The Duchy of Mecklenburg was a

duchy A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a Middle Ages, medieval country, territory, fiefdom, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess, a ruler hierarchically second to the king or Queen regnant, queen in Western European tradition. There once exis ...

within the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...

, located in the region of

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 ...

. It existed during the

Late Middle Ages The Late Middle Ages or Late Medieval Period was the Periodization, period of European history lasting from AD 1300 to 1500. The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period (and in much of Eur ...

and the early modern period, from 1471 to 1520, as well as 1695 to 1701. Its capital was

Schwerin Schwerin (; Mecklenburgisch dialect, Mecklenburgian Low German: ''Swerin''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Germany, second-largest city of the northeastern States of Germany, German ...

. The state was formed in 1471, when duke Henry IV, had united the duchies of

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 ...

and Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The state existed until 7 May 1520, when it was partitioned into the duchies of

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-Schwerin. It was again reestablished in 1695, with the unification of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Frederick William became the duke. In 1701, it was partitioned into the duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and

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), ...

List of rulers

First state

* Henry IV and John VI (1471–1472) * Henry IV (1472–1477) * Magnus II, Albert VI and Balthasar (1477–1483) * Magnus II and Balthasar (1483–1503) * Balthasar, Eric II,

Albrecht VII Albert VII may refer to: * Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (1559–1621) * Albert VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow Albrecht VII, the Handsome, Duke of Mecklenburg in Güstrow (25 July 1486 – 5 January 1547), was a minor ruler in North Germ ...

and

Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg, nicknamed ''the Peaceful'' (3 May 1479 – 6 February 1552), was the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg in the region Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the son of Duke Magnus II and Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin. Henry ruled jointly w ...

(1503–1507) * Eric II,

and

(1508) *

and

(1508–1520)

Second state

* Frederick William (1695–1701)

Citations

Notes

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mecklenburg, Duchy Of Former countries in Europe Former monarchies of Europe Duchies of the Holy Roman Empire History of Mecklenburg 15th-century establishments in Europe 16th-century disestablishments in Europe 17th-century establishments in Europe 18th-century disestablishments in Europe 15th century in the Holy Roman Empire 16th century in the Holy Roman Empire 17th century in the Holy Roman Empire 18th century in the Holy Roman Empire States and territories established in 1471 States and territories disestablished in 1520 States and territories established in 1695 States and territories disestablished in 1701