Editing Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (section)

==History==
In June 1692, when [[Christian Louis I, Duke of Mecklenburg|Christian Louis I]] died in exile and without sons, a dispute arose about the succession to his duchy between his brother, [[Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Adolphus Frederick II]], and his nephew, [[Frederick William, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick William]]. The emperor and the rulers of [[Kingdom of Sweden|Sweden]] and of the [[Electorate of Brandenburg]] took part in this struggle, which was intensified three years later, when on the death of [[Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow|Gustav Adolph]], the family ruling over [[Mecklenburg-Güstrow]] became extinct. In 1701, with the endorsement of the [[Imperial state]] of the [[Lower Saxon Circle]], the Treaty of Hamburg (1701) was signed and the final division of the country was made. Mecklenburg was divided between the two claimants. The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was given to [[Frederick William, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick William]], and the [[Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]], roughly a recreation of the medieval Stargard lordship, to [[Adolphus Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Adolphus Frederick II]]. At the same time, the principle of [[primogeniture]] was reasserted, and the right of summoning the joint [[Landtag]] was reserved to the ruler of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Continued conflicts and partitions weakened the rule of the dukes and affirmed the reputation of Mecklenburg as one of the most backward territories of the Empire.

Mecklenburg-Schwerin began its existence during a series of constitutional struggles between the duke and the nobles. The heavy debt incurred by [[Karl Leopold, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Charles Leopold]], who had joined [[Russian Empire]] in a war against [[Kingdom of Sweden|Sweden]], brought matters to a head; [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles VI]] interfered, and in 1728 the imperial court of justice declared the duke incapable of governing. His brother, [[Christian Ludwig II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Christian Ludwig II]], was appointed administrator of the duchy. Under this prince, who became ruler ''de jure'' in 1747, the Convention of Rostock, by which a new constitution was framed for the duchy, was signed in April 1755. By this instrument, all power lay in the hands of the duke, the nobles, and the upper classes generally; the lower classes were entirely unrepresented. During the [[Seven Years' War]], [[Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick II]] took a hostile attitude towards [[Frederick the Great]], and in consequence Mecklenburg-Schwerin was occupied by [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]]. In other respects [[Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick II]]'s rule proved beneficial to the country. In the early years of the [[French Revolutionary Wars]], [[Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin]] remained neutral, and in 1803 he regained [[Wismar]] from the Kingdom of Sweden. In 1806 the territory was overrun by the [[First French Empire]], and in 1808  [[Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin|Frederick Francis I]]  joined the [[Confederation of the Rhine]]. He was later the first member of the confederation to abandon [[Napoleon]], to whose armies he had sent a contingent, and in 1813–1814 he fought against France.