This list of dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg dates from the origins of the German princely state of Mecklenburg's royal house in the High Middle Ages to the monarchy's abolition at the end of World War I. Strictly speaking, Mecklenburg’s princely dynasty was descended linearly from the princes (or kings) of a Slavic tribe, the Obotrites, and had its original residence in a castle (Mecklenburg) in Dorf Mecklenburg (Mikelenburg) close to Wismar.[1] As part of a feudal union under German law from 1160—at first under the Saxons—Mecklenburg was granted imperial immediacy in 1348 and its princely rulers styled Dukes of Mecklenburg.[2] Despite several partitions, Mecklenburg remained an integral state until the end of the monarchy. The First Partition of Mecklenburg came in 1234, causing the principality to lose land. Thus arose the partial principalities (lordships) of Werle, Parchim-Richenberg, Rostock and Mecklenburg.[3] In modern times it was divided into the two (partial) duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (I) and Mecklenburg-Stargard (1348–1471), Mecklenburg-Schwerin (II) and Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1555–1695), and with the Partition of Hamburg (1701) into Mecklenburg-Schwerin (III) and Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[1][4] However, the dynasty always retained feudal rights to the entire fief and the rulers of both parts of the country always had identical titles,[4] which led to diplomatic confusion.
The Congress of Vienna in 1815 granted the ruling dukes an adjustment in rank with the title Grand Duke of Mecklenburg and the personal style Royal Highness.[1] Both parts of the country were henceforth designated Grand Duchies. Besides both rulers, each heir to the throne, their respective wives and all other members of the princely family used the title of Duke (or Duchess) of Mecklenburg, notwithstanding the customary name of Princes and Princesses. The rulers of Mecklenburg were styled Duke of (from 1815 Grand Duke of) Mecklenburg, Prince of the Wends, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, and Count of Schwerin, Lord of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard (Herzog zu / Großherzog von Mecklenburg, Fürst zu Wenden, Schwerin und Ratzeburg, auch Graf zu Schwerin, der Lande Rostock und Stargard Herr).[5]
At the end of the monarchy in 1918, the House of Mecklenburg was the oldest ruling princely dynasty in Germany. During the Weimar Republic, the former princely title was turned into a commoner’s surname, Herzog zu Mecklenburg ("Duke of Mecklenburg").[5]
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The period of rule is indicated next to the name of the duke and his relationship to his predecessor.[6] The partitions played a role, particularly from the Middle Ages; administration changed more frequently, and any period of rule or reign is noted separately for the respective ruler.
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niklot (1090–August 1160) |
1131–1160 | Prince of the Obotrites | |
| Pribislav (unknown–30 December 1178) |
1167–1178 | (Son of Niklot), Prince of the Obotrites, Lord of Mecklenburg | |
| Wertislav (unknown) |
–1164 | (Son of Niklot), Prince of the Obotrites |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Borwin I (d. 28 January 1227) |
1178–1227 | (Son of Pribislav) | |
| Nicholas I (before 1164—25 May 1200) |
1183–1200 | (Son of Wertislav), Lord of Rostock | |
| Henry Borwin II (1170–5 December 1226) |
1219–1226 | (Son of Henry Borwin I), Lord of Rostock | |
| Nicholas II (before 1180–28 September 1225) |
(Son of Henry Borwin I), Lord of Mecklenburg |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| John I, the Theologian (ca. 1211–1 August 1264) |
1227–1264 | (Son of Henry Borwin II), Lord of Mecklenburg | |
| Henry I, the Pilgrim (ca. 1230–2 January 1302) |
1264-1271, 1298-1302 |
(Son of John I), Lord of Mecklenburg | |
| Albert I (after 1230–15 May or 17 May 1265) |
1264–1265 | (Brother of Henry I), Lord of Mecklenburg | |
| Nicholas III (after 1230–8 June 1289 or 1290) |
1264–1289 | (Brother of Henry I), Lord of Mecklenburg, regent during Henry I's absence | |
| John II (ca. 1250–12 October 1299) |
1264–1299 | (Brother of Henry I), Lord of Mecklenburg at Gadebusch, regent during Henry I's absence | |
| John III (after 1266–27 May 1289) |
1287–1289 | (Son of Henry I), Lord of Mecklenburg | |
| Henry II, the Lion (1266 (after April 14)–21 January 1329) |
1287–1329 | (Son of Henry I), Lord of Mecklenburg, Stargard and Rostock | |
| Albert II (ca. 1318–18 February 1379) |
1329–1348 | (Son of Henry II), Lord of Mecklenburg, from 1348 Duke of Mecklenburg |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas I (ca. 1210–14 May 1277) |
1227–1277 | (Son of Henry Borwin II), Lord of Werle | |
| Henry I (ca. 1245–8 October 1291) |
1277–1291 | (Son of Nicholas I), Lord of Werle-Güstrow | |
| John I (ca. 1245–15 October 1283) |
1277–1283 | (Son of Nicholas I), Lord of Werle-Parchim | |
| Bernhard I (ca. 1245– ca. 1286) |
1277–1281 | (Son of Nicholas I), Lord of Werle | |
| Nicholas II (before 1283–18 February 1316) |
1283–1316 | (Son of John I), Lord of Werle | |
| John II, the Bald (after 1250–27 August 1337) |
1316–1337 | (Son of John I), Lord of Werle-Güstrow | |
| John III, van Ruoden (before 1300–1352) |
1316–1350 | (Son of Nicholas II), Lord of Werle-Goldberg | |
| Nicholas III, Staveleke (after 1311–1360/1361 |
1337–1360 | (Son of John II), Lord of Werle-Güstrow | |
| Bernard II (ca. 1320–1382) |
1337–1382 | (Son of John II), Lord of Werle-Waren (-Güstrow) | |
| Nicholas IV, Poogenoge (after 1311–1360/1361) |
1350–1354 | (Son of John III), Lord of Werle-Goldberg | |
| Lorenz (after 1338–1393/1394) |
1360–1393 | (Son of Nicholas III), Lord of Werle-Güstrow | |
| John V (after 1338–1378) |
1365–1378 | (Son of Nicholas III), Lord of Werle-Güstrow, co-regent | |
| John VI (after 1341–after 16 October 1385) |
1382–1385 1395 |
(Son of Bernhard II), Lord of Werle-Waren | |
| John IV (before 1350–1374) |
1354–1374 | (Son of Nicholas IV), Lord of Werle-Goldberg | |
| Balthasar (ca. 1375–5 April 1421) |
1393–1421 | (Son of Lorenz), Lord of Werle-Güstrow, Prince of the Wends | |
| John VII ca. 1375–between 14 August and 17 December 1414) |
1395–1414 | (Son of Lorenz), Lord of Werle-Güstrow, co-regent | |
| William (before 1398–8 September 1436) |
1393–1436 | (Son of Lorenz), Lord of Werle-Güstrow, Prince of the Wends | |
| Nicholas V (before 1385–after 21 January 1408) |
1385 1395–1408 |
(Son of John VI), Lord of Werle-Goldberg and Werle-Waren | |
| Christopher (before 1385–25 August 1425) |
1385 1395–1425 |
(Son of John VI), Lord of Werle-Waren, Prince of the Wends | |
| Werle fell to the Duke of Mecklenburg in 1436. | |||
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Borwin III (ca. 1220–1 August 1278) |
1227–1277 | (Son of Henry Borwin II), Lord of Rostock | |
| Waldemar (before 1262–9 November 1282) |
1277–1282 | (Son of Henry Borwin III), Lord of Rostock | |
| Nicholas, the Child (before 1262–25 November 1314) |
1282–1314 | (Son of Waldemar), Lord of Rostock | |
| Rostock fell to the Prince of Mecklenburg in 1323. | |||
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pribislaw I (1224–after 12 February 1275) |
1227–1256 | (Son of Henry Borwin II), Lord of Parchim | |
| Pribislaw was deprived of his power in 1256 and the country divided among his brothers. | |||
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert II, the Great (1318–18 February 1379) |
1329–1379 | (Son of Henry II), Lord of Mecklenburg, from 1348 Duke | |
| Henry III (ca. 1337–24 April 1383) |
1379–1383 | (Son of Albert II) | |
| Magnus I (ca. 1345–1 September 1384) |
1379–1384 | (Son of Albert II) | |
| Albert III (ca. 1338–March 1412) |
1384–1412 | was Albert of Mecklenburg, King of Sweden (1364–1389), (Son of Albert II) | |
| Albert IV (before 1363–between 24 and 31 December 1388) |
1383–1388 | (Son of Henry III), co-regent | |
| Eric I (after 1359–26 July 1397 in Visby) |
to 1397 | (Son of Albert III), co-regent | |
| Albert V (1397–between 1 June and 6 December 1423) |
1412–1423 | (Son of Albert III) | |
| John IV (before 1370–16. October 1422 in Schwerin) |
1384–1422 | (Son of Magnus I), co-regent | |
| Henry IV, the Fat (before 1417–9 March 1477) |
1422–1477 | (Son of John IV), united the Werle and Stargard Mecklenburg Lines under one ruler upon their extinction | |
| John V (1418–1442) |
1436–1442 | (Son of John IV), co-regent | |
| John VI (1439–1472) |
1439–1472 | (Son of Henry IV), co-regent | |
| Albert VI (1438–before 27 April 1483) |
1477–1483 | (Son of Henry IV) | |
| Magnus II (1441–20 November 1503 in Wismar) |
1477–1503 | (Son of Henry IV) | |
| Balthasar (1451–16 March 1507 in Wismar) |
1477–1507 | (Son of Henry IV), co-regent, Bishop of Schwerin in 1479-1482 | |
| Henry V, the Peaceful (3 May 1479–6 February 1552) |
1503–1552 | (Son of Magnus II) | |
| Eric II (3 September 1483–22 December 1508) |
1503–1508 | (Son of Magnus II), co-regent | |
| Philip (d. 1557) |
1552–1557 | (Son of Henry V), co-regent | |
| John Albrecht I (23 December 1525–12 February 1576) |
1547–1576 | (Son of Albert VII) | |
| John VII (7 March 1558 in Güstrow–22 March 1592 in Stargard) |
1576–1592 | (Son of John Albrecht I) | |
| Adolf Frederick I (15 December 1588–27 February 1658) |
1592–1628, 1631–1658 | (Son of John VII) | |
| Albrecht von Wallenstein |
1628–1631 | Ruled after Adolf Frederick I was deposed by Emperor Ferdinand II | |
| Christian (Ludwig) I (1 December 1623—between 11 June and 21 June 1692) |
1658–1692 | (Son of Adolf Friedrich I) |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| John I (IV) (1326–between 9 August 1392 and 9 February 1393) |
1329–1392 | (Son of Henry II), Lord of Mecklenburg, from 1348 Duke | |
| John II (before 1370–between 6 July and 9 October 1416) |
1392–1416 | (Son of John I), Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard-Sternberg] | |
| Ulrich I (before 1382–8 April 1417) |
1392–1417 | (Son of John I), Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard-Neubrandenburg] | |
| Albert I (before 1377–between 11 February and 15 July 1397) |
1392–1397 | (Son of John I), co-regent | |
| John III (1389–after 11 November 1438) |
1416–1438 | (Son of John II), Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard-Sternberg] | |
| Albert II (before 1400–between 11 February 1421 and 4 October 1423) |
1417–1423 | (Son of Ulrich I), co-regent, Duke of Mecklenburg [-Stargard-Neubrandenburg] | |
| Henry, der Gaunt (before 1412–between 26 May and 20 August 1466) |
1417–1466 | (Son of Ulrich I) | |
| Ulrich II (before 1428–13 July 1471) |
1466–1471 | (Son of Henry) |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert VII, the Handsome (25 July 1486–7 January 1547) |
1503–1547 | (Son of Magnus II) | |
| Ulrich (5 March 1527–14 March 1603) |
1555–1603 | (Son of Albert VII), initiator of the German Imperial Diet | |
| Johann Albrecht II (5 May 1590–23 April 1636) |
1592–1628, 1631–1636 | (Son of Johann VII) | |
| Albrecht von Wallenstein (24 September 1583–25 February 1634) |
1628–1631 | Ruled after Adolf Frederick I was deposed by Emperor Ferdinand II | |
| Gustav Adolph (26 February 1633–6 October 1695) |
1636–1695 | (Son of Johann Albrecht II) |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick William (28 March 1675–31 July 1713) |
1692–1713 | (Nephew of Christian Ludwig I) | |
| Karl Leopold (26 November 1678–28 November 1747) |
1713–1728 | (Brother of Frederick William), named in the Reichsexekution of 1717, was deposed in 1728 by the Aulic Council in Vienna in favour of his brother Christian Ludwig II. | |
| Christian Ludwig II (15 November 1683–30 May 1756) |
1728–1756 | (Brother of Karl Leopold) | |
| Frederick II, the Pious (9 November 1717–24 April 1785) |
1756–1785 | (Son of Christian Ludwig II) | |
| Frederick Francis I (10 December 1756–1 February 1837) |
1785–1837 | from 1815 Grand Duke – [Son of Archduke Friedrich Ludwig, Nephew of Friedrich II] | |
| Paul Frederick (15 September 1800–7 March 1842) |
1837–1842 | (Nephew of Frederick Francis I) | |
| Frederick Francis II (28 February 1823–15 April 1883) |
1842–1883 | (Son of Paul Frederick) | |
| Frederick Francis III (19 March 1851–10 April 1897) |
1883–1897 | (Son of Frederick Francis II) | |
| Johann Albrecht (8 December 1857–16 February 1920) |
1897–1901 | (Brother of Grand Duke Frederick Francis III), from 11 April 1897 until 9 April 1901 regent | |
| Frederick Francis IV (9 April 1882–17 November 1945) |
1897–1918 | (Son of Grand Duke Frederick Francis III), from 1918 Administrator of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz District |
| Name (lived) | Reign | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adolf Frederick II (19 October 1658–12 May 1708) |
1701–1708 | ||
| Adolf Friedrich III (7 June 1686–11 December 1752) |
1708–1752 | (Son of Adolf Frederick II) | |
| Adolf Friedrich IV (5 May 1738–2 June 1794) |
1752/53–1794 | (Nephew of Adolf Friedrich III) | |
| Charles II (10 October 1741–6 November 1816) |
1794–1816 | (Brother of Adolf Friedrich IV), from 1815 Grand Duke | |
| Georg (12 August 1779–6 September 1860) |
1816–1860 | (Son of Charles II) | |
| Friedrich Wilhelm (17 October 1819–30 May 1904) |
1860–1904 | (Son of Georg) | |
| Adolf Friedrich V (22 July 1848–11 June 1914) |
1904–1914 | [Son of Friedrich Wilhelm] | |
| Adolf Friedrich VI (17 July 1883–23 February 1918) |
1914–1918 | (Son of Adolf Friedrich V) | |
| Frederick Francis IV (9 April 1882–17 November 1945) |
1918 | District Administrator |