Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

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Adolf Friedrich II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (19 October 1658 - 12 May 1708) was reigning Duke from 1658 to his death. His state was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

He was a son and successor of Adolf Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1588 - 1658) by his wife Maria Katharina, Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1616 - 1665).

[edit] Royal ancestry

Adolf Friedrich was a fourth-generation descendant of Gustav Vasa, King of Sweden and his second Queen consort Margareta Leijonhufvud through their second child and first daughter Katharina of Sweden (1539 - 1610). Katharina was consort to Edzard II, Count of East Frisia (1532 - 1599). East Frisia played a prominent role at the spreading of Protestant Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire of the 16th century and was thus a natural ally for Protestant Sweden.

Their daughter Maria, Princess of East Frisia (1582 - 1616) became consort to Julius-Ernst, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1571 - 1636). They were the maternal grandparents of Adolf Friedrich II.

[edit] Marriages and children

Adolf Friedrich II was first married to Maria, Princess of Mecklenburg-Gustrow (19 July 1659 - 16 January 1701). They were parents to five children:

Adolf Friedrich III of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, born 7 June 1686.
Magdalena, Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, born 25 April 1689.
Maria, Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, born 7 August 1690.
Eleonore , Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, born 8 July 1691.
Gustave, Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, born 12 July 1694. She became consort to Christian Ludwig II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (15 May 1683 - 30 May 1756).

On 20 June 1702, Adolf Friedrich II first married to Johanna von Sachsen-Gotha (1 October 1680 - 9 July 1704). Johanna was a daughter of Friedrich I, Prince of Saxe-Gotha (15 July 1646 - - 2 August 1691) and Magdalen Sybille von Sachsen-Weissenfels (2 September 1648 - 7 January 1681). There were no children from this marriage.

Adolf Friedrich was married for the third and last time Christiane Emilie von Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (13 March 1681 - 1 November 1751). She was a daughter of Christian Wilhelm , Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (9 January 1647 - 10 May 1721) and Antonie Sybille von Barby-Muhlingen (7 April 1641 - 2 May 1684). They were parents to two children: