Ulrich III of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

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Ulrich III, Duke of Mecklenburg (March 5, 1527 – March 14, 1603) was duke of Mecklenburg from 1555-56 to 1603.

[edit] Early life

Ulrich was the third son of Duke Albrecht VII and his wife Anna. Ulrich was educated in the Bavarian court. Later, he studied theology and law in Ingolstadt. After the death of his father, he took up residence in Bützow and in the 1550s followed his cousin Duke Magnus III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as administrator of the diocese Schwerin. Later, he married Magnus's widow, Elizabeth, a daughter of King Frederick I of Denmark.

After the death of his uncle, Henry V of Mecklenburg, Ulrich participated in the national government, especially during Mecklenburg's participation in the Schmalkaldic war. It erupted from an inheritance dispute, which the 1556 with the "Ruppiner dictum" of the Elector of Brandenburg settled.

[edit] Reign

On 17 February 1555, Ulrich succeeded his brother in Güstrow. In 1556, he received while maintaining the common state government with his brother, the eastern part of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, while Johann Albrecht received western part with the residence Schwerin. After the death of his brother in 1576, Ulrich was made guardian of his offspring. Ulrich built the castle at Güstrow as his principal residence.

Ulrich embodied the type of educated, modern prince, and was a devout Lutheran. He developed into one of the leading princes of the Mecklenburg dynasty. He left behind at his death, a fortune of about 200,000 guilders. Ulrich participated in the exchange with Tycho Brahe and David Chytraeus in scientific discourse of his time and corresponded with humanists like Heinrich Rantzau. In 1594, as Chief of Lower Saxony imperial circle, he organized the military and financial assistance to the Turkish threat.

He served as a mediator between Frederick II of Denmark and Duke John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, with whom also had excellent relations.

[edit] Family

Ulrich's only child from the marriage with Elizabeth of Denmark, Sophie, married King Frederick II of Denmark. His second marriage to Anna of Pomerania was childless.