Mecklenburg-Strelitz

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Mecklenburg-Strelitz

1701 – 1918


Flag	Coat of arms

Mecklenburg-Strelitz within the German Empire

Capital

Neustrelitz

Government

Monarchy

History

- Established

1701

- Disestablished

1918

Population

- 1905 est.

103,000

Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy in northern Germany, roughly consisting of the present day district of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (the historical Stargarder Land), bordering areas of modern-day Brandenburg with the town of Fürstenberg and the area around Ratzeburg in modern Schleswig-Holstein. It was established in 1701, roughly on the territory of the former duchy of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. The capital was Neustrelitz. In 1808, the duchy joined the Confederation of the Rhine. The Congress of Vienna recognized it as a grand duchy and member of the German Confederation. Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined the North German Confederation in 1867, and became a part of the German Empire in 1871. On January 1st 1934 it was united with the neighbouring state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to form the state of Mecklenburg (today part of the Bundesland Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).

The US county Mecklenburg (Charlotte, North Carolina) is named after Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Strelitz-born Princess Charlotte (queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom). The flower Strelitzia ("Bird of Paradise") also is in honor of her home country. Queen Luise of Prussia also was a born princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The lingering end of the ruling family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz occurred just prior to the loss of actual monarchy in developments of First World War: at that time, there existed only two surviving recognized male dynasts of Strelitz, the young Grand Duke Adolf Frederick VI and his cousin Duke Charles Michael who was in Russian service, being a son of a Grand duchess. In 1914 after the death of Grand Duke Adolf Frederick V and before the proclamation of war between Germany and Russia, Duke Charles Michael (d 1934) renounced his Mecklenburgish citizenship and in 1918 his rights to succession of Strelitz (though possibly not of Schwerin). On 23 February 1918, Grand Duke Adolf Frederick VI committed suicide, leaving no male heirs of the Strelitz line. In the unclear and possibly heirless situation, the agnate Grand Duke Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (possibly the rightful heir, though the case was yet under adjudication) was appointed as the regent of this small grand duchy.

From Count George of Carlow (d 1963) - also known as Duke George of Mecklenburg, who was the morganatic nephew (son of Duke George Alexander and Countess Natalia Carlow) of Duke Charles Michael, descends a male-line family of today Mecklenburg (lead by George Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg). Their dynastic status is under discussion, depending on the validity of the family-act of Frederick Francis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (d 2001) to recognize him as dynast of Mecklenburg with rights to succession.