Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Franz III was the penultimate Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
the son of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his first wife Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.
From an early age Friedrich Franz suffered from asthma
and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived on the shores of the Mediterranean where the mild climate agreed with him. His homosexuality was an open secret.
Friedrich Franz's death on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in uncertainty as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge. However according to the official account of his death he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall. He was succeeded by his son Friedrich Franz IV who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, although Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg would act as regent until Friedrich Franz IV came of age.
(1860–1922) in Saint Petersburg
on 24 January 1879 and they had three children:
Biography
He was born in Schloss LudwigslustSchloss Ludwigslust
Schloss Ludwigslust is a castle in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, northern Germany. It was built as a hunting lodge, rebuilt as a luxurious retreat from the ducal capital, Schwerin, then became for a time the center of government...
the son of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his first wife Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.
From an early age Friedrich Franz suffered from asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived on the shores of the Mediterranean where the mild climate agreed with him. His homosexuality was an open secret.
Friedrich Franz's death on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in uncertainty as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge. However according to the official account of his death he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall. He was succeeded by his son Friedrich Franz IV who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, although Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg would act as regent until Friedrich Franz IV came of age.
Marriage and children
Friedrich Franz married Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of RussiaGrand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia was a daughter of Grand Duke Michael Nicolaievich of Russia; she married Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
(1860–1922) in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
on 24 January 1879 and they had three children:
- AlexandrineAlexandrine of Mecklenburg-SchwerinAlexandrine Auguste of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the queen consort of King Christian X of Denmark.-Family:She was born a Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in the city of Schwerin...
(1879–1952) married King Christian X of DenmarkChristian X of DenmarkChristian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
; had issue. - Friedrich Franz IV (1882–1945) married Princess Alexandra of Hanover; had issue.
- CecileDuchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-SchwerinCecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a Crown Princess of Germany and Prussia as the wife of German Crown Prince William, the son of German Emperor William II...
(1886–1954) married Wilhelm, German Crown Prince; had issue.
Ancestry
Literature
- Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann für Mann, pages 253
- Hans von Tresckow, Von Fürsten und anderen Sterblichen, Erinnerungen eines Kriminalkommisars, 1922, Berlin, page 89