Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
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Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
| Adolphus Frederick VI | |
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| Reign | 11 June 1914 – 23 February 1918 |
| Predecessor | Adolphus Frederick V |
| Successor | Vacant: Charles Michael as head of house |
| Full name | |
| Adolf Friedrich Georg Ernst Albert Eduard | |
| House | House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Father | Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg |
| Mother | Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt |
| Born | 17 June 1882 Neustrelitz |
| Died | 23 February 1918 (aged 35) Neustrelitz |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Adolphus Frederick VI (17 June 1882 – 23 February 1918) was the last grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
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Contents
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Early life
Adolphus Frederick George Ernest Albert Edward of Mecklenburg was born in Neustrelitz, the third child and eldest son of Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and his wife Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt.[1] He attended a gymnasium school in Dresden and later studied jurisprudence in Munich along with serving in the army. He became heir apparent with the title Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following the death of his grandfather Grand Duke Frederick William on 30 May 1904.
Adolphus Frederick and his brother Duke Karl Borwin are said to have agreed that Adolphus Frederick could devote his life to his painting, while Karl Borwin would marry and continue the dynasty.[2] Ultimately, this could never be realised, as Karl Borwin was killed during a duel with Count George Jametel in 1908. Adolphus Frederick was subsequently reported to be engaged to various European princesses, including Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia[3] the only daughter of the German Emperor William II and his consort, Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein.[4]
He succeeded as Grand Duke on his death of his father on 11 June 1914, just a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Adolphus Frederick was reported to have married morganatically with attempts made to force him to divorce his wife and conduct an equal marriage, but he was reported to have refused.[2] From 1908 until his death ten years later, his mistress was the operatic soprano Mafalda Salvatini. An Italian by birth, but raised mainly in Paris, she was a star at the Berlin State Opera and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Salvatini had two sons by Adolphus Frederick: Horst Gérard and the set and costume designer Rolf Gérard.[5]
Death
On 23 February 1918 at Neustrelitz, Adolphus Frederick committed suicide. This left Mecklenburg-Strelitz facing a succession crisis, as the only surviving member of the Strelitz line, Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg, was serving in Russia and had indicated that he wished to renounce his rights to Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1914.[6] At Adolphus Frederick's request, he later agreed to defer any renunciation until the matter arose.[7] There was also a morganatic male-line relative, Duke Charles Michael's nephew George, Count of Carlow, but as Charles Michael was in Russia Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became regent and remained such until the end of the German monarchies in 1918, when the government in Strelitz declared the end of the regency.[6] Friedrich Franz IV received confirmation from Charles Michael that he wished to renounce his succession rights, although this only arrived in 1919 after the abolition of the monarchies and the establishment of the Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[7]
Adolphus' fortune had been amassed by his grandfather and was estimated at 30 million Marks. In his will, he left his entire fortune to Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin's second son Duke Christian Ludwig (1912–96). He did this on the condition that Christian agree to become Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and take up residence in Neustrelitz; otherwise the inheritance would be reduced to 3 million Marks.[7]
Titles
- 17 June 1882 – 30 May 1904: His Highness The Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- 30 May 1904 – 11 June 1914: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- 11 June 1914 – 23 February 1918: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, Prince of Wenden, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, Count of Schwerin, Lord of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard
Ancestors
References
- ^ The Last Courts of Europe by Jeffrey Finestone, p.144
- ^ a b "Duke a suicide, fearing divorce" (PDF). New York Times. 1918-03-08. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9803E2DB133DE533A2575BC0A9659C946996D6CF. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "Sign of Royal engagement". New York Times. 1912-01-20. pp. 3.
- ^ "Princess Pat engaged?; Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Said to be Her Fiance.". New York Times. 1913-06-30. pp. 4.
- ^ Rolf Gérard, Un Diario Lungo 90 Anni, Benteli Verlags AG, Berna e Fondazione Rolf Gérard Ascona, 2007
- ^ a b Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda, p.222
- ^ a b c House laws of Mecklenburg
Books
- Louda, Jiri; Michael Maclagan (1981). Lines of Succession. London: Orbis Publishing. ISBN 0-85613-276-4.
- Finestone, Jeffrey; Robert Massie (introduction) (1981). The Last Courts of Europe. London: J M Dent & Sons Ltd. ISBN 0-460-04519-9.
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Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 17 June 1882 Died: 23 February 1918 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Adolf Friedrich V |
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1914–1918 |
Succeeded by Friedrich Franz IV as Regent |
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