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Adolphus Frederick VI

April 14, 2024

Adolphus Frederick VI (17 June 1882 – 23 February 1918) was the last reigning grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Adolphus Frederick VI
Adolphus Frederick VI in 1916
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Reign11 June 1914 – 23 February 1918
PredecessorAdolf Frederick V
SuccessorVacant:
Charles Michael as head of house
Born(1882-06-17)17 June 1882
Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany
Died23 February 1918(1918-02-23) (aged 35)
Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany
Names
Adolf Friedrich Georg Ernst Albert Eduard
HouseMecklenburg-Strelitz
FatherAdolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
MotherPrincess Elisabeth of Anhalt
ReligionLutheran

Early life edit

Adolphus Frederick George Ernest Albert Edward of Mecklenburg was born in Neustrelitz, the third child and eldest son of Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and his wife, the former Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt.[1] He attended a gymnasium school in Dresden and later studied jurisprudence in Munich and served in the Prussian army. Adolphus Frederick became heir apparent to the Grand Duchy, with the title of Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, following the death of his grandfather Grand Duke Frederick William on 30 May 1904.

Adolphus Frederick and his younger brother Duke Karl Borwin are said to have agreed that Adolphus Frederick could devote his life to painting, while Karl Borwin would marry and continue the dynasty;[2] but this agreement 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, including Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia,[3] the only daughter of the German Emperor William II and his consort, Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein.[4]

He succeeded as Grand Duke on the death of his father on 11 June 1914, just a few weeks 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] Recent research has disproven claims that he was the father of the children of operatic soprano Mafalda Salvatini. An Italian by birth but raised mainly in Paris, and a star at the Berlin State Opera and the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Salvatini had been his mistress from 1908 until his suicide in 1918. Her two sons, Charles E. (Horst) Gérard and the theatre production designer and painter Rolf Gérard, were shown not to be illegitimate children of the Grand Duke, though this had been suspected.[5][6]

Succession crisis and a possible marriage edit

With Adolf Friedrich having come to the throne while unmarried and without a male heir there was an issue surrounding the succession as his cousin and heir, Russian based Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1863–1934) had indicated just before First World War broke out that he wished to renounce his succession rights. If there was no male heir to Mecklenburg-Strelitz the grand duchy would merge with the neighboring Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. During the war the topic of marriage was discussed by Adolf Friedrich and his friend Daisy, Princess of Pless, however in wartime it was very difficult to arrange a meeting with an eligible princess. Eventually, Daisy identified her husband's relative, Princess Benigna Reuss of Köstritz (1892–1983) as a suitable bride. She was third child and the only daughter of Prince Heinrich XXVIII Reuss of Köstritz (1859–1924) and his first wife, Countess Magdalene of Solms-Laubach (1863–1925). As Adolf Friedrich was agreeable to the match his Minister-President Heinrich Bossart started negotiations with the future bride's family to bring about the marriage. However, before the engagement could be announced there was the complication of a connection to a woman whom Adolf Friedrich needed to be freed from. Rumor has it that the woman in question was Margrit Höllrigl, Countess Bubna of Litic with whom he had a relationship while he was based in Potsdam. Because of this, the previously arranged marriage to Princess Benigna never materialized and after that she never married.[7]

Death edit

On 23 February 1918 at Neustrelitz, Adolphus Frederick committed suicide. This left Mecklenburg-Strelitz facing a succession crisis, as the only surviving member of the Strelitz line, Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg, had served in the Russian military (in opposition to German and allied forces) and had indicated in 1914 that he wished to renounce his rights to the throne of Mecklenburg-Strelitz;[8] at Adolphus Frederick's request, Charles Michael later agreed to defer any renunciation until the matter arose.[9] There was also a morganatic male-line relative, Duke Charles Michael's nephew George, Count of Carlow.

Because Charles Michael was in Russia, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became regent for Mecklenburg-Strelitz and remained such until the end of the German monarchies in 1918, when the government in Strelitz declared the end of the regency.[8] Friedrich Franz IV received confirmation 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.[9]

Adolphus's fortune had been amassed by his grandfather and was estimated at 30 million marks (€54 million in 2021). In his will, he left his entire fortune to Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin's second son, Duke Christian Ludwig (1912–1996). He did this on the condition that Christian agree to become Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and take up residence in Neustrelitz; otherwise the inheritance would be reduced to 3 million marks.[9]

Titles, styles and honours edit

Titles and styles edit

  • 17 June 1882 – 30 May 1904: His Highness Duke Adolphus Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz[10]
  • 30 May 1904 – 11 June 1914: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz[11]
  • 11 June 1914 – 23 February 1918: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz[12]

Honours edit

He received the following awards:[13]

Ancestors edit

References edit

  1. ^ The Last Courts of Europe by Jeffrey Finestone, p.144
  2. ^ a b "Duke a suicide, fearing divorce" (PDF). The New York Times. 1918-03-08. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  3. ^ "Sign of Royal engagement". The New York Times. 1912-01-20. p. 3.
  4. ^ "Princess Pat engaged?; Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Said to be Her Fiance". The New York Times. 1913-06-30. p. 4.
  5. ^ Andreas Frost (2009). Neue Details zum Tod von Großherzog Adolf Friedrich VI. Mecklenburgische Jahrbücher, herausgegeben im Auftrag des Vereins für mecklenburgische Geschichte und Altertumskunde e.V. von Andreas Röpcke, 124. Jahrgang 2009, Schwerin, p. 239-282
  6. ^ Matthias Frehner and Diana Mirolo: Rolf Gérard, A ninety-year visual diary, Benteli Verlags AG, Bern and the Fondazione Rolf Gérard, Ascona, 2007
  7. ^ "Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz".
  8. ^ a b Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda, p.222
  9. ^ a b c House laws of Mecklenburg
  10. ^ "The London Gazette, Supplement 27316, Page 3555". 22 May 1901.
  11. ^ "The London Gazette, Issue 28535, Page 7078". 26 September 1911.
  12. ^ "The London Gazette, Issue 28853, Page 5865". 28 July 1914.
  13. ^ "Adolf Friedrich VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg". mecklenburg-strelitz.org. Retrieved 17 December 2019.

Books edit

  • Louda, Jiri; Michael Maclagan (1981). Lines of Succession. London: Orbis Publishing. ISBN 0-85613-276-4.
  • Finestone, Jeffrey; Robert Massie (introduction) (1981). The Last Courts of Europe. London: J M Dent & Sons Ltd. ISBN 0-460-04519-9.
Adolphus Frederick VI
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 17 June 1882 Died: 23 February 1918
Regnal titles
Preceded by Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1914–1918 		Vacant

April 14, 2024
adolphus, frederick, june, 1882, february, 1918, last, reigning, grand, duke, mecklenburg, strelitz, 1916grand, duke, mecklenburg, strelitzreign11, june, 1914, february, 1918predecessoradolf, frederick, vsuccessorvacant, charles, michael, head, houseborn, 1882. Adolphus Frederick VI 17 June 1882 23 February 1918 was the last reigning grand duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz Adolphus Frederick VIAdolphus Frederick VI in 1916Grand Duke of Mecklenburg StrelitzReign11 June 1914 23 February 1918PredecessorAdolf Frederick VSuccessorVacant Charles Michael as head of houseBorn 1882 06 17 17 June 1882Neustrelitz Mecklenburg Strelitz GermanyDied23 February 1918 1918 02 23 aged 35 Neustrelitz Mecklenburg Strelitz GermanyNamesAdolf Friedrich Georg Ernst Albert EduardHouseMecklenburg StrelitzFatherAdolphus Frederick V Grand Duke of Mecklenburg StrelitzMotherPrincess Elisabeth of AnhaltReligionLutheran Contents 1 Early life 2 Succession crisis and a possible marriage 3 Death 4 Titles styles and honours 4 1 Titles and styles 4 2 Honours 5 Ancestors 6 References 7 BooksEarly life editAdolphus Frederick George Ernest Albert Edward of Mecklenburg was born in Neustrelitz the third child and eldest son of Adolphus Frederick V Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz and his wife the former Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt 1 He attended a gymnasium school in Dresden and later studied jurisprudence in Munich and served in the Prussian army Adolphus Frederick became heir apparent to the Grand Duchy with the title of Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz following the death of his grandfather Grand Duke Frederick William on 30 May 1904 Adolphus Frederick and his younger brother Duke Karl Borwin are said to have agreed that Adolphus Frederick could devote his life to painting while Karl Borwin would marry and continue the dynasty 2 but this agreement 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 including Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia 3 the only daughter of the German Emperor William II and his consort Augusta Victoria of Schleswig Holstein 4 He succeeded as Grand Duke on the death of his father on 11 June 1914 just a few weeks 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 Recent research has disproven claims that he was the father of the children of operatic soprano Mafalda Salvatini An Italian by birth but raised mainly in Paris and a star at the Berlin State Opera and the Deutsche Oper Berlin Salvatini had been his mistress from 1908 until his suicide in 1918 Her two sons Charles E Horst Gerard and the theatre production designer and painter Rolf Gerard were shown not to be illegitimate children of the Grand Duke though this had been suspected 5 6 Succession crisis and a possible marriage editWith Adolf Friedrich having come to the throne while unmarried and without a male heir there was an issue surrounding the succession as his cousin and heir Russian based Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg Strelitz 1863 1934 had indicated just before First World War broke out that he wished to renounce his succession rights If there was no male heir to Mecklenburg Strelitz the grand duchy would merge with the neighboring Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Schwerin During the war the topic of marriage was discussed by Adolf Friedrich and his friend Daisy Princess of Pless however in wartime it was very difficult to arrange a meeting with an eligible princess Eventually Daisy identified her husband s relative Princess Benigna Reuss of Kostritz 1892 1983 as a suitable bride She was third child and the only daughter of Prince Heinrich XXVIII Reuss of Kostritz 1859 1924 and his first wife Countess Magdalene of Solms Laubach 1863 1925 As Adolf Friedrich was agreeable to the match his Minister President Heinrich Bossart started negotiations with the future bride s family to bring about the marriage However before the engagement could be announced there was the complication of a connection to a woman whom Adolf Friedrich needed to be freed from Rumor has it that the woman in question was Margrit Hollrigl Countess Bubna of Litic with whom he had a relationship while he was based in Potsdam Because of this the previously arranged marriage to Princess Benigna never materialized and after that she never married 7 Death editOn 23 February 1918 at Neustrelitz Adolphus Frederick committed suicide This left Mecklenburg Strelitz facing a succession crisis as the only surviving member of the Strelitz line Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg had served in the Russian military in opposition to German and allied forces and had indicated in 1914 that he wished to renounce his rights to the throne of Mecklenburg Strelitz 8 at Adolphus Frederick s request Charles Michael later agreed to defer any renunciation until the matter arose 9 There was also a morganatic male line relative Duke Charles Michael s nephew George Count of Carlow Because Charles Michael was in Russia Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg Schwerin became regent for Mecklenburg Strelitz and remained such until the end of the German monarchies in 1918 when the government in Strelitz declared the end of the regency 8 Friedrich Franz IV received confirmation 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 9 Adolphus s fortune had been amassed by his grandfather and was estimated at 30 million marks 54 million in 2021 In his will he left his entire fortune to Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg Schwerin s second son Duke Christian Ludwig 1912 1996 He did this on the condition that Christian agree to become Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz and take up residence in Neustrelitz otherwise the inheritance would be reduced to 3 million marks 9 Titles styles and honours editTitles and styles edit 17 June 1882 30 May 1904 His Highness Duke Adolphus Frederick of Mecklenburg Strelitz 10 30 May 1904 11 June 1914 His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz 11 11 June 1914 23 February 1918 His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz 12 Honours edit He received the following awards 13 nbsp Mecklenburg Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown with Crown in Ore 30 July 1898 Joint Grand Master with Collar 11 June 1914 Knight of the Griffon 14 March 1905 Joint Grand Master and Grand Cross 11 June 1914 Cross for Distinction in War Strelitz 2nd and 1st Classes Military Merit Cross Schwerin 2nd Class Memorial Medal for Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich V Strelitz nbsp Principality of Montenegro Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Danilo I 28 July 1899 Knight of St Peter of Cetinje nbsp Duchy of Anhalt Grand Cross of the Order of Albert the Bear 1899 Order of Merit for Science and Art 1st Class nbsp United Kingdom King Edward VII Coronation Medal 1902 King George V Coronation Medal 1911 Honorary Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order 22 June 1911 nbsp Kingdom of Bavaria Knight of St Hubert 1903 nbsp nbsp nbsp Ernestine duchies Grand Cross of the Saxe Ernestine House Order nbsp Kingdom of Prussia Knight of the Black Eagle with Collar Grand Cross of the Red Eagle Iron Cross 1914 2nd and 1st Classes nbsp Hohenzollern Cross of Honour of the Princely House Order of Hohenzollern 1st Class with Swords nbsp Schaumburg Lippe Cross of Honour of the House Order of Lippe 1st ClassAncestors editAncestors of Adolphus Frederick VI8 George Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz4 Frederick William Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz9 Princess Marie of Hesse Kassel2 Adolphus Frederick V Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz10 Prince Adolphus Duke of Cambridge5 Princess Augusta of Cambridge11 Princess Augusta of Hesse Kassel1 Adolphus Frederick VI Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz12 Leopold IV Duke of Anhalt6 Frederick I Duke of Anhalt13 Princess Frederica of Prussia3 Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt14 Prince Eduard of Saxe Altenburg7 Princess Antoinette of Saxe Altenburg15 Princess Amalie of Hohenzollern SigmaringenReferences edit The Last Courts of Europe by Jeffrey Finestone p 144 a b Duke a suicide fearing divorce PDF The New York Times 1918 03 08 Retrieved 2007 10 23 Sign of Royal engagement The New York Times 1912 01 20 p 3 Princess Pat engaged Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz Said to be Her Fiance The New York Times 1913 06 30 p 4 Andreas Frost 2009 Neue Details zum Tod von Grossherzog Adolf Friedrich VI Mecklenburgische Jahrbucher herausgegeben im Auftrag des Vereins fur mecklenburgische Geschichte und Altertumskunde e V von Andreas Ropcke 124 Jahrgang 2009 Schwerin p 239 282 Matthias Frehner and Diana Mirolo Rolf Gerard A ninety year visual diary Benteli Verlags AG Bern and the Fondazione Rolf Gerard Ascona 2007 Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg Strelitz a b Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda p 222 a b c House laws of Mecklenburg The London Gazette Supplement 27316 Page 3555 22 May 1901 The London Gazette Issue 28535 Page 7078 26 September 1911 The London Gazette Issue 28853 Page 5865 28 July 1914 Adolf Friedrich VI Grand Duke of Mecklenburg mecklenburg strelitz org Retrieved 17 December 2019 Books editLouda Jiri Michael Maclagan 1981 Lines of Succession London Orbis Publishing ISBN 0 85613 276 4 Finestone Jeffrey Robert Massie introduction 1981 The Last Courts of Europe London J M Dent amp Sons Ltd ISBN 0 460 04519 9 Adolphus Frederick VIHouse of Mecklenburg StrelitzCadet branch of the House of MecklenburgBorn 17 June 1882 Died 23 February 1918Regnal titlesPreceded byAdolf Friedrich V Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz1914 1918 VacantRegency of Friedrich Franz IV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adolphus Frederick VI amp oldid 1217627638, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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