Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, called ''the Pious'' (; 9 November 171721 April 1785) was

Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin () was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1701, when Frederick William and Adolphus Frederick II divided the Duchy of Mecklenburg between Schwerin and Strelitz. Ruled by the successors of the Nikloting Ho ...

from 1756 until his death.

Early life

Frederick was born at

Schwerin Schwerin (; Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialect, Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch Low German: ''Swerin''; Polabian language, Polabian: ''Zwierzyn''; Latin: ''Suerina'', ''Suerinum'') is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Germ ...

, the son of Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg, and his wife,

Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (12 July 1694 – 13 April 1748) was a daughter of Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg and Princess Marie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. Family Gustave Caroline was the fourth daughter and younges ...

. In his childhood and youth his great-aunt Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Güstrow had great influence on the intellectual and spiritual development of Frederick, essentially in instilling the beliefs of

Pietism Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christianity, Christian life. Although the movement is ali ...

Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

After the death of his father in 1756, Frederick assumed the government of the Duchy. Shortly after his accession the country was involved in the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...

. Frederick, was a supporter of Pietism. He encouraged the school system, promoted the textile manufacturing and abolished torture. In 1764 he moved his residence from Schwerin to

Schloss Ludwigslust Ludwigslust Palace () is a stately home or ''schloss'' in the town of Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, northern Germany. It was built as a hunting lodge and rebuilt as a retreat from the ducal capital, Schwerin, then became from 1765 to 1837 t ...

. In 1765 he ordered the construction of the Imperial Church (completed in 1770, now the City Church) by architect Johann Joachim Busch, and he continued the expansion of Schloss Ludwigslust between 1772 and 1776.

Marriage

Frederick married on 2 March 1746 at

Schwedt Schwedt (or Schwedt/Oder; ) is a town in Brandenburg, in northeastern Germany. With the official status of a ''Große Kreisstadt, Große kreisangehörige Stadt'' (major district town), it is the largest town of the Uckermark (district), Uckermark ...

Duchess Louise Frederica of Württemberg Duchess Louise Frederica of Württemberg (3 February 1722 – 2 August 1791) was a Duchess consort of Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin.Ulrike Wendt-Sellin: Luise Friederike, Herzogin von Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1722-1791), Lebens ...

, daughter of Frederick Louis, Hereditary Prince of Württemberg, and his wife

Margravine Margrave was originally the medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire or a kingdom. That position became hereditary in certain feudal families in the Empir ...

Henrietta Maria of Brandenburg-Schwedt Henriette Maria of Brandenburg-Schwedt (2 March 1702 probably in Berlin – 7 May 1782 in Köpenick), was a granddaughter of the "Great Elector" Frederick William of Brandenburg. She was the daughter of Philip William, Margrave of Brandenbur ...

. They had four children, who died young. At his death, the dukedom was inherited by his nephew Frederick Francis, a son of his brother

Louis Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also ...

Ancestry

References

*Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Reference: 1956 *Het Groothertogelijk Huis Mecklenburg, Bergen-op-Zoom, 1901–1902, Juten, W. J. F., Reference: 106 {{DEFAULTSORT:Frederick 02 Of Mecklenburg 1717 births 1785 deaths People from Schwerin House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 18th-century German landowners