Adolphus Frederick III (; 7 June 1686 – 11 December 1752) was a Duke of
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) ...
. He founded the town of
Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz (; ) is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the shore of the Zierker See in the Mecklenburg Lake District. From 1738 until 1918 it was the capital o ...
as the capital of Mecklenburg-Strelit to replace the old capital which had burnt down.
Biography
He was born in
Strelitz the son of
Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg, and his wife Princess Maria of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1659–1701). His father founded the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1701 after reaching an agreement with
Frederick William The name Frederick William usually refers to several monarchs and princes of the Hohenzollern dynasty:
* Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg (1620–1688)
* Frederick William, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1675–1713)
* Frederick William I of ...
, Duke of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin () was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1701, when Frederick William, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Frederick William and Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Adolphus Frederick II divided ...
.
He succeeded his father as Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on 12 May 1708. In 1712 the ducal family’s castle and the town of
Strelitz burnt down. Because of this Adolphus Frederick and his family were forced to live in their hunting lodges. In 1726 Adolphus ordered a construction of a new residence, , at
Lake Zierke. The construction was finished in 1733. The town of
Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz (; ) is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the shore of the Zierker See in the Mecklenburg Lake District. From 1738 until 1918 it was the capital o ...
was founded around the new residence, and it became the official capital of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1736.
Adolphus Frederick died at Neustrelitz and was succeeded as Duke by his nephew
Adolphus Frederick IV.
Marriage and children
Adolphus Frederick was married to Princess Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön (daughter of
John Adolphus, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Plön) on 16 April 1709 at
Reinfeld. They had two children:
[
*Duchess Marie Sofia (1710–1728)
*Duchess Madalena Cristina (1711–1713)
]
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adolphus Frederick 03 of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Duke
1686 births
1752 deaths
Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
People from Neustrelitz