Adolphus Frederick V facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adolphus Frederick V
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Reign	30 May 1904 – 11 June 1914
Predecessor	Frederick William
Successor	Adolf Frederick VI
Born	(1848-07-22)22 July 1848 Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany
Died	11 June 1914(1914-06-11) (aged 65) Berlin, Brandenburg, Prussia, Germany
Burial	16 June 1914 Mirow, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Spouse	Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt ​ (m. 1877)​
Issue	Marie, Princess Julius Ernst of Lippe Jutta, Crown Princess of Montenegro Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duke Karl Borwin
Full name German: Georg Adolf Friedrich Victor Ernst Adalbert Gustav Wilhelm Wellington
House	Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Father	Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Mother	Augusta of Cambridge

Adolphus Frederick V (German: Adolf Friedrich V; born 22 July 1848 – died 11 June 1914) was a ruler known as the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He ruled from 1904 until 1914.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Adolphus Frederick V was born in Neustrelitz. He was the only child of Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and Princess Augusta of Cambridge who survived childhood. When his grandfather, Grand Duke George, passed away in 1860, Adolphus Frederick became the next in line to rule. This meant he was the heir apparent to the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Adolphus Frederick took part in the Franco-Prussian war. He also represented his father at a very important event. This was when King William I of Prussia was declared the German Emperor at the Versailles. Adolphus Frederick became the Grand Duke on 30 May 1904, after his father died.

His mother, Grand Duchess Augusta, was not happy with his focus on military matters. She wrote to her niece, Mary of Teck, saying that Mecklenburg-Strelitz, which was never a military state, suddenly became all about drums and fifes. She felt it was a poor copy of other German courts.

Efforts for a Constitution

In 1907, Adolphus Frederick announced a plan to give Mecklenburg-Strelitz a constitution. A constitution is a set of rules for how a country is governed. However, many nobles opposed this idea. To try and get their support, he offered to pay a large sum of money, $2,500,000, to the national treasury. This was if the nobles and landowners would stop their opposition.

In 1912, he tried again to create a constitution for Mecklenburg-Strelitz. At that time, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Mecklenburg-Schwerin were the only states in Europe without a constitution.

By January 1914, Adolphus Frederick was said to be the second richest person in Germany. Only Emperor William II had more wealth. Adolphus Frederick's fortune was estimated at $88,750,000.

Adolphus Frederick passed away in Berlin. His oldest son, Adolphus Frederick VI, became the next Grand Duke.

Family Life

Adolphus Frederick married Elisabeth of Anhalt on 17 April 1877 in Dessau. His mother had some interesting comments about his wife. She said Elisabeth was very happy being a "Grand Duchess" and enjoyed her luxurious life.

Adolphus Frederick and Elisabeth had four children:

• Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1878–1948). She married Count George Jametel in 1899, but they divorced in 1908. She then married Prince Julius Ernst of Lippe in 1914.
• Duchess Jutta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1880–1946). She married Danilo, Crown Prince of Montenegro in 1899.
• Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1882–1918). He later became the Grand Duke.
• Duke Karl Borwin of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1888–1908). He died in a duel while defending his sister's honor.

Images for kids

• Count Jametel.jpg

  Count George Jametel, first husband of Duchess Marie.