Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg

Magnus II
Duke of Mecklenburg

Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg
Born 1441
Died 20 November 1503 (aged 61–62)
Wismar
Buried Doberan Minster
Noble family Mecklenburg
Spouse(s) Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin

Issue

Father Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg
Mother Dorothea of Hohenzollern

Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow (1441 – 20 November 1503) was duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1477 until his death.

Biography

He was the son of Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Dorothea of Brandenburg, daughter of Elector Frederick I of Brandenburg. Duke Henry IV had re-united the Mecklenburg lands under his rule through his inheritance of the former Lordships of Werle and Stargard in 1436 and 1471, respectively. Near the end of his life, Henry IV devoted more and more time to hedonistic luxury, while Magnus and his brothers Albert and John took over the most active share in the business of government. John died in 1474 leaving a grieving widow, Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin, daughter of Eric II of Pomerania, whom Magnus married himself on 29 May 1478.

After Henry died in 1477, Magnus ruled the Duchy jointly with Albert. After Albert died in 1483, Magnus ruled alone, as his younger brother Balthasar did not care at all about governing. Magnus reigned until his death in 1503, when he was succeeded by his sons Henry V, Eric II and Albert VII, who at first ruled jointly until they split their lands into the duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow in 1520.

The duchy's debt increased excessively due to the lavish court life of Henry IV. Magnus sought to reduce that debt. He curtailed his own royal household in every way, and pawned goods and regalia. He tried to restore the shattered finances through the introduction of extraordinary Beden (from Lower Saxon Beden: goods to be delivered to the manor by the serfs). This caused tensions with the Hanseatic cities of Rostock and Wismar that were trying to achieve a more independent position.

In 1487 a rebellion broke out in Rostock that is known as the "Rostock Cathedral Feud" (German: 'Rostock Domfehde'). The trigger was the establishment of a collegiate church (commonly known as Dom) at the Church of St. James (Jacobikirche). With this action, Magnus II wanted to secure the financing of the university and his position of power within the city. On 12 January 1487, the day the church was to be consecrated, Provost Thomas Rode was murdered in the street. Dignitataries present for the consecration had to flee the city. Magnus feared for his own life when his entourage was attacked. His life was saved by a bodyguard who threw himself on top of Magnus in the thick of the melee. The rebellion lasted until 1491. In the end, rebel leader Hans Runge and three other insurgents were executed and the city had to recognize the cathedral chapter, pay a substantial fine and confirm all of the Duke's privileges. The excommunication and interdict under which Magnus and Balthasar had been placed by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III and Pope Innocent VIII were then rescinded.

Besides these feuds in his own country, Magnus also had disputes with neighbouring princes and with his vassals, as was usual in those days, for example over inheritances, fiefs and border disputes. Magnus would participate in battles or mediate between the contending parties. Certain projects intended to benefit the economic position of his territories, such as the proposed canal connecting the Baltic Sea with the Elbe and North Sea via Lake Schwerin and the improvement of the quality of the Mecklenburg coinage had to be postponed indefinitely due to a lack of funding. In 1492, 27 Jews in Sternberg were condemned to death after being accused of desecrating bleeding communion wafers. Magnus confirmed the verdict, and the Jews were executed at the stake.

In his domestic life he had the pleasure to see two of his daughters marry respected German princes. His daughter Anna became the matriarch of the House of Hesse and Sophie assumed the same status for the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin. After Magnus' death, his youngest daughter Catherine achieved fame in her own right as the mother of the famous Duke Maurice of Saxony.

Magnus died on 20 November 1503 in Wismar and was later buried in Doberan Abbey.

Offspring

Magnus II was married to Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin. With her he had the following children:

Ancestry

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow.
Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg
Born: 1441 Died: 15 November 1503
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Henry IV		 Dukes of Mecklenburg
1477–1479
with Albert VI (brother) (1477–1479) 		Succeeded by
Albert VI
as Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Succeeded by
Balthasar and
Magnus II
as Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Preceded by
Magnus II and
Albert VI
as Dukes of Mecklenburg		 Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
in 1483 M.-Güstrow reverted to M.-Schwerin
1479–1503
with Balthasar (brother) (1479–1507) 		Succeeded by
Balthasar,
Albert VII,
Eric II and
Henry V
Preceded by
Albert VI of Mecklenburg-Güstrow

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