Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg is a geographical area located in Northern Germany. Its borders are the Baltic Sea to the north, the rivers of Recknitz and Trebel to the east, the Elbe river to the southwest, and Lower Saxony and Holstein to the west.

History

Early History

Mecklenburg is the site of many prehistoric dolmen tombs.

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From the seventh through the 12th centuries, the area was ruled by the Obotrites and other tribes that Frankish sources referred to as "Wends". The 11th century founder of the Mecklenburgian dynasty of Dukes and later Grand Dukes, which lasted until 1918, was Niklot of the Obotrites.

Related Topics:
Obotrites - Wends - Duke - Grand Duke - Niklot

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In the late 12th century, Henry the Lion, Duke of the Saxons, conquered the region, subjugated its local lords, and Christianized its people, in a precursor to the Northern Crusades.

Related Topics:
Henry the Lion - The Saxons - Christianized - Northern Crusades

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Since the 12th century, the territory has remained stable and relatively independent of its neighbors; one of the few German territories for which this is true.

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History, 1621-1933

Like many German territories, Mecklenburg was sometimes partitioned and re-partitioned among different members of the ruling dynasty. In 1621 it was divided into the two duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow. With the extinction of the Güstrow line in 1701, the Güstrow lands were redivided, part going to the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and part going to the new line of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Related Topics:
1621 - Mecklenburg-Schwerin - Mecklenburg-Güstrow - 1701 - Mecklenburg-Strelitz

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In 1815, the two Mecklenburgian duchies were raised to Grand Duchies, and subsequently existed separately as such in Germany under enlightened but absolute feudal rule (constitutions being granted on the eve of World War I) until the revolution of 1918. From 1918 to 1933, the duchies were free states in the Weimar Republic.

Related Topics:
1815 - Grand Duchies - World War I - Revolution of 1918 - Weimar Republic

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History since 1934

After three centuries of partition, Mecklenburg was united in 1934 by the Nazi government.

Related Topics:
1934 - Nazi

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After World War II, the Soviet government occupying eastern Germany merged Mecklenburg with the smaller neighboring region of Western Pomerania (German Vorpommern) to form the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (German Mecklenburg-Vorpommer). Mecklenburg contributed about two-thirds of the geographical size of the new state and the majority of its population. (The Soviets changed the name from "Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania" back to "Mecklenburg" in 1947.)

Related Topics:
World War II - Western Pomerania - State - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

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In 1952, the East German government ended the independent existence of Mecklenburg, creating 3 districts ("Bezirke") out of its territory: Rostock, Schwerin and Neubrandenburg.

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During German reunification in 1990, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was revived, and is now one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Related Topics:
German reunification - 1990 - Federal Republic of Germany

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