John Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
John Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg[-Güstrow] (born: 5 May 1590 in Waren † April 23 1636 in 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 Duchy of Mecklenburg. From 1621, John Albert ruled Mecklenburg-Güstrow alone.
He reigned from 16 April 1608, under the regency of his great-uncle Duke Charles I
, jointly with his brother Adolf Frederick I in the Mecklenburg-Schwerin
part of the country. After Charles's death, the Emperor declared Adolf Frederick an adult and he ruled alone until John Albert came of age and they began to rule jointly.
In 1617 he converted to the Protestant denomination. In the division of Mecklenburg of 1621, John Albert received Mecklenburg-Güstrow.
In 1623, both brothers joined a defensive alliance of the Lower Saxon Estates. They tried to seem neutral during the Thirty Years' War
, but they secretely supported the Danish troops of king Christian IV
. After the Imperial side won the Battle of Lutter
, Tilly treated them as enemies. On 19 January 1628, Emperor Ferdinand II
issue a decree at Brandýs
Castle declaring that the brothers had forfeited their fief and that Mecklenburg would be invested to Wallenstein. In May 1628, the brothers left the Duchy, at the request of Wallenstein. In May 1631, Wallenstein was overthrown by Swedish troops, and the brothers returned.
John Albert II died in 1636 and was buried in the Minster in Güstrow.
(I) On 9 October 1608 he married Margaret Elizabeth (1584–1616), daughter of Duke Christopher of Mecklenburg. The couple had the following children:
(II) On 26 March 1618, he married Elizabeth of Hesse-Kassel (24 May 1596 — 16 December 1625), daughter of Landgrave Maurice of Hesse-Kassel. This marriage remained childless.
(III) His married his third wife, Eleonore Marie of Anhalt-Bernburg (7 August 1600 — 17 July 1657), daughter of Prince Christian I of Anhalt -Bernburg, on 7 Mai 1626. The couple had the following 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...
) was a Duke of Mecklenburg. From 1608 to 1611, he was the nominal ruler of 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...
; the actual ruler being the regent, his great-uncle Charles I
Charles I, Duke of Mecklenburg
Charles I, Duke of Mecklenburg[-Güstrow] , was the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg in the Mecklenburg-Güstrow part of the country....
. From 1611 to 1621 John Albert and his brother Adolf Frederick I jointly ruled the whole Duchy of Mecklenburg. From 1621, John Albert ruled Mecklenburg-Güstrow alone.
Life
John Albert was the son of Duke John VII and Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-GottorpHe reigned from 16 April 1608, under the regency of his great-uncle Duke Charles I
Charles I, Duke of Mecklenburg
Charles I, Duke of Mecklenburg[-Güstrow] , was the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg in the Mecklenburg-Güstrow part of the country....
, jointly with his brother Adolf Frederick I in the 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...
part of the country. After Charles's death, the Emperor declared Adolf Frederick an adult and he ruled alone until John Albert came of age and they began to rule jointly.
In 1617 he converted to the Protestant denomination. In the division of Mecklenburg of 1621, John Albert received Mecklenburg-Güstrow.
In 1623, both brothers joined a defensive alliance of the Lower Saxon Estates. They tried to seem neutral during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, but they secretely supported the Danish troops of king Christian IV
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
. After the Imperial side won the Battle of Lutter
Battle of Lutter
The Battle of Lutter took place during the Thirty Years' War, on 27 August 1626, between the forces of the Protestant Christian IV of Denmark and those of the Catholic League...
, Tilly treated them as enemies. On 19 January 1628, Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
issue a decree at Brandýs
Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav
Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic on the banks of the Elbe River, in the heart of an agricultural region about 25 km northeast of Prague. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area. Brandýs nad Labem dates its origin to the...
Castle declaring that the brothers had forfeited their fief and that Mecklenburg would be invested to Wallenstein. In May 1628, the brothers left the Duchy, at the request of Wallenstein. In May 1631, Wallenstein was overthrown by Swedish troops, and the brothers returned.
John Albert II died in 1636 and was buried in the Minster in Güstrow.
Marriage and issue
John Albert II was married three times.(I) On 9 October 1608 he married Margaret Elizabeth (1584–1616), daughter of Duke Christopher of Mecklenburg. The couple had the following children:
- John Christopher (1611–1612)
- Elisabeth Sophie (20 August 1613 — 12 July 1676,)
- married Duke Augustus II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
- Christine Margaret
- married firstly on 11 February 1640 Francis Albert of Saxe-Lauenburg
- married secondly, on 6 July 1650 Duke Christian Louis I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (divorced 1663)
- Charles Henry (1616–1618)
(II) On 26 March 1618, he married Elizabeth of Hesse-Kassel (24 May 1596 — 16 December 1625), daughter of Landgrave Maurice of Hesse-Kassel. This marriage remained childless.
(III) His married his third wife, Eleonore Marie of Anhalt-Bernburg (7 August 1600 — 17 July 1657), daughter of Prince Christian I of Anhalt -Bernburg, on 7 Mai 1626. The couple had the following children:
- Anna Sophie (29 September 29, 1628 — 10 February 1666)
- married Duke Louis IV of LegnicaLouis IV of LegnicaLouis IV of Legnica , was a Duke of Brzeg since 1633 , of Wołów and Legnica since 1653 ....
- John Christian (1629–1631)
- Eleanor (1630–1631)
- Gustav AdolphGustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-GüstrowGustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg [-Güstrow] was the last ruler of Mecklenburg-Güstrow from 1636 until his death and last Lutheran Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg from 1636 to 1648.-Life:...
(1633–1695) - Louise (20 May 1635 — 6 January 1648)