Johann V-VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Encyclopedia
Johann VII of Mecklenburg (7 March 1558 (Güstrow
) - 22 March 1592 (Schwerin
) (sometimes called Johann V, and sometimes translated to John VII or John V) was a Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Johann was the son of Johann Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Schwerin (1525-1576) and his wife Duchess Anna Sophie of Prussia
(1527-1591). He was eighteen years old when his father died. A regency was appointed that ruled in his name for the next nine years.
The regency handed over the actual rule of his territories to him in 1585. He immediately faced problems he was ill-equipped to deal with, including massive debt and his uncle Christoph's demands for territorial concessions. After an especially harsh argument with his uncle, he committed suicide.
Since suicides could not be buried in hallowed ground, a story was concocted which alleged that Johann had been killed by the devil, as part of a pact with two women of Schwerin
. The women were questioned: [Katharina Wankelmuth] died in the torture chamber and [Magdalena Rukitz] was burned at the stake, leaving the way clear for Johann's burial in the Cathedral of Schwerin.
Because his sons were four and two years old at his death, governance of his territories passed to another regency.
(1 June 1569 - 14 November 1634), daughter of Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
(1526-1586) and his wife Christine of Hesse
(1543-1604). They had three children:
Güstrow
Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located...
) - 22 March 1592 (Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
) (sometimes called Johann V, and sometimes translated to John VII or John V) was a Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Johann was the son of Johann Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow and Schwerin (1525-1576) and his wife Duchess Anna Sophie of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
(1527-1591). He was eighteen years old when his father died. A regency was appointed that ruled in his name for the next nine years.
The regency handed over the actual rule of his territories to him in 1585. He immediately faced problems he was ill-equipped to deal with, including massive debt and his uncle Christoph's demands for territorial concessions. After an especially harsh argument with his uncle, he committed suicide.
Since suicides could not be buried in hallowed ground, a story was concocted which alleged that Johann had been killed by the devil, as part of a pact with two women of Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
. The women were questioned: [Katharina Wankelmuth] died in the torture chamber and [Magdalena Rukitz] was burned at the stake, leaving the way clear for Johann's burial in the Cathedral of Schwerin.
Because his sons were four and two years old at his death, governance of his territories passed to another regency.
Marriage and children
On 17 February 1588 he married Sofie of Holstein-GottorpHolstein-Gottorp
Holstein-Gottorp or Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp is the historiographical name, as well as contemporary shorthand name, for the parts of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein that were ruled by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Other parts of the duchies were ruled by the kings of Denmark. The...
(1 June 1569 - 14 November 1634), daughter of Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp was the first Duke of Holstein-Gottorp from the line of Holstein-Gottorp of the House of Oldenburg....
(1526-1586) and his wife Christine of Hesse
Christine of Hesse
Christine of Hesse-Kassel was Duchess consort of Holstein-Gottorp as the spouse of Duke Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp. She exerted some political influence as a widow in 1586.- Biography :...
(1543-1604). They had three children:
- Adolf Frederick IAdolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-SchwerinAdolf Frederick I was the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from his father's death in 1592 until 1628 and again 1631–1658...
(15 December 1588 - 27 February 1658) - John Albert IIJohn Albert II, Duke of MecklenburgJohn Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg[-Güstrow] was a Duke of Mecklenburg. From 1608 to 1611, he was the nominal ruler of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; the actual ruler being the regent, his great-uncle Charles I. From 1611 to 1621 John Albert and his brother Adolf Frederick I jointly ruled the whole...
(5 May 1590 - 23 April 1636) - Anna Sophia (19 September 1591 - 11 February 1648)