Duke Georg Borwin of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg ' onMouseout='HidePop("14693")' href="/topics/Given_name">given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
s: Georg Borwin Friedrich Franz Karl Stephan Konrad Hubertus Maria; born 10 June 1956) has been the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz since 1996. With the death of the last male member of the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 31 July 2001, Strelitz is the only remaining line of the House of Mecklenburg, the dynasty which ruled in Mecklenburg until 1918
German Revolution
The German Revolution was the politically-driven civil conflict in Germany at the end of World War I, which resulted in the replacement of Germany's imperial government with a republic...
.
It is claimed that duke Borwin and his sons are the only surviving male-line descendants of medieval sovereign Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
dynasties of the Wends
Wends
Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used...
. The ruling families of Rügen
Rügen
Rügen is Germany's largest island. Located in the Baltic Sea, it is part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.- Geography :Rügen is located off the north-eastern coast of Germany in the Baltic Sea...
, 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...
, Pomerelia
Pomerelia
Pomerelia is a historical region in northern Poland. Pomerelia lay in eastern Pomerania: on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and west of the Vistula and its delta. The area centered on the city of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula...
, Piast of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
are often claimed to be extinct in male lines, as are such princely families as Putbus
Putbus
Putbus is a small town on the southeastern part of the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Germany. The town has 4,741 inhabitants and is a significant tourist destination with numerous seaside resorts....
and Gristow.
Education and career
Duke Borwin of Mecklenburg was born in Freiburg im Breisgau the youngest child and only son of Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg and his wife Archduchess Ilona of AustriaArchduchess 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....
(1927–2011) the daughter of Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria
Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria
Joseph Franz Leopold Anton Ignatius Maria, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary He was the eldest son of Archduke Joseph August of Austria and Princess Auguste Maria of Bavaria...
and Princess Anna of Saxony
Princess Anna of Saxony (1903–1976)
Princess Anna Monika Pia of Saxony, Duchess of Saxony was the seventh and youngest child of Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and his wife Archduchess Luise of Austria, Princess of Tuscany and a younger sister of Georg,...
. He is an agnatic
Patrilineality
Patrilineality is a system in which one belongs to one's father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritance of property, names or titles through the male line as well....
descendant of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Georg, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg ruled the state of Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 1816 until his death.-Early life:...
and through his mother a descendant of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
Frederick Augustus III of Saxony
This article is about King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. For the elector Frederick Augustus III, see Frederick Augustus I of Saxony.Frederick Augustus III was the last King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.Born in Dresden, Frederick Augustus was the son of King George of Saxony...
and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
.
Duke Borwin became the 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....
to headship of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on 6 July 1963 when his grandfather died and his father succeeded as head of the house. Borwin has studied Viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute
Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute
The Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute was founded in 1872 and is located in Geisenheim, Rheingau, Germany. In 1876 professor Hermann Müller from Switzerland joined the institution, where he developed his namesake variety Müller-Thurgau , which became the most planted grape variety in Germany in...
and served as an officer in the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
. He has also managed a Swiss drinks company.
In politics, Duke Borwin is a former local party chairman for the Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
in the village of 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...
in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald is a district in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Emmendingen, Schwarzwald-Baar, Waldshut, Lörrach and the French départements of the Haut-Rhin and the Bas-Rhin. The district-free city of Freiburg is surrounded by the district...
district of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, leaving his post in May 2009.
Head of the house
In 1928 his grandfather George was adopted by his uncle and the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Duke Charles Michael. His grandfather subsequently assumed the title of Duke of Mecklenburg with the style Serene HighnessSerene 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...
which was confirmed on 18 July 1929 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...
and then recognised on 23 December by Grand Duke Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. On 18 December 1950, Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the heir apparent to the throne of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and a member of the SS...
confirmed the ducal title and also granted the style Highness, which in conjunction with the title, is the style enjoyed by all members of the House of Mecklenburg. His grandfather was also confirmed as head of the house.
Duke Borwin succeeded as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following his father's death on 26 January 1996. With the death of Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz on the 31 July 2001, the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin has become extinct in the male line leaving Mecklenburg-Strelitz as the only surviving branch of the grand ducal house.
Duke Borwin is the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
and protector of the Order of the Griffin which was revived in September 1984. The order was founded by Grand Duke Frederick Francis III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Friedrich Franz III was the penultimate Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.-Biography:He was born in Schloss Ludwigslust the son of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his first wife Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz...
on 15 September 1884. He has also served on the Almanach de Gotha
Almanach de Gotha
The Almanach de Gotha was a respected directory of Europe's highest nobility and royalty. First published in 1763 by C.W. Ettinger in Gotha at the ducal court of Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, it was regarded as an authority in the classification of monarchies, princely and ducal...
's Comité de Patronage.
In 2005 Duke Borwin along with the head of House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
, Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia attended the seasonal opening of Hohenzieritz
Hohenzieritz
Hohenzieritz is a municipality in the district Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
Castle in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was at the castle where Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III...
who married Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
and became Queen of Prussia, died in 1810.
Marriage and children
Duke Borwin married Alice WagnerWagner (surname)
Wagner is derived from the Germanic surname Waganari, meaning "wagonmaker" or "wagon driver".This common occupational surname was often given to one who transported produce or other goods via high-sided wagons or carts...
(born 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...
) the daughter of Dr. Jürgen-Detlev Wagner and Marianne Bichl in a civil marriage on 24 December 1985 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...
followed by a religious ceremony on 19 July 1986. They have three children.
- HH Duchess Helene Olga Feodora Donata Maria Katharina Theresia of Mecklenburg (born 13 October 1988 in Freiburg im Breisgau)
- HH Duke Georg Alexander Michael Heinrich Ernst Franz Ferdinand Maria of Mecklenburg (born 17 July 1991 in Freiburg im Breisgau)
- HH Duke Carl Michael Borwin Georg Friedrich Franz Hubertus Maria of Mecklenburg (born 30 January 1994 in Freiburg im Breisgau)
Patrilineal descent
- NiklotNiklotNiklot or Nyklot was a pagan chief or prince of the Slavic Obotrites and an ancestor of the House of Mecklenburg. From 1130 or 1131 until his death he was chief of the Obotrite confederacy, the Kissini, and the Circipani. At the same time he was Lord of Schwerin, Quetzin, and Malchow...
, Prince of the ObotritesObotritesThe Obotrites , also commonly known as the Obodrites, Abotrites, or Abodrites, were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany . For decades they were allies of Charlemagne in his wars against Germanic Saxons and Slavic...
and Lord of MecklenburgMecklenburgMecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, 1090–1160 - Pribislav of MecklenburgPribislav of MecklenburgPribislav was an Obotrite prince and the first Prince of Mecklenburg .Pribislav was one of three sons of the Obotrite chieftain Niklot, who was killed in 1160 during a joint campaign by Duke Henry the Lion of Saxony and King Valdemar the Great of Denmark...
, Prince of the Obotrites and Lord of Mecklenburg, d. 1178 - Henry Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg, d. 1227
- Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1170–1226
- John I, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1211–1264
- Henry I, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1230–1302
- Henry II, Lord of MecklenburgHenry II of MecklenburgHenry II, Duke of Mecklenburg, nicknamed the Lion was regent of Mecklenburg from 1287 to 1298, co-regent from 1298 to 1302 and alone again from 1302 to 1329.- Life :...
, 1266–1329 - Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1318–1379
- Magnus I, Duke of MecklenburgMagnus I, Duke of MecklenburgMagnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1383 until his death. Magnus was the third son of Duke Albert II of Mecklenburg and his wife Euphemia, the sister of the King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden...
, 1345–1384 - John IV, Duke of MecklenburgJohn IV, Duke of MecklenburgJohn IV, Duke of Mecklenburg was sole ruler of the Duchy of Mecklenburg from 1384 to 1395 and co-regent from 1395 to 1422.- Life :...
, 1370–1422 - Henry IV, Duke of MecklenburgHenry IV, Duke of MecklenburgHenry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg was from 1422 to 1477 Duke of Mecklenburg.- Life :Henry IV of Mecklenburg, because of his obesity and lavish lifestyle also called the "Henry the Fat", was the son of the Duke John IV of Mecklenburg and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg.He inherited Mecklenburg when his...
, 1417–1477 - Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1441–1503
- Albert VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1486–1547
- John Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1525–1576
- John VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1558–1592
- Adolphus Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1588–1658
- Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1658–1708
- Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Prince of Mirow, 1708–1752
- Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1741–1816
- George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1779–1860
- Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg, 1824–1876
- Duke George Alexander of Mecklenburg, 1859–1909
- George Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1899–1963
- George, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1921–1996
- Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg, b. 1956