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{{Short description|Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1883 to 1897}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Grand Duke Frederick Francis III
|name = Frederick Francis III
|image = Friedrich Franz III.jpg
|image = Friedrich Franz III.jpg
|succession = [[Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
|succession = [[Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
Line 6: Line 7:
|predecessor = [[Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis II]]
|predecessor = [[Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis II]]
|successor = [[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis IV]]
|successor = [[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis IV]]
|spouse = [[Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia]]
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia]]|24 January 1879}}
|issue = [[Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark]]<br>[[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]<br>[[Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Cecilie, German Crown Princess]]
|issue = [[Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark]]<br>[[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]<br>[[Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Cecilie, German Crown Princess]]
|house = [[House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
|house = [[House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
Line 17: Line 18:
| religion = [[Lutheranism]]
| religion = [[Lutheranism]]
|}}
|}}
'''Frederick Francis III''' ({{lang-de|Friedrich Franz Paul Nikolaus Ernst Heinrich}}; 19 March 1851 – 10 April 1897) was the penultimate [[Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]].
'''Frederick Francis III''' ({{langx|de|Friedrich Franz Paul Nikolaus Ernst Heinrich}}; 19 March 1851 – 10 April 1897) was the penultimate [[Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
He was born in [[Schloss Ludwigslust]] the son of [[Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]], and his first wife [[Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz]]. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.
He was born in [[Schloss Ludwigslust]] as the son of [[Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] and his first wife [[Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz]]. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.


From an early age Frederick Francis suffered from [[asthma]] and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived instead on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the mild climate agreed with him. His [[homosexuality]] was an open secret.<ref>[[Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller]], ''Mann für Mann'', pages 253</ref>
From an early age Frederick Francis suffered from [[asthma]] and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived instead on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the mild climate agreed with him. His [[homosexuality]] was an open secret.<ref>[[Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller]], ''Mann für Mann'', pages 253</ref>


Frederick Francis' death in [[Cannes]] on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in mystery, as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge.<ref>{{cite news | title =The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Shown to Have Committed Suicide| work=[[New York Times]]| date =1897-04-13| url =https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/04/13/100422142.pdf| access-date = 2007-10-23 }}</ref> According to the official account of his death, however, he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall.<ref>{{cite news | title =The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin Did Not Commit Suicide| work=[[New York Times]]| date =1897-04-15| url =https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/04/15/102540157.pdf| access-date = 2007-10-23 }}</ref> He was succeeded by his son [[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis IV]], who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Frederick Francis' death in [[Cannes]] on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in mystery, as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge.<ref>{{cite news | title =The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Shown to Have Committed Suicide| work=[[New York Times]]| date =1897-04-13| url =https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/04/13/100422142.pdf| access-date = 2007-10-23 }}</ref> According to the official account of his death, however, he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall.<ref>{{cite news | title =The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin Did Not Commit Suicide| work=[[New York Times]]| date =1897-04-15| url =https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/04/15/102540157.pdf| access-date = 2007-10-23 }}</ref> Barones Louise von Reibnitz-Maltzan, a lady-in-waiting who was in Cannes with the family at the time of his death, described the incident as "the Grand Duke's suicide".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kasten |first=Bernd |title=Prinz Schnaps |publisher=Rostock |year=2009 |pages=23}}</ref>
He was succeeded by his son [[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis IV]], who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.


==Marriage and children==
==Marriage and children==
Frederick Francis married [[Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia]] in [[Saint Petersburg]] on 24 January 1879. They had three children:
Frederick Francis married [[Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia]] in [[Saint Petersburg]] on 24 January 1879. They had three children:


*[[Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (24 December 1879 — 28 December 1952) she married [[Christian X of Denmark|King Christian X of Denmark]] on 26 April 1898. They had two sons.
*[[Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (24 December 1879 – 28 December 1952) she married [[Christian X of Denmark|King Christian X of Denmark]] on 26 April 1898. They had two sons.
*[[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg]] (9 April 1882 — 17 November 1945) he married [[Princess Alexandra of Hanover (1882–1963)|Princess Alexandra of Hanover]] on 7 June 1904. They had five children.
*[[Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (9 April 1882 – 17 November 1945) he married [[Princess Alexandra of Hanover (born 1882)|Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland]] on 7 June 1904. They had five children.
*[[Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (20 September 1886 — 6 May 1954) she married [[Wilhelm, German Crown Prince]] on 6 June 1905. They had six children.
*[[Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] (20 September 1886 – 6 May 1954) she married [[Wilhelm, German Crown Prince]] on 6 June 1905. They had six children.

== Legacy ==
He was described by his daughter Cecilie in her 1952 memoirs:<blockquote>"His whole soul was bound up with his country of Mecklenburg, and it was infinitely painful for him, as its ruling prince, to have to spend several months each year away from his country on account of his health. [...] When I call to mind what my father looked like, I see before me the most lovvable and kindly being that has ever existed. He was tall and slim in build, with beautiful gleaming eyes whom which his warm heart shone forth- that is my unforgettable impression of my father. Nothing could bring me greater pleasure later on than when people who had known him well have told me that I look like him. He had to suffer infinitely much, but never did a word of complaint pass his lips."<ref>{{Cite book |last=of the German Empire and Prussia |first=Crown Princess Cecilie |title=Remembrances |publisher=Gollancz, Ltd. |location=London |publication-date=1952 |pages=28-29}}</ref></blockquote>


==Honours==
==Honours==
He received the following orders and decorations:<ref name="Handbuch01">''Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar'', 1895 p. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8NHG8LUvHEAC/page/n55/mode/2up 1]</ref><ref name="Handbuch02">''Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar'', 1897 pp. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_AiqJbs1vvt4C/page/n51/mode/2up 1-2]</ref>
He received the following orders and decorations:<ref name="Handbuch01">''Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar'', 1895 p. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8NHG8LUvHEAC/page/n55/mode/2up 1]</ref><ref name="Handbuch02">''Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar'', 1897 pp. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_AiqJbs1vvt4C/page/n51/mode/2up 1-2]</ref>
;German honours
;German honours
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* {{Flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg}} [[Mecklenburg]]:
* {{Flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtümer Mecklenburg.svg}} [[Mecklenburg]]:
** [[House Order of the Wendish Crown|Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown]], with Crown in Ore and Collar
** [[House Order of the Wendish Crown|Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown]], with Crown in Ore and Collar
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* {{flag|Oldenburg}}: [[House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis|Grand Cross of the Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig]], with Collar and Golden Crown, ''19 September 1872''<ref>{{cite book|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Großherzogtums Oldenburg: 1879|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AD6sPIakAuMC&pg=PR1|year=1879|publisher=Schulze|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=AD6sPIakAuMC&pg=PA34 34]}}</ref>
* {{flag|Oldenburg}}: [[House and Merit Order of Peter Frederick Louis|Grand Cross of the Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig]], with Collar and Golden Crown, ''19 September 1872''<ref>{{cite book|title=Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Großherzogtums Oldenburg: 1879|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AD6sPIakAuMC&pg=PR1|year=1879|publisher=Schulze|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=AD6sPIakAuMC&pg=PA34 34]}}</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]:
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1803-1892).svg}} [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]:
** [[Order of the Black Eagle|Knight of the Black Eagle]], ''26 September 1869''; with Collar, ''1873''<ref name="prus">{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste|volume=1|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=5&skin=2021|pages=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=15&skin=2021 7], [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=1075&skin=2021 1003]|language=German|location=Berlin|year=1886}}</ref>
** [[Order of the Black Eagle|Knight of the Black Eagle]], ''26 September 1869''; with Collar, ''1873''<ref name="prus">{{citation|title=Königlich Preussische Ordensliste|journal=Preussische Ordens-Liste|volume=1|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=5&skin=2021|pages=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=15&skin=2021 7], [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049878831&view=1up&seq=1075&skin=2021 1003]|language=German|location=Berlin|year=1886}}</ref>
** [[Order of the Red Eagle|Grand Cross of the Red Eagle]]
** [[Order of the Red Eagle|Grand Cross of the Red Eagle]]
** [[Iron Cross]] (1870), 2nd Class
** [[Iron Cross]] (1870), 2nd Class
Line 55: Line 61:
* {{flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtum Hessen ohne Wappen.svg}} [[Grand Duchy of Hesse|Hesse-Darmstadt]]: Grand Cross of the [[Ludwig Order]], ''12 October 1864''<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Hessen'' (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen" p. [https://archive.org/details/hofundstaatshan00gergoog/page/n36 11]</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flagge Großherzogtum Hessen ohne Wappen.svg}} [[Grand Duchy of Hesse|Hesse-Darmstadt]]: Grand Cross of the [[Ludwig Order]], ''12 October 1864''<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Hessen'' (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen" p. [https://archive.org/details/hofundstaatshan00gergoog/page/n36 11]</ref>
* {{flagicon image|Flagge Fürstentum Reuß ältere Linie.svg}} {{flagicon image|Flagge Fürstentum Reuß jüngere Linie.svg}} [[House of Reuss|Reuss]]: Cross of Honour
* {{flagicon image|Flagge Fürstentum Reuß ältere Linie.svg}} {{flagicon image|Flagge Fürstentum Reuß jüngere Linie.svg}} [[House of Reuss|Reuss]]: Cross of Honour
* {{flag|Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}: [[Order of the White Falcon|Grand Cross of the White Falcon]], ''1874''<ref>''Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach'' (1896), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. [https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00184669/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_16_0020.tif 14]</ref>
* {{flag|Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach}}: [[Order of the White Falcon|Grand Cross of the White Falcon]], ''1874''<ref>''Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach'' (1896), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. [https://zs.thulb.uni-jena.de/rsc/viewer/jportal_derivate_00184669/Staatshandbuch_Film_Nr_16_0020.tif 14]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Saxony}}: [[Order of the Rue Crown|Knight of the Rue Crown]]
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Saxony}}: [[Order of the Rue Crown|Knight of the Rue Crown]]
* {{flag|Württemberg}}: [[Order of the Crown (Württemberg)|Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown]], ''1877''<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg'' (1896), "Königliche Orden" p. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Pc5CAAAAYAAJ/page/n63/mode/2up 28]</ref>
* {{flag|Württemberg}}: [[Order of the Crown (Württemberg)|Grand Cross of the Württemberg Crown]], ''1877''<ref>''Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg'' (1896), "Königliche Orden" p. [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Pc5CAAAAYAAJ/page/n63/mode/2up 28]</ref>
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;Foreign honours
;Foreign honours
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* {{flag|Austria-Hungary}}: [[Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary|Grand Cross of St. Stephen]], ''1894''<ref>[http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm "A Szent István Rend tagjai"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022855/http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm|date=22 December 2010}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Austrian Empire}} {{flagicon|Kingdom of Hungary|1893}} [[Austria-Hungary]]: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary|Royal Hungarian Order of St. Stephen]], ''1894''<ref>[http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm "A Szent István Rend tagjai"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022855/http://tornai.com/rendtagok.htm|date=22 December 2010}}</ref>
* {{flag|Principality of Bulgaria}}: [[Order of St. Alexander|Grand Cross of St. Alexander]]
* {{flag|Principality of Bulgaria}}: [[Order of St. Alexander|Grand Cross of St. Alexander]]
* {{flag|Denmark}}: [[Order of the Elephant|Knight of the Elephant]], ''17 July 1894''<ref>{{cite book|author=Jørgen Pedersen|title=Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glw-AQAAIAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag|language=da|isbn=978-87-7674-434-2|page=466}}</ref>
* {{flag|Denmark}}: [[Order of the Elephant|Knight of the Elephant]], ''17 July 1894''<ref>{{cite book|author=Jørgen Pedersen|title=Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=glw-AQAAIAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Syddansk Universitetsforlag|language=da|isbn=978-87-7674-434-2|page=466}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Greece|royal}} [[Kingdom of Greece]]: [[Order of the Redeemer|Grand Cross of the Redeemer]]
* {{flagicon|Greece|royal}} [[Kingdom of Greece]]: [[Order of the Redeemer|Grand Cross of the Redeemer]]
* {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}:
* {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}:
** [[Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation|Knight of the Annunciation]], ''18 May 1894''<ref name="dell'interno1898">{{cite book|author=Italia : Ministero dell'interno|title=Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0dnhcmSJ6FcC&pg=PP5|year=1898|publisher=Unione tipografico-editrice|page=[https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=0dnhcmSJ6FcC&pg=PA54 54]}}</ref>
** [[Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation|Knight of the Annunciation]], ''18 May 1894''<ref name="dell'interno1898">{{cite book|author=Italia : Ministero dell'interno|title=Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0dnhcmSJ6FcC&pg=PP5|year=1898|publisher=Unione tipografico-editrice|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0dnhcmSJ6FcC&pg=PA54 54]}}</ref>
** [[Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus|Grand Cross of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
** [[Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus|Grand Cross of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
* {{flag|Empire of Japan}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]], ''5 June 1885''<ref>{{cite book|author=刑部芳則|title=明治時代の勲章外交儀礼|url=http://meijiseitoku.org/pdf/f54-5.pdf|year=2017|publisher=明治聖徳記念学会紀要|language=ja|page=144}}</ref>
* {{flag|Empire of Japan}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]], ''5 June 1885''<ref>{{cite book|author=刑部芳則|title=明治時代の勲章外交儀礼|url=http://meijiseitoku.org/pdf/f54-5.pdf|year=2017|publisher=明治聖徳記念学会紀要|language=ja|page=144}}</ref>
Line 78: Line 84:
* {{flag|Kingdom of Serbia}}: [[Order of the White Eagle (Serbia)|Grand Cross of the White Eagle]]
* {{flag|Kingdom of Serbia}}: [[Order of the White Eagle (Serbia)|Grand Cross of the White Eagle]]
* {{flagicon|Sweden|1844}} {{flagicon|Norway|1844}} [[Sweden-Norway]]: [[Order of the Seraphim|Knight of the Seraphim]], ''22 April 1896''<ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges statskalender|year=1897|url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/62244/1/gupea_2077_62244_1.pdf|accessdate=10 March 2021|page=413|language=sv|via=gupea.ub.gu.se}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Sweden|1844}} {{flagicon|Norway|1844}} [[Sweden-Norway]]: [[Order of the Seraphim|Knight of the Seraphim]], ''22 April 1896''<ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges statskalender|year=1897|url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/62244/1/gupea_2077_62244_1.pdf|accessdate=10 March 2021|page=413|language=sv|via=gupea.ub.gu.se}}</ref>
* {{flag|Russian Empire}}:
* {{flag|Russian Empire|1858}}:
** [[Order of St. Andrew|Knight of St. Andrew]]
** [[Order of St. Andrew|Knight of St. Andrew]]
** [[Order of St. Alexander Nevsky|Knight of St. Alexander Nevsky]]
** [[Order of St. Alexander Nevsky|Knight of St. Alexander Nevsky]]
Line 131: Line 137:
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


<--- Honors --->


{{DEFAULTSORT:Frederick Francis 03 Of Mecklenburg, Grand Duke}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frederick Francis 03 Of Mecklenburg, Grand Duke}}
[[Category:1851 births]]
[[Category:1851 births]]
[[Category:1897 deaths]]
[[Category:1897 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century LGBT people]]
[[Category:19th-century German LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:Generals of Cavalry (Prussia)]]
[[Category:Generals of Cavalry (Prussia)]]
[[Category:Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:Grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:Hereditary Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:Hereditary grand dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]]
[[Category:LGBT heads of state]]
[[Category:LGBTQ heads of state]]
[[Category:LGBT people from Germany]]
[[Category:German gay men]]
[[Category:LGBT Protestants]]
[[Category:LGBTQ Protestants]]
[[Category:LGBT royalty]]
[[Category:LGBTQ royalty]]
[[Category:19th-century German landowners]]
[[Category:People from Ludwigslust]]
[[Category:People from Ludwigslust]]
[[Category:Protestant monarchs]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Iron Cross (1870), 2nd class]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Russia)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Russia)]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]]
[[Category:Gay military personnel]]

Latest revision as of 11:22, 27 October 2024

Frederick Francis III
Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Reign15 April 1883 – 10 April 1897
PredecessorFrederick Francis II
SuccessorFrederick Francis IV
Born19 March 1851 (1851-03-19)
Ludwigslust Palace, Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, German Confederation
Died10 April 1897 (1897-04-11) (aged 46)
Cannes, France
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1879)​
IssueAlexandrine, Queen of Denmark
Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Cecilie, German Crown Princess
HouseMecklenburg-Schwerin
FatherFrederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
MotherPrincess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz
ReligionLutheranism

Frederick Francis III (German: Friedrich Franz Paul Nikolaus Ernst Heinrich; 19 March 1851 – 10 April 1897) was the penultimate Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Biography

[edit]

He was born in Schloss Ludwigslust as the son of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his first wife Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.

From an early age Frederick Francis suffered from asthma and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived instead on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the mild climate agreed with him. His homosexuality was an open secret.[1]

Frederick Francis' death in Cannes on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in mystery, as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge.[2] According to the official account of his death, however, he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall.[3] Barones Louise von Reibnitz-Maltzan, a lady-in-waiting who was in Cannes with the family at the time of his death, described the incident as "the Grand Duke's suicide".[4]

He was succeeded by his son Frederick Francis IV, who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Marriage and children

[edit]

Frederick Francis married Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia in Saint Petersburg on 24 January 1879. They had three children:

Legacy

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He was described by his daughter Cecilie in her 1952 memoirs:

"His whole soul was bound up with his country of Mecklenburg, and it was infinitely painful for him, as its ruling prince, to have to spend several months each year away from his country on account of his health. [...] When I call to mind what my father looked like, I see before me the most lovvable and kindly being that has ever existed. He was tall and slim in build, with beautiful gleaming eyes whom which his warm heart shone forth- that is my unforgettable impression of my father. Nothing could bring me greater pleasure later on than when people who had known him well have told me that I look like him. He had to suffer infinitely much, but never did a word of complaint pass his lips."[5]

Honours

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He received the following orders and decorations:[6][7]

German honours
Foreign honours

Ancestry

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Literature

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  • Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann für Mann, pages 253
  • Hans von Tresckow, Von Fürsten und anderen Sterblichen, Erinnerungen eines Kriminalkommisars, 1922, Berlin, page 89

References

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  1. ^ Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann für Mann, pages 253
  2. ^ "The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Shown to Have Committed Suicide" (PDF). New York Times. 1897-04-13. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  3. ^ "The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin Did Not Commit Suicide" (PDF). New York Times. 1897-04-15. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  4. ^ Kasten, Bernd (2009). Prinz Schnaps. Rostock. p. 23.
  5. ^ of the German Empire and Prussia, Crown Princess Cecilie (1952). Remembrances. London: Gollancz, Ltd. pp. 28–29.
  6. ^ Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar, 1895 p. 1
  7. ^ Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar, 1897 pp. 1-2
  8. ^ Daniel Corston. "Unofficial website dedicated to the Grand Ducal House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz". mecklenburg-strelitz.org.
  9. ^ Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Baden (1888), "Großherzogliche Orden" pp. 61, 73
  10. ^ Hof- und Staatshandbuch des Großherzogtums Oldenburg: 1879. Schulze. 1879. p. 34.
  11. ^ a b "Königlich Preussische Ordensliste", Preussische Ordens-Liste (in German), 1, Berlin: 7, 1003, 1886
  12. ^ Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Großherzogtum Hessen (1879), "Großherzogliche Orden und Ehrenzeichen" p. 11
  13. ^ Staatshandbuch für das Großherzogtum Sachsen / Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach (1896), "Großherzogliche Hausorden" p. 14[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Königreich Württemberg (1896), "Königliche Orden" p. 28
  15. ^ "A Szent István Rend tagjai" Archived 22 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Jørgen Pedersen (2009). Riddere af Elefantordenen, 1559–2009 (in Danish). Syddansk Universitetsforlag. p. 466. ISBN 978-87-7674-434-2.
  17. ^ Italia : Ministero dell'interno (1898). Calendario generale del Regno d'Italia. Unione tipografico-editrice. p. 54.
  18. ^ 刑部芳則 (2017). 明治時代の勲章外交儀礼 (PDF) (in Japanese). 明治聖徳記念学会紀要. p. 144.
  19. ^ Sveriges statskalender (PDF) (in Swedish), 1897, p. 413, retrieved 10 March 2021 – via gupea.ub.gu.se
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Media related to Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin at Wikimedia Commons

Frederick Francis III
Cadet branch of the House of Mecklenburg
Born: 19 March 1851 Died: 10 April 1897
Regnal titles
Preceded by Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1883–1897 		Succeeded by
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