Adolphus Frederick VI
| Adolphus Frederick VI | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (-Strelitz) | |||||
| Reign | 11 June 1914 – 23 February 1918 | ||||
| Predecessor | Adolphus Frederick V | ||||
| Successor | Vacant: Charles Michael as head of house | ||||
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| House | House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz | ||||
| Father | Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg | ||||
| Mother | Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt | ||||
Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (17 June 1882 – 23 February 1918) was the last sovereign of the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Early life
Adolphus Frederick George Ernest Albert Edward of Mecklenburg was born in Neustrelitz the third child and eldest son of the then Hereditary Grand Duke Adolphus Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his wife Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt (1857-1933).[1] He attended a gymnasium school in Dresden, and later studied jurisprudence in Munich along with serving in the Army. He became heir apparent with the title Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following the death of his grandfather Grand Duke Frederick William on 30 May 1904.
Adolphus Frederick and his brother Duke Karl Borwin are said to have agreed that Adolphus Frederick could devote his life to his painting while Karl Borwin would marry and continue the dynasty.[2] Ultimately this could never be realised as Karl Borwin was killed during a duel with Count George Jametel in 1908. Adolphus Frederick was subsequently reported to be engaged to various European princesses with Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia[3] the only daughter of the German Emperor William II and Princess Patricia of Connaught both mentioned.[4]
He succeeded as Grand Duke on his death of his father on 11 June 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Adolphus Frederick was reported to have married morganatically with attempts made to force him to divorce his wife and conduct an equal marriage but he was reported to have refused.[2] From 1908 until his death ten years later, his mistress was the operatic soprano Mafalda Salvatini. An Italian by birth but raised mainly in Paris, she was a star at the Berlin State Opera and the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Salvatini had two sons by Adolphus Frederick: Horst Gérard and the set and costume designer Rolf Gérard.[5]
Death
On 23 February 1918 at Neustrelitz, Adolphus Frederick committed suicide which left Mecklenburg-Strelitz facing a succession crisis, as the only surviving member of the Strelitz line, Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg was serving in Russia and had indicated that he wished to renounce his rights to Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1914.[6] Although at Adolphus Frederick's request he later agreed to defer any renunciation until the matter arose.[7] There was also a morganatic male-line relative, Duke Charles Michael's nephew George, Count of Carlow (1899-1963), but as Charles Michael was in Russia Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became regent and remained such until the end of the German monarchies when the government in Strelitz declared the end of the regency.[6] Friedrich Franz IV received conformation from Charles Michael that he wished to renounce his succession rights although this only arrived in 1919 after the abolition of the monarchies and the establishment of the Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[7]
In his will Adolphus Frederick left his whole fortune which had been amassed by his grandfather and was estimated at 30 million Marks to Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin's second son Duke Christian Ludwig (1912-96). He did this on the condition that he become Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and take up residence in Neustrelitz; otherwise the inheritance would be reduced to 3 million Marks.[7]
Titles
- 17 June 1882 – 30 May 1904: His Highness The Hereditary Prince of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- 30 May 1904 – 11 June 1914: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- 11 June 1914 – 23 February 1918: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, Prince of Wenden, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, Count of Schwerin, Lord of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard
Ancestors
References
- ^ The Last Courts of Europe by Jeffrey Finestone, p.144
- ^ a b "Duke a suicide, fearing divorce" (PDF). New York Times. 1918-03-08. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "Sign of Royal engagement". New York Times. 1912-01-20. p. 3.
- ^ "Princess Pat engaged?; Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Said to be Her Fiance". New York Times. 1913-06-30. p. 4.
- ^ Rolf Gérard, Un Diario Lungo 90 Anni, Benteli Verlags AG, Berna e Fondazione Rolf Gérard Ascona, 2007
- ^ a b Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda, p.222
- ^ a b c House laws of Mecklenburg
Books
- Louda, Jiri (1981). Lines of Succession. London: Orbis Publishing. ISBN 0 85613-276-4.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Finestone, Jeffrey (1981). The Last Courts of Europe. London: J M Dent & Sons Ltd. ISBN 0 460 04519 9.
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