Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg
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Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg[1] (German: Borwin, Herzog zu Mecklenburg; given names: Georg Borwin Friedrich Franz Karl Stephan Konrad Hubertus Maria; born 10 June 1956) has been the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz since 1996. With the death of the last male member of the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 31 July 2001, Strelitz is the only remaining line of the House of Mecklenburg, the dynasty which ruled in Mecklenburg until 1918.
It is claimed that duke Borwin and his sons are the only surviving male-line descendants of medieval sovereign Slavic dynasties of the Wends. The ruling families of Rügen, Pomerania, Pomerelia, Piast of Poland, and Mecklenburg-Schwerin are often claimed to be extinct in male lines, as are such princely families as Putbus and Gristow.
Education and career
Duke Borwin of Mecklenburg was born in Freiburg im Breisgau the youngest child and only son of Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg and his wife Archduchess Ilona of Austria (born 1927) the daughter of Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria and Princess Anna of Saxony. He is a agnatic descendant of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and through his mother a descendant of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.
Duke Borwin became the heir apparent to headship of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on 6 July 1963 when his grandfather died and his father succeeded as head of the house. Borwin has studied Viticulture at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute and served as an officer in the German Army. He has also managed a Swiss drinks company.[2]
In politics, Duke Borwin is a former local party chairman for the Christian Democratic Union in the village of Hinterzarten in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district of Baden-Württemberg, leaving his post in May 2009.[3]
Head of the house
In 1928 his grandfather George was adopted by his uncle and the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Duke Charles Michael. His grandfather subsequently assumed the title of Duke of Mecklenburg with the style Serene Highness which was confirmed on 18 July 1929 by the head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich and then recognised on 23 December by Grand Duke Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.[4] On 18 December 1950, Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg-Schwerin confirmed the ducal title and also granted the style Highness, which in conjunction with the title, is the style enjoyed by all members of the House of Mecklenburg.[5] His grandfather was also confirmed as head of the house.[6]
| Styles of Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
Duke Borwin succeeded as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following his father's death on 26 January 1996.[2] With the death of Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz on the 31 July 2001, the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin has become extinct in the male line leaving Mecklenburg-Strelitz as the only surviving branch of the grand ducal house.
Duke Borwin is the patron and protector of the Order of the Griffin which was revived in September 1984. The order was founded by Grand Duke Frederick Francis III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 15 September 1884.[7] He has also served on the Almanach de Gotha's Comité de Patronage.[8]
In 2005 Duke Borwin along with the head of House of Hohenzollern, Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia attended the seasonal opening of Hohenzieritz Castle in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.[9] It was at the castle where Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who married Frederick William III of Prussia and became Queen of Prussia, died in 1810.
Marriage and children
Duke Borwin married Alice Wagner (born 2 August 1959 in Hinterzarten) the daughter of Dr. Jürgen-Detlev Wagner and Marianne Bichl in a civil marriage on 24 December 1985 in Hinterzarten followed by a religious ceremony on 19 July 1986. They have three children.[5]
- HH Duchess Helene Olga Feodora Donata Maria Katharina Theresia of Mecklenburg (born 13 October 1988 in Freiburg im Breisgau)
- HH Duke Georg Alexander Michael Heinrich Ernst Franz Ferdinand Maria of Mecklenburg (born 17 July 1991 in Freiburg im Breisgau)
- HH Duke Carl Michael Borwin Georg Friedrich Franz Hubertus Maria of Mecklenburg (born 30 January 1994 in Freiburg im Breisgau)
Patrilineal descent
- Niklot, Prince of the Obotrites and Lord of Mecklenburg, 1090–1160
- Pribislav of Mecklenburg, Prince of the Obotrites and Lord of Mecklenburg, d. 1178
- Henry Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg, d. 1227
- Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1170–1226
- John I, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1211–1264
- Henry I, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1230–1302
- Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1266–1329
- Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1318–1379
- Magnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1345–1384
- John IV, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1370–1422
- Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1417–1477
- Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1441–1503
- Albert VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1486–1547
- John Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1525–1576
- John VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1558–1592
- Adolphus Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1588–1658
- Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1658–1708
- Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince of Mirow, 1708–1752
- Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1741–1816
- George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1779–1860
- Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg, 1824–1876
- Duke George Alexander of Mecklenburg, 1859–1909
- George Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1899–1963
- George, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1921–1996
- Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg, b. 1956
Ancestry
References
- ^ http://www.xing.com/profile/Borwin_HzuMecklenburg
- ^ a b Erstling, Frank (2001). "Das Fürstenhaus von Mecklenburg-Strelitz". Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Beiträge zur Geschichte einer Region (in German). Friedland: Steffen. p. 191. ISBN 3980753204.
...Als zwölftes Oberhaupt des Strelitzer Hauses trat Herzog Georg Borwin die Nachfolge seines Vaters an. Er durchlief die Offizierslaufbahn der Bundeswehr, studierte Weinbau und ist heute Manager in einem schweizerischen Getränkekonzern...
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Die CDU wird wiederbelebt" (in German). Badische Zeitung. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ Huberty, Michel. L'Allemagne Dynastique, Tome VI : Bade-Mecklembourg. p. 235. ISBN 9782901138068.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Theroff, Paul. "Mecklenburg". Online Gotha. Archived from the original on 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- ^ Le Petit Gotha. p. 198. ISBN 2950797431.
- ^ "Ordenskurier 2007" (PDF). Ritterorden der Greif. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ^ "Comité de Patronage". Almanach de Gotha. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Saisoneröffnung in Hohenzieritz". preussen.de. Retrieved 2007-08-26.