| Friedrich Franz IV | |
|---|---|
| Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | |
| Reign | 10 April 1897 – 14 November 1918 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Francis III |
| Spouse | Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland |
| Issue | |
| Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz Duke Christian Ludwig Duchess Olga Duchess Thyra Anastasia, Princess Friedrich Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg |
|
| House | House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
| Father | Frederick Francis III |
| Mother | Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia |
| Born | 9 April 1882 Palermo, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 17 October 1945 (aged 63) Flensburg, Germany |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Frederick Francis IV (9 April 1882 – 17 November 1945) was the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
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He was born in Palermo the son of Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke upon his death on 10 April 1897, but due to his minority the grand duchy was governed by his uncle Duke Johann Albrecht as regent until Friedrich Franz came of age on 9 April 1901.[1]
On 7 June 1904, Frederick Francis married Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland in Gmunden. She was the second eldest daughter of Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, and his wife Princess Thyra of Denmark, a daughter of Christian IX of Denmark.
They had five children:[2]
Following the 1918 suicide of Grand Duke Adolphus Frederick VI of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Frederick Francis took up the regency of Strelitz. This happened because the heir presumptive Duke Charles Michael was serving in the Russian Army at the time and had indicated that he wished to renounce his succession rights. Friedrich Franz abdicated the grand ducal throne on 14 November 1918 following the German Empire's defeat in World War I; the regency ended at the same time.[3]
Frederick Francis died on 17 November 1945 in Flensburg after being arrested by No6 RAF Security section on 9 November 1945. He was succeeded as head of the grand ducal house by his son Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz.[3]
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Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 9 April 1882 Died: 17 November 1945 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Friedrich Franz III |
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1897–1918 |
Succeeded by Hugo Wendorff as President of the State Ministry |
| Preceded by Adolf Friedrich VI as Grand Duke |
Regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1918 |
Succeeded by Peter Franz Stubmann as Chairman of the State Ministry |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Loss of title Monarchy abolished
|
— TITULAR — Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1918-1945 Reason for succession failure: Grand Duchy abolished in 1918 |
Succeeded by Friedrich Franz |