Frederick Francis I
Template:Short description Template:Infobox royalty Frederick Francis I (10 December 1756 – 1 February 1837) ruled over the German state of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, first as Duke from 1785 to 1815, and then as Grand Duke from 1815 until his death in 1837.
Early life
Frederick Francis I was born in Schwerin, Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, on 10 December 1756. He was the son of Duke Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Charlotte Sophie of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
His paternal grandparents were Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (son of Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Grabow) and Duchess Gustave Caroline of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (daughter of Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz). His maternal grandparents were Franz Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Princess Anna Sophie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt.
Reign
In 1785, Friedrich Franz succeeded his uncle Frederick II as Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Following the Napoleonic Wars, Friedrich Franz was raised to the dignity of Grand Duke at the Congress of Vienna.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Along with his cousin in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, he was known as one of the most reactionary German rulers.
Personal life
On 1 June 1775 in Gotha, Friedrich Franz married Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, the fourth and youngest child of Prince John August of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Countess Louise Reuss of Schleiz.Template:Cn Together, they had eight children,Template:Refn including:
- Frederick Louis, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1778–1819), who married Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia, a daughter of Paul I of Russia and Duchess Sophie Marie Dorothea of Württemberg.
- Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1779–1801), who married Emil Leopold August, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, the second son of Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen.<ref name="Taggerty 612">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Duke Gustav Wilhelm of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1781–1851), who never married.Template:Refn
- Duke Karl of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1782–1833).
- Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1784–1840), who married Christian VIII of Denmark. They were parents to Frederick VII of Denmark.
- Duke Adolf of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1785–1821).
On his death in 1837 he was succeeded by his grandson, Grand Duke Paul Friedrich.
Notes
References
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