George, Duke of Mecklenburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George |
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| Duke of Mecklenburg | |||||
With parents and sisters
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| Head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz | |||||
| Period | 6 December 1934 – 6 July 1963 | ||||
| Predecessor | Duke Charles Michael | ||||
| Successor | Duke Georg Alexander | ||||
| Born | 5 October [O.S. 22 September] 1899 Oranienbaum, Russia |
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| Died | 6 July 1963 (aged 63) Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany |
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| Spouse |
Irina Mikhailovna Raievskya
(m. 1920; died 1955)Archduchess Charlotte of Austria
(m. 1956–1963) |
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| Issue |
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| House | Mecklenburg-Strelitz | ||||
| Father | Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg-Strelitz | ||||
| Mother | Natalia Feodorovna Vonljarskaya, Countess of Carlow | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism prev. Lutheranism |
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George, Duke of Mecklenburg (born October 5, 1899 – died July 6, 1963) was an important leader of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This was a royal family from a part of Germany called Mecklenburg. George led the family from 1934 until he passed away. He was also a descendant of Emperor Paul I of Russia, a powerful ruler from a long time ago.
Contents
Early Life and Family
George was born in a place called Oranienbaum, Russia. His full birth name was Count George of Carlow. He was the only son and youngest child of Duke George Alexander of Mecklenburg and his wife, Nataliya Fyodorovna Vanlarskaya.
His parents' marriage was special because it meant their children wouldn't automatically get the main royal titles. So, George was born with the title Count of Carlow, which came from his mother. She had been given this title by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
When George's father died in 1909, his uncle, Duke Charles Michael, became his guardian. This meant his uncle helped take care of George and his sisters, Katharina, Marie, and Natalia. After a big change in Russia called the October Revolution in 1917, George and his family had to leave. They first went to France and then moved to Germany.
Becoming a Duke
On September 11, 1928, George was adopted by his uncle, Duke Charles Michael. His uncle was the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz at the time. This adoption was made official in court. Because of this, George took his uncle's last name, Mecklenburg.
After being adopted, George was able to use the title Duke of Mecklenburg. This was confirmed by the head of the Imperial House of Russia and also recognized by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. George studied political science at the University of Freiburg and earned a special degree in economics and social sciences.
Leading the Royal House
On December 6, 1934, George's uncle, Duke Charles Michael, passed away. George then became the new head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He and his family lived at Schloss Remplin for a while. However, a large part of the palace burned down in April 1940.
The family then moved to Grunewald. Their home there was destroyed in February 1944 during a bombing raid. In August 1944, George was arrested by the Nazi government and held in a camp until February 1945. After he was released, Duke George and his family moved to Sigmaringen. They were invited there by Princess Margarete of Hohenzollern.
In 1950, the House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin officially confirmed George's title as Duke. They also confirmed his role as the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. At the same time, the title Count of Carlow was no longer used.
George died in Sigmaringen, Germany, from a heart attack. His oldest son, Duke Georg Alexander, took over as the head of the Grand Ducal House after him.
Marriages and Children
Duke George was married two times.
First Marriage
His first marriage was in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 7, 1920. He married Irina Mikhailovna Raievskya. Irina was a widow and came from an important Russian family.
George and Irina had four children together. One son, Alexander, sadly passed away when he was very young. Their children who grew up were:
- Georg Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg (born August 27, 1921 – died January 26, 1996). He married Archduchess Ilona of Austria. They later separated. They had four children.
- Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg (born November 15, 1924 – died July 8, 1962). She married Hassan Sayed Kamil. They had one daughter named Sheila.
- Duke Carl Gregor of Mecklenburg (born March 14, 1933 – died July 23, 2018). He married Princess Maria Margarethe of Hohenzollern.
Second Marriage
In May 1956, George became engaged to Archduchess Charlotte of Austria. She was a daughter of the last Austrian Emperor, Charles I. They were married in a civil ceremony on July 21, 1956, in Pöcking, Germany. A religious ceremony followed a few days later.
