The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1701, when Frederick William and Adolphus Frederick II divided the Duchy of Mecklenburg between Schwerin and Strelitz. Ruled by the successors of the Nikloting House of Mecklenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin remained a state of the Holy Roman Empire along the Baltic Sea littoral between Holstein-Glückstadt and the Duchy of Pomerania.
The House of Mecklenburg, also known as Nikloting, is a North German dynasty of Slavic origin that ruled until 1918 in the Mecklenburg region, being among the longest-ruling families of Europe. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (1909–2004), former Queen of the Netherlands (1948–1980), was an agnatic member of this house.
Johann VII of Mecklenburg was a Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The Duchy of Mecklenburg 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.
Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow was duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1477 until his death.
John V of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1436 to 1442.
John I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard, Duke of Mecklenburg from 1344 to 1352 and Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard from 1352 to 1392.
Ulrich II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard was ruling duke in the portion of the duchy of Mecklenburg designated Mecklenburg-Stargard from 1466 to 1471. He was the youngest child of Duke Henry, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard, and his wife Ingeborg of Pomerania.
Henry, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard was the ruling Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard, including the Lordships of Neubrandenburg, Stargard, Strelitz and Wesenberg, from 1417 to 1466. He is sometimes called "Henry the Elder" to distinguish him from Duke Henry IV of Mecklenburg.
John II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard was a titular Duke of Mecklenburg. He was co-ruler of Mecklenburg-Stargard from 1392 or 1393 to 1408 and the sole ruler of Sternberg, Friedland, Fürstenberg and Lychen from 1408 until his death.
Margaret of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a princess of Brunswick-Lüneburg by birth and by marriage a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Stargard.
Ulrich I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard was Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard from 1392 or 1393 until his death. He was also Lord of Neubrandenburg, Stargard, Strelitz and Wesenberg.
Anna of Brandenburg was a Duchess consort of Mecklenburg.
The Wars of the Rügen Succession were two early 14th century conflicts fought primarily between Mecklenburg and Pomerania for control of the Danish Principality of Rügen on the southern Baltic Sea coast.
Helmhold III, Count of Schwerin was a German nobleman. He was a son of Count Gunzelin III of Schwerin-Boizenburg and Margaret of Mecklenburg. Helmhold III was the ruling Count of Schwerin-Neustadt and Marnitz from 1274 until his death.
The Principality of Ratzeburg was a former state, existing from 1648 to 1918. It belonged to the imperially immediate territory of Duchy of Mecklenburg and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. Mecklenburg was split up in the third partition of Mecklenburg in the 1701 Treaty of Hamburg, which created the semi-ducal states of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz, with the latter made up of the Principality of Ratzeburg and the Lordship of Stargard. Most of the Principality is now within the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
During its history, the state of Mecklenburg has been repeatedly partitioned into various successor states. Modern historians distinguish three main Partitions of Mecklenburg:
