The House of Mecklenburg, also known as Nikloting, is a
North German dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
of
Slavic origin that ruled
until 1918 in the
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg (; nds, label= Low German, Mękel(n)borg ) is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The largest cities of the region are Rostock, Schweri ...
region, being among the longest-ruling families of Europe. Queen
Juliana of the Netherlands (1909–2004), former
Queen of the Netherlands
The monarchy of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. As such, the role and position of the monarch are governed by the Constitution of the Netherlands. Consequently, a large portion of it is devoted to the monarch. Roughly a third of ...
(1948–1980), was an
agnatic member of this house.
Origin
The family was established by
Pribislav, an
Obotrite
The Obotrites ( la, Obotriti, Abodritorum, Abodritos…) or Obodrites, also spelled Abodrites (german: Abodriten), were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany ( ...
(Slavic) prince who converted to Christianity and accepted the suzerainty of Saxon Duke
Henry the Lion
Henry the Lion (german: Heinrich der Löwe; 1129/1131 – 6 August 1195) was a member of the Welf dynasty who ruled as the duke of Saxony and Bavaria from 1142 and 1156, respectively, until 1180.
Henry was one of the most powerful German p ...
(r. 1142–1180), his
fallen father's enemy, and became the Lord of Mecklenburg (derived from ''Mikla Burg'', "big fortress", their main fortress). The Obotrites were subsequently
Germanized
Germanisation, or Germanization, is the spread of the German language, people and culture. It was a central idea of German conservative thought in the 19th and the 20th centuries, when conservatism and ethnic nationalism went hand in hand. In ling ...
. The main branch of the house was elevated in 1347 to
ducal rank.
Coats of arms
Each field in the coat of arm symbolizes one of the seven high lordly dominions of the state of Mecklenburg: upper-left quarter:
Duchy of Mecklenburg
The Duchy of Mecklenburg was a duchy within the Holy Roman Empire, located in the region of Mecklenburg. It existed during the Late Middle Ages and the early modern period, from 1471 to 1520, as well as 1695 to 1701. Its capital was Schwerin.
T ...
, upper-right quarter:
Lordship of Rostock, middle-left quarter divided in two:
Principality of Schwerin
A principality (or sometimes princedom) can either be a monarchical feudatory or a sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a regnant-monarch with the title of prince and/or princess, or by a monarch with another title considered to fall under ...
, middle inescutcheon:
County of Schwerin
Schwerin (; Mecklenburgian Low German: ''Swerin''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the capital and second-largest city of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as well as of the region of Mecklenburg, after Rostock. It ...
, middle-right quarter:
Principality of Ratzeburg
The Principality of Ratzeburg was a former state, existing from 1648 to 1918. It belonged to the imperially immediate territory of Duchy of Mecklenburg and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. Mecklenburg was split up in the third partition of Meckl ...
, lower-left quarter:
Lordship of Stargard
The Lordship of Stargard (German: ''Herrschaft Stargard'', ''Stargarder Land'' or ''Land Stargard'') was a county first set up in the 13th century as the ''terra Stargardiensis'' and first documented in the area of the border between Brandenburg, ...
, and lower-right quarter:
Principality of Wenden.
File:Wappen Mecklenburg 2.svg, Mecklenburg
File:Wappen Mecklenburg-Güstrow normal.svg, Mecklenburg-Güstrow
File:Wappen Mecklenburg-Schwerin 2.svg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
File:Wappen Mecklenburg-Strelitz 2.svg, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Claims to Swedish throne
The Dukes of Mecklenburg pursued from the 14th century a claim to inheritance in Sweden. The Duke of Mecklenburg was a descendant and the heir of two women whom legends tied to Scandinavian royal houses:
* Lord
Henry II of Mecklenburg
Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg, nicknamed ''the Lion'' (after 14 April 1266 – 21 January 1329 in Sternberg) was regent of Mecklenburg from 1287 to 1298, co-regent from 1298 to 1302 and ruled alone again from 1302 to 1329.
Life
He was the ...
's paternal great-grandmother, a Scandinavian noblewoman named Christina, the wife of
Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg
Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg (1170 – 5 June 1226) was a member of the House of Mecklenburg, was a Prince of Mecklenburg from 1219 to 1226 and Lord of Rostock (1225-1226).
Life
Henry Borwin II was a son of Henry Borwin I, Lord of ...
(d. 1226), was a daughter of King
Sverker II of Sweden
''Sverker'' is a studio album by Neo-Medieval group Corvus Corax.
Track listing
# "Intro Gjallarhorni" - 0:58
# "Gjallarhorni" - 2:59
# "Sverker" - 4:31
# "Fiach Dubh" - 6:38
# "Trinkt vom Met" - 0:35
# "The drinking loving dancers" - 5:19
# ...
by his first wife. Christina was the mother of
John I of Mecklenburg, whose son was
Henry I, Lord of Mecklenburg
Henry I, Lord of Mecklenburg (nicknamed ''the Pilgrim'', – 2 January 1302) ruled Mecklenburg from 1264 to 1275 and from 1299 until his death.
Background
He was the eldest son of Lord John I. After his father's death, he at first ruled ...
.
* Lord
Henry II of Mecklenburg
Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg, nicknamed ''the Lion'' (after 14 April 1266 – 21 January 1329 in Sternberg) was regent of Mecklenburg from 1287 to 1298, co-regent from 1298 to 1302 and ruled alone again from 1302 to 1329.
Life
He was the ...
's maternal grandmother, a lady named Marianna, was the first wife of Duke
Barnim I of Pomerania (d. 1278), Lord of
Wolgast
Wolgast (; csb, Wòłogòszcz) is a town in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the bank of the river (or strait) Peenestrom, vis-a-vis the island of Usedom on the Baltic coast that can b ...
, as well as sister of King
Eric XI of Sweden
Eric "XI" the Lisp and Lame Swedish: ''Erik Eriksson'' or ''Erik läspe och halte''; Old Norse: ''Eiríkr Eiríksson'' (1216 – 2 February 1250) was king of Sweden in 1222–29 and 1234–50. Being the last ruler of the House of Eric, he stood ...
. Marianna had given birth to an only surviving child, a daughter named Anastasia of Pomerania, who then became the wife of
Henry I of Mecklenburg (d. 1302) and mother of Henry II.
The
Sverker dynasty had long been extinct, having lost the throne ultimately to Eric XI. The male
dynasty of Eric X was already extinct, and issue of his other daughters had been sidestepped by
Birger Jarl
Birger Jarl, also known as ''Birger Magnusson'' (21 October 1266), was a Swedish statesman, ''jarl'', and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, w ...
, the husband of his daughter (the only one still alive in 1250),
Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden
Ingeborg Eriksdotter ( – 17 June 1254) was a Swedish princess and duchess, daughter of King Eric X of Sweden, eldest sibling of King Eric XI of Sweden, wife of Birger Jarl, and mother of Kings Valdemar and Magnus III of Sweden.
Biograph ...
. Birger took great care to secure the kingship for his own sons.
The Dukes of Mecklenburg's claim to the Swedish throne became reality during a brief reign: Henry II's son
Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg
Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg (c. 1318 – 18 February 1379) was a feudal lord in Northern Germany on the shores of the Baltic Sea. He reigned as the head of the House of Mecklenburg. His princely seat was located in Schwerin beginning in th ...
(1318–79), married a kinswoman, a Scandinavian heiress named
Euphemia of Sweden
Euphemia of Sweden ( Swedish: ''Eufemia Eriksdotter''; 1317 – 16 June 1370) was a Swedish princess. She was Duchess consort of Mecklenburg, heiress of Sweden and of Norway, and mother of King Albert of Sweden.
(c. 1338-1412) .
Biography
...
and Norway (born 1317 and died 1370). The couple's second son duke
Albert III deposed his uncle from the Swedish throne, and ascended as king.
Margaret I of Denmark chose
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania (1381 or 1382 – 24 September 1459) was the ruler of the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439, succeeding his grandaunt, Queen Margaret I. He is known as Eric III as King of Norway (1389–1442), Eric VII as King of Denmark (1 ...
as her heir. Eric descended from the elder brother of Albert III. Monarchs of the Kalmar union were all
cognatic descendants of the House of Mecklenburg.
The
agnatic House of Mecklenburg, descended from Euphemia's youngest son
Magnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg
Magnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg (1345 – 1 September 1384) was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1383 until his death. Magnus was the third son of Duke Albert II of Mecklenburg and his wife Euphemia of Sweden, the sister of the King Magnus IV of Swed ...
, continued to keep their claim to the throne, and occasionally stirred the situation in Scandinavia.
Claims to Norway
The
Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)
The term Norwegian Realm (Old Norse: ''*Noregsveldi'', Bokmål: ''Norgesveldet'', Nynorsk: ''Noregsveldet'') and Old Kingdom of Norway refer to the Kingdom of Norway's peak of power at the 13th century after a long period of civil war before 12 ...
was the only medieval Scandinavian realm whose kingship was hereditary, not elective. Already when
Olav IV of Norway was young and his mother Margaret was regent, the Dukes of Mecklenburg advanced their claims.
The Dukes of Mecklenburg's claim to the Norwegian throne was based on their descent from
Euphemia of Sweden
Euphemia of Sweden ( Swedish: ''Eufemia Eriksdotter''; 1317 – 16 June 1370) was a Swedish princess. She was Duchess consort of Mecklenburg, heiress of Sweden and of Norway, and mother of King Albert of Sweden.
(c. 1338-1412) .
Biography
...
, granddaughter of
Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V Magnusson (10 April 1270 – 8 May 1319) ( non, Hákon Magnússon; no, Håkon Magnusson, label= Modern Norwegian) was king of Norway from 1299 until 1319.
Biography
Haakon was the younger surviving son of Magnus the Lawmender, Ki ...
.
When Olav IV died in 1387, Norway was without a monarch but under the regency of Margaret. She soon chose an heir,
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania (1381 or 1382 – 24 September 1459) was the ruler of the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439, succeeding his grandaunt, Queen Margaret I. He is known as Eric III as King of Norway (1389–1442), Eric VII as King of Denmark (1 ...
, whose mother Maria of Mecklenburg had been Euphemia's eldest granddaughter.
When Eric's nephew king Christopher died (before the death of the deposed
Eric III of Norway
Eric of Pomerania (1381 or 1382 – 24 September 1459) was the ruler of the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439, succeeding his grandaunt, Queen Margaret I. He is known as Eric III as King of Norway (1389–1442), Eric VII as King of Denmark (13 ...
), after some hiatus another magnate, Christian VIII of Oldenburg, descended in the female line from Euphemia and the Mecklenburg family (Euphemia's daughter's great-grandson), was chosen as king of Norway in 1450, this time passing over his cousin and male-line rival, Duke Henry the Fat of Mecklenburg.
The Dukes of Mecklenburg continued to regard themselves as the rightful heirs to the throne of Norway but they were unable to gain the kingdom from the Oldenburgs.
Modern states in Mecklenburg
Around 1711, a treaty was signed between the Dukes of Mecklenburg and the Elector of Brandenburg through which the elector was recognized as the next heir of Mecklenburg after the male lines of the genealogical house of Mecklenburg. Thereby the electors, later kings of Prussia, regarded themselves as having become members of the House of Mecklenburg and started to use its titles, e.g. Duke of Mecklenburg, among their own titulary.
The legality of that treaty concession has been, and still is under discussion, because not all of the then agnates of the House participated in the deed, and at least one of them was then underage.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the duchy was divided several times between agnates of the ducal house. Mecklenburg-Schwerin,
Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Mecklenburg-Güstrow was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in Northern Germany, that existed on three occasions ruled by the House of Mecklenburg at Güstrow.
History
A first short-lived predecessor existed after the death of Henry IV, Duke of M ...
and Mecklenburg-Strelitz were typical partition principalities. Until the late 18th century, most parts had returned to the senior branch (Schwerin), after which the patrimony was divided in two states until the very end of monarchy in Germany:
*
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
*
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy in northern Germany consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district (the former Lordship of Stargard), ...
These were elevated to grand duchies by recognition of the
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...
. In 1918, less than a year before the elimination of the monarchy, the main line of Strelitz became extinct and the then Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin stepped in as regent, but succession unclarities (there was a junior Strelitz branch living in Russia) were not solved until the small monarchies both were dissolved to republics.
House of Mecklenburg today
House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
The House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became extinct in the male line on 31 July 2001 with the death of
Hereditary Grand Duke Frederick Francis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the eldest son and heir of the last grand duke,
Frederick Francis IV.
The remaining members of the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin are the daughters of
Duke Christian Ludwig, the second son of Frederick Francis IV, the Duchesses
Donata (born 1956) and Edwina (born 1960).
House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
With the extinction of Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz is now the only surviving branch of the Grand Ducal house in the male line. The current head of this house is
Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg.
His grandfather was
Count Georg of Carlow, the morganatic son of
Duke George Alexander of Mecklenburg (1859–1909). Georg was adopted in 1928 by his uncle
Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg
Charles Michael, Duke of Mecklenburg (german: Carl Michael Herzog zu Mecklenburg; russian: Михаил Георгиевич; – 6 December 1934) was an officer in the Imperial Russian Army, heir presumptive to the throne of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ...
, the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He then assumed the title and style of "''
His Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness (abbreviation: HSH, second person address: Your Serene Highness) is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Thailand. Over the past 400 years, it has also used as a style for senior members ...
'' The Duke of Mecklenburg", which was confirmed by the head of the
Imperial House of Russia
The House of Romanov (also transcribed Romanoff; rus, Романовы, Románovy, rɐˈmanəvɨ) was the reigning imperial house of Russia from 1613 to 1917. They achieved prominence after the Tsarina, Anastasia Romanova, was married to th ...
,
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich on 18 July 1929 and recognised on 23 December by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
He succeeded his uncle as head of the house on 6 December 1934
and was granted the style of ''Highness'' on 18 December 1950.
In addition to Duke Borwin, the current members of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz are his wife Duchess Alice (née Wagner; born 1959); their children Duchess Olga (born 1988), the Dukes Alexander (born 1991) and Michael (born 1994); and his sisters, the Duchesses Elisabeth Christine (born 1947), Marie Catherine (born 1949) and Irene (born 1952).
States ruled by the House of Mecklenburg
*
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg (; nds, label= Low German, Mękel(n)borg ) is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The largest cities of the region are Rostock, Schweri ...
(1167–1918), with:
**
Mecklenburg-Stargard
Mecklenburg-Stargard was one of the two semi-duchies formed from the partition of the Duchy of Mecklenburg from 1348 to 1471. The other semi-duchy was called Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The main part of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Stargard comprised th ...
(1348–1471)
**
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1352–1918, with interruptions)
**
Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Mecklenburg-Güstrow was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in Northern Germany, that existed on three occasions ruled by the House of Mecklenburg at Güstrow.
History
A first short-lived predecessor existed after the death of Henry IV, Duke of M ...
(1621–1701)
**
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy in northern Germany consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district (the former Lordship of Stargard), ...
(1701–1918)
*
Werle {{Infobox country
, native_name = ''Herrschaft Werle'' ( de)
, conventional_long_name = Lordship of Werle
, common_name = Werle
, era = Middle Ages
, status = Vassal
, empire = ...
(1235–1436)
*
Sweden (1364–1389)
*
United Baltic Duchy
The United Baltic Duchy (german: Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum, lv, Apvienotā Baltijas hercogiste, et, Balti Hertsogiriik), or alternatively the Grand Duchy of Livonia, was the name proposed during World War I by leaders of the local ...
(November 1918)
*
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
(1948–1980) – via
Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana (; Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina; 30 April 1909 – 20 March 2004) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980.
Juliana was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. S ...
(not official)
See also
*
List of dukes and grand dukes 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 p ...
Footnotes
Sources
* Ilka Minneker: ''Vom Kloster zur Residenz – Dynastische Memoria und Repräsentation im spätmittelalterlichen und frühneuzeitlichen Mecklenburg''. Rhema-Verlag, Münster 2007,
*
*
External links
*
House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz website*
European Heraldry page
, -
, -
, -
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Mecklenburg
1160s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
1167 establishments in Europe
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg (; nds, label= Low German, Mękel(n)borg ) is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The largest cities of the region are Rostock, Schweri ...