Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg
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Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg (17 June 1863-6 December 1934) was a member of the House of Mecklenburg.
He was born in Oranienbaum, Russia a grandson of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz via his second son Duke Georg of Mecklenburg (1824-1876) and his wife Grand Duchess Catherine Mihailovna of Russia (1827-1894), a granddaughter of Emperor Paul I of Russia.
On the 24 June 1914 a few days after the death of Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich V, Charles Michael wrote to the new Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich VI informing him of his wish to renounce his writes to the Grand Duchy due to wanting to settle permanently in Russia. Adolf Friedrich VI granted permission for Charles Michael to become naturalised Russian subject, but requested he should defer his renunciation until the issue arose, which Charles Michael agreed to. Following the suicide of Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich VI on the 23 February 1918 this left Charles Michael as the only agnate left in the Mecklenburg-Strelitz branch, but as he was a Russian subject, and a serving officer in the Russian army his accession to Grand Duchy was inconceivable due to the first world war. Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was appointed to take over the administration of Mecklenburg-Strelitz until the succession issue was resolved. Charles Michael confirmed his desire to renounce his rights to Mecklenburg-Strelitz in a letter dated 10 August 1918, but the letter did not reach Friedrich Franz IV until January 1919 after the fall of the German monarchies.
Charles Michael adopted his nephew Georg, Count of Carlow in 1928 who was the morganatic son of his brother Duke George Alexander of Mecklenburg (1859-1909). Charles Michael died unmarried in Remplin, Germany on the 6 December 1934.
