Charles Louis Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Mirow
Encyclopedia
Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Prince of Mirow was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the father of Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom
.
, the only son of the reigning duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
, Adolf Frederick II
and his third wife Princess Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. His father died when he was only three months old and his half brother succeeded their father as Duke Adolf Friedrich III
. He inherited from his father the commandries
of Mirow
and Nemerow. After the death of his father he lived in Mirow with his mother. He later attended the University of Greifswald in Pomerania
.
Charles who played the transverse flute
set off in 1726 on a European tour to learn more about music. After visiting Geneva
, Italy and France he went to Vienna
and briefly entered into the service of the Holy Roman Emperor
as a Lieutenant Colonel
before returning to Mirow.
After leaving the Army Charles lived with his family in the castle of Mirow
spending most of his time managing his estates and attending to the education of his children. He lived at Mirow until his death there at the age of 44.
When his older brother Adolf Friedrich III died in December 1752 without a male heir Charles Louis Frederick's son Adolf Friedrich IV became the next Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
to Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
(1713–1761), daughter of Ernest Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She was regent to her son in 1752 and played a major part in the struggle for the throne at that time.
They had ten children, of whom six survived infancy:
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
.
Life
Charles was born in StrelitzStrelitz
Strelitz refers to:*Mecklenburg-Strelitz, former German duchy*Mecklenburg-Strelitz , former district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany*Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, state of Weimar Germany*Neustrelitz, city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany...
, the only son of the reigning duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy and later grand duchy in northern Germany, consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district , and the western exclave of the former Bishopric of Ratzeburg in modern...
, Adolf Frederick II
Adolf Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Adolf Friedrich II was the first Duke of Mecklenburg reigning from 1701 to his death. His state was part of the Holy Roman Empire.-Biography:...
and his third wife Princess Christiane Emilie of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. His father died when he was only three months old and his half brother succeeded their father as Duke Adolf Friedrich III
Adolf Friedrich III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Adolf Friedrich III was a Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.-Biography:He was born in Strelitz the son of Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg and his wife Princess Maria of Mecklenburg-Gustrow...
. He inherited from his father the commandries
Commandry (feudalism)
Commandry , or commandery , was the smallest division of the European landed estate or manor under the control of a commendator, or commander, of an order of knights...
of Mirow
Mirow
Mirow is a city in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in southern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.-Geography:Mirow lies in the middle of the Mecklenburg Lake District on the southern shore of Lake Mirow, which is connected to the Müritz and the Havel by a system of lakes, rivers,...
and Nemerow. After the death of his father he lived in Mirow with his mother. He later attended the University of Greifswald in Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
.
Charles who played the transverse flute
Transverse flute
A transverse flute or side-blown flute is a flute which is held horizontally when played. The player blows "across" the embouchure hole, in a direction perpendicular to the flute's body length....
set off in 1726 on a European tour to learn more about music. After visiting Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Italy and France he went to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and briefly entered into the service of the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
as a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
before returning to Mirow.
After leaving the Army Charles lived with his family in the castle of Mirow
Mirow
Mirow is a city in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in southern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.-Geography:Mirow lies in the middle of the Mecklenburg Lake District on the southern shore of Lake Mirow, which is connected to the Müritz and the Havel by a system of lakes, rivers,...
spending most of his time managing his estates and attending to the education of his children. He lived at Mirow until his death there at the age of 44.
When his older brother Adolf Friedrich III died in December 1752 without a male heir Charles Louis Frederick's son Adolf Friedrich IV became the next Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Family
Charles was married on 5 February 1735 in EisfeldEisfeld
Eisfeld is a municipality in the district of Hildburghausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Werra, 12 km east of Hildburghausen, and 19 km north of Coburg....
to Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Princess Elizabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen was a Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She served as regent for her son after the death of her spouse.- Biography :...
(1713–1761), daughter of Ernest Frederick I, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She was regent to her son in 1752 and played a major part in the struggle for the throne at that time.
They had ten children, of whom six survived infancy:
- Duchess Christiane of Mecklenburg (6 December 1735 – 31 August 1794).
- Duchess Karoline of Mecklenburg (22 December 1736)
- Duke Adolf Friedrich IV of Mecklenburg (5 May 1738 – 2 June 1794).
- Duchess Elizabeth Christine of Mecklenburg (13 April 1739 – 9 April 1741).
- Duchess Sophie Louise of Mecklenburg (16 May 1740 – 31 January 1742).
- Duke Charles II of MecklenburgCharles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-StrelitzCharles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg was ruler of the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1794 until his death. Originally ruling as duke he was raised to the title grand duke in 1815...
(10 October 1741 – 6 November 1816). Father of Louise of Mecklenburg-StrelitzLouise of Mecklenburg-StrelitzDuchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III...
. - Duke Ernst Gottlob Albert of MecklenburgDuke Ernest Gottlob of MecklenburgDuke Ernest Gottlob Albert of Mecklenburg was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. As a son of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg, Ernest was an elder brother of Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom, who married George III in 1761...
(27 August 1742 – 27 January 1814) - Duchess Charlotte of MecklenburgCharlotte of Mecklenburg-StrelitzCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III...
(19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818). She became Queen consortQueen consortA queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
to George III of the United KingdomGeorge III of the United KingdomGeorge III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. - Duke Gotthelf of Mecklenburg (29 October 1745 – 31 October 1745)
- Duke George Augustus of MecklenburgDuke George Augustus of MecklenburgDuke George Augustus of Mecklenburg was a member of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and a German sailor and soldier.-Early life:...
(16 August 1748 – 14 November 1785)