Ulrich and John Albert I.
John Albert II		5 May 1590	1610-1636	23 April 1636	Mecklenburg-Güstrow	Margaret Elizabeth of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 9 October 1608 four children Elizabeth of Hesse Kassel 25 March 1618 Kassel no children Eleonore Marie of Anhalt-Bernburg 7 May 1626 Güstrow five children	In 1628, the Emperor Ferdinand II deposed him and took his fiefs from him, but he was reinstated in 1631. In the period 1628-1631 the duchy was ruled by Albrecht von Wallenstein.
Gustav Adolph I		26 February 1633	1636-1695	6 October 1695	Mecklenburg-Güstrow	Magdalene Sibylle of Holstein-Gottorp 28 December 1654 eleven children	Until 1654, under regendy of Adolf Frederick I of Mecklenburg. His male heirs predeceased him, and his lands rejoined Mecklenburg.
Christian Louis I		1 December 1623	1658-1692	21 June 1692	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Christine Margaret of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 21 February 1640 no children Elisabeth Angelique de Montmorency 3 March 1664 no children	Left no heirs.
Frederick I		13 February 1638	1658-1688	28 April 1688	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Christine Wilhelmine of Hesse-Homburg 28 May 1671 four children	Co-ruled with his brother, in Grabow. His son succeeded Christian Louis in Schwerin.
Frederick William I		28 March 1675	1692-1695	31 July 1713	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Sophie Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel 2 January 1704 Kassel no children	Son of Frederick, brother of Christian Louis I. Founded the 3rd line of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1695, with the end of the Gustrow line, Mecklenburg was reunited again. However, in 1701 was again divided between Frederick William and his uncle, Adolf Frederick, son of Adolf Frederick I and brother of Christian Louis I.
			1695-1701		Mecklenburg
			1701-1713		Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Adolf Frederick II		19 October 1658	1701-1708	12 May 1708	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Maria of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 1684 five children Joanna of Saxe.Gotha-Altenburg 20 June 1702 no children Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen 10 June 1705 Neustrelitz two children	Son of Adolf Frederick I. First of the line of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Adolf Frederick III		7 June 1686	1708-1752	11 December 1752	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön 16 April 1709 Reinfeld two children	Left no male heirs.
Charles Leopold I		26 November 1678	1713-1728	28 November 1747	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Sophia Hedwig of Nassau-Dietz 27 May 1709 Leeuwarden no children Christine von Lepel 7 June 1710 Doberau (annulled 2 October 1711) no children Catherine Ivanovna of Russia 19 April 1716 Danzig one child	Brother of Frederick William I, was deposed in 1728 by the Aulic Council in Vienna in favour of his brother Christian Louis II.
Christian Louis II		15 November 1683	1728-1756	30 May 1756	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 13 November 1714 five children
Adolf Frederick IV		5 May 1738	1752-1794	2 June 1794	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Unmarried	Son of Charles Frederick, son of Adolf Frederick II. Left no heirs.
Frederick II the Pious		9 November 1717	1756-1785	24 April 1785	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Louise Frederica of Württemberg 2 March 1746 Schwedt four children	His heirs died in infancy and was succeeded by his nephew.
Frederick Francis I		10 December 1756	1785-1837	1 February 1837	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 1 June 1775 Gotha six children	Son of Louis, brother of Frederick I. In 1815 was raised to Grand Duke.
Charles II		10 October 1741	1794-1816	6 November 1816	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt 18 September 1768 Darmstadt ten children Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt 28 September 1784 Darmstadt one child	Brother of Adolf Frederick IV.
George I		12 August 1779	1816-1860	6 September 1860	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Marie of Hesse-Kassel 12 August 1817 Kassel four children
Paul Frederick		15 September 1800	1837-1842	7 March 1842	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Alexandrine of Prussia 25 May 1822 Berlin no children	Grandson of Frederick Francis I.
Frederick Francis II		28 February 1823	1842-1883	15 April 1883	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Augusta Reuss of Köstritz 3 November 1849 Ludwigslust six children Anne of Hesse and by Rhine 4 July 1864 Darmstadt one child Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt 4 July 1868 Rudolstadt four children
Frederick William II		17 October 1819	1860-1904	30 May 1904	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Augusta of the United Kingdom 28 June 1843 London two children
Frederick Francis III		19 March 1851	1883-1897	10 April 1897	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia 24 January 1879 Saint Petersburg three children
John Albert of Mecklenburg (regent)		8 December 1857	1897-1901	16 February 1920	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 6 November 1886 Weimar no children Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla 15 December 1909 Brunswick no children
Frederick Francis IV		9 April 1882	1901-1918	17 November 1945	Mecklenburg-Schwerin	Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland 7 June 1904 Gmunden five children	Forced to abdicate in 1918, after the end of World War I
Adolf Frederick V		22 July 1848	1904-1914	11 June 1914	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Elisabeth of Anhalt 17 April 1877 Dessau four children
Adolf Frederick VI		17 June 1882	1914-1918	23 February 1918	Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Unmarried	Committed suicide in 1918, before the end of World War I.

Notes

1. "Fürsten und Gutsherren..."
2. Wigger, p.121
3. (in German) Die Ortsgeschichte von Dobbertin
4. "Von der Reformation..."
5. House Laws of Mecklenburg

Bibliography

• Friedrich Wigger: Stammtafeln des Großherzoglichen Hauses von Meklenburg. In: Jahrbücher des Vereins für Mecklenburgische Geschichte und Altertumskunde 50 (1885), p. 111ff. (Digitalised)

External links

• Literature about List of rulers of Mecklenburg in the State bibliography of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• (in German) Fürsten und Gutsherren sorgten für Park- und Schlösserfluten, Mecklenburg-Pomerania Tourism Agency
• (in German) "Von der Reformation bis heute" ("From the Reformation until Today"), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg-Pomerania