The Duchy of Mecklenburg[a] was a duchy within the Holy Roman Empire, located in the region of Mecklenburg. It existed during the Late Middle Ages and the early modern period, from 1471 to 1520, as well as 1695 to 1701. Its capital was Schwerin.

Duchy of Mecklenburg
Herzogtum Mecklenburg (German)
Ducatus Megalopolis (Latin)
1471–1520
1695–1701
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalSchwerin
Religion
Roman Catholic
GovernmentDuchy
Duke 
• 1471–1477 (first of the first state)
Henry IV
• 1503–1520 (last of the first state)
Albrecht VII
Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg
• 1695–1701 (second state)
Frederick William
Historical eraLate Middle Ages
Early modern period
1471
7 May 1520
1695
1701
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Mecklenburg-Stargard
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Güstrow
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Today part ofGermany

The state was formed in 1471, when duke Henry IV, had united the duchies of Mecklenburg-Stargard and Mecklenburg-Schwerin.[1] The state existed until 7 May 1520, when it was partitioned into the duchies of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Mecklenburg-Schwerin.[2][3] It was again reestablished in 1695, with the unification of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Frederick William became the duke. In 1701, it was partitioned into the duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[4]

List of rulers

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First state

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Second state

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Citations

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Notes

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  1. ^ German: Herzogtum Mecklenburg; Latin: Ducatus Megalopolis

References

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  1. ^ Friedrich Wigger, Stammtafeln des Großherzoglichen Hauses von Meklenburg in Verein für Mecklenburgische Geschichte und Altertumskunde: Jahrbücher des Vereins für Mecklenburgische Geschichte und Altertumskunde. Vol. 50 (1885), p. 111-326.
  2. ^ Gustav Hempel: Geographisch-statistisch-historisches Handbuch des Meklenburger Landes. Frege, Güstrow 1837, p. 52–53.
  3. ^ Georg Christian Friedrich Lisch, Die Reformation zu Malchin (Aufsatz 4, Bd. 16), Schwerin, 1851, p. 98.
  4. ^ Ludwig Fromm (1877), "Frederick William, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 7, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 557–558

Bibliography

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