Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
Georg Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg was the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1963 until his death.
, France the eldest son of the then Count George of Carlow and his first wife Irina Mikhailovna Raievskaya (1892–1955). His father assumed the title Duke of Mecklenburg with the style Serene Highness
following his adoption by the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his uncle Duke Charles Michael. The adoption of the title was confirmed by the head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich
on 18 July 1929 and recognised on 23 December by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
.
With the death of Duke Charles Michael on 6 December 1934 his father succeeded as head of the Grand Ducal house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and thus Georg Alexander became heir apparent
. The grand ducal family lived at Remplin Castle in Mecklenburg until it was destroyed in a fire in April 1940. During the Second World War both Georg Alexander and his father were interned by the Gestapo
for a time.
before completing his studies in banking. On 18 December 1950 his fathers title was confirmed by the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and he then assumed the style of Highness
, while his status as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was also confirmed. At the same time the Count of Carlow title was abolished. Georg Alexander lived for a time in Ireland where he managed a number of properties. On returning to Germany he spent twenty years working for an advertising company.
On 6 July 1963 he succeeded his father as head of the Grand Ducal house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1990 he moved to Mecklenburg and was given an apartment in the former grand ducal residence of Mirow
Castle by the local government and he was involved in its reconstruction. Georg Alexander died in Mirow and was succeeded as head of the Grand Ducal house by his son Duke Borwin.
to Archduchess Ilona of Austria
(20 April 1927 - 12 January 2011) civilly on 20 February 1946 followed by a religious ceremony on 30 April. Archduchess Ilona belongs to the Hungarian Palatine branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and is a granddaughter of Archduke Joseph August of Austria
. Georg Alexander and Ilona had four children before divorcing on 12 December 1974.
Early life
Georg Alexander was born in NiceNice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, France the eldest son of the then Count George of Carlow and his first wife Irina Mikhailovna Raievskaya (1892–1955). His father assumed the title Duke of Mecklenburg with the style Serene Highness
Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein and Monaco. It also preceded the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties as well as some non-ruling but princely German noble families until 1918...
following his adoption by the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his uncle Duke Charles Michael. The adoption of the title was confirmed by the head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia
Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia was a member of the Russian Imperial Family. After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the deaths of Tsar Nicholas II and his brother Michael, Cyril assumed the Headship of the Imperial Family of Russia and later the title Emperor and Autocrat of all the...
on 18 July 1929 and recognised on 23 December by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Frederick Francis IV was the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.-Early life:...
.
With the death of Duke Charles Michael on 6 December 1934 his father succeeded as head of the Grand Ducal house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and thus Georg Alexander became heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
. The grand ducal family lived at Remplin Castle in Mecklenburg until it was destroyed in a fire in April 1940. During the Second World War both Georg Alexander and his father were interned by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
for a time.
Post World War II
Duke Georg Alexander studied law in FreiburgFreiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
before completing his studies in banking. On 18 December 1950 his fathers title was confirmed by the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and he then assumed the style of Highness
Highness
Highness, often used with a possessive adjective , is an attribute referring to the rank of the dynasty in an address...
, while his status as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was also confirmed. At the same time the Count of Carlow title was abolished. Georg Alexander lived for a time in Ireland where he managed a number of properties. On returning to Germany he spent twenty years working for an advertising company.
On 6 July 1963 he succeeded his father as head of the Grand Ducal house of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1990 he moved to Mecklenburg and was given an apartment in the former grand ducal residence 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,...
Castle by the local government and he was involved in its reconstruction. Georg Alexander died in Mirow and was succeeded as head of the Grand Ducal house by his son Duke Borwin.
Marriage and children
Duke Georg Alexander was married in SigmaringenSigmaringen
Sigmaringen is a town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the upper Danube, it is the capital of the Sigmaringen district....
to Archduchess Ilona of Austria
Archduchess Ilona of Austria
Archduchess Ilona of Austria was a member of the Hungarian Palatine branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. She was married and later divorced from the late head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Georg Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg....
(20 April 1927 - 12 January 2011) civilly on 20 February 1946 followed by a religious ceremony on 30 April. Archduchess Ilona belongs to the Hungarian Palatine branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and is a granddaughter of Archduke Joseph August of Austria
Archduke Joseph August of Austria
Archduke Joseph August Viktor Klemens Maria of Austria, Prince of Hungary and Bohemia was for a short period head of state of Hungary, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and the eldest son of Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria and his wife Princess Clotilde of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
. Georg Alexander and Ilona had four children before divorcing on 12 December 1974.
| Name | Birth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Duchess Elisabeth Christine | 22 March 1947 | Married Alhard, Baron von dem Bussche-Ippenburg (b. 30 June 1947) civilly on 15 November 1974 in Lüdenscheid Lüdenscheid Lüdenscheid is a town in the Märkischer Kreis district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Sauerland region. Lüdenscheid is seat of the administration of the Märkischer Kreis district... and religiously on 3 May 1975 at Hohenzollern Castle. Had three daughters before divorcing on 15 December 1997. |
| Duchess Marie Catherine | 14 November 1949 | Married Wolfgang von Wasielewski Wasielewski Wasielewski is the name of a German noble family- History :The Wasielewski family is Catholic and Protestant aristocracy, that commenced with Nicolaus Wasilewski recorded by King Sigismund I. of Poland in 1531. The Prussian line of the family begins with Thaddäus v... (b. 15 December 1951) civilly on 17 March 1978 at Bonn Bonn Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999.... and religiously on 15 July at Biengen. Has two children. |
| Duchess Irene | 18 April 1952 | Married Constantin Harmsen (b. 28 April 1954) civilly on 22 September 1979 at Mexico City and religiously at Biengen on 26 July 1980. Has two sons. |
| Duke Borwin | 10 June 1956 | Married Alice Wagner (b. 2 August 1959) in Hinterzarten Hinterzarten Hinterzarten is a resort village in the Black Forest , located in the southwest of the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Although Hinterzarten is mostly famous for its ski jumpers, it also has many tourist attractions .- Hinterzarten :Hinterzarten was founded in 1148... civilly on 24 December 1985 and religiously on 19 July 1986. Has three children and is the current head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. |
Titles, styles and honours
Titles and styles
- 27 August 1921 11 September 1928: Count Georg Alexander of Carlow
- 11 September 1928 18 December 1950: His Serene Highness Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg, Count of Carlow
- 18 December 1950 26 January 1996: His Highness Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg
Honours
- Mecklenburg-Strelitz House Order of the Wendish Crown (Grand Cross with the crown in Ore)
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Knight of Honour and Devotion)
- Princely House Order of HohenzollernHouse Order of HohenzollernThe House Order of Hohenzollern was an order of chivalry of the House of Hohenzollern. It was both a military and a civil award...
(Honour Cross 1st Class) - Order of Saint Peter of CetinjeOrder of Saint Peter of CetinjeThe Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje is the first dynastic of the Royal House of Petrović-Njegoš. The Order was introduced by King Nikola I of Montenegro in 1869....
(Grand Cross) - Order of King Carol II of RomaniaCarol II of RomaniaCarol II reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria...
(Grand Cross)
