Johann VII. (Mecklenburg)

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Duke Johann VII., Copy based on an older model by Theodor Fischer , 19th century.

Johann VII Duke of Mecklenburg [-Schwerin] (* March 7, 1558 in Güstrow , † March 22, 1592 in Stargard ) was the ruling Duke of Mecklenburg in the Schwerin region from 1576 to 1592.

Life

Johann was the second eldest son of Duke Johann Albrecht I of Mecklenburg. However, his older brother Albrecht had died in 1561 at the age of five. After his father's death, he took over the government in the Schwerin part of the Mecklenburg duchy under the tutelage of his uncle Ulrich . His guardian signed the concord formula of 1577 and the concord book of 1580 in Johann's name. After Johann was declared of age on September 12, 1585, he ruled alone.

On March 21, 1592 he stabbed himself seven times and died the following day as a result. As early as 1590, the government burden was too great a burden for him and he was determined to resign and leave the country. The reason were disputes with his uncle Christoph , the administrator of the Ratzeburg diocese , who constantly asked for more land. The suicide followed an argument with his uncle.

He died deeply in debt. After his death, furniture from the estate, including the St. Gallen globe , was sold to repay debt.

Witch trials

Because suicide was a sin and should be covered up with Johann, several women from Schwerin were accused of witches in 1604 , including Catharina Wankelmod , who was later burned at the stake, and Margarethe Schultze , who was acquitted in 1609 after a five-year trial. At its 17th meeting on April 18, 2016, the city council of Schwerin decided to rehabilitate the victims of witch persecution in Schwerin and to install a memorial plaque near the town hall.

Succession

After Johann's death, his son Adolf Friedrich succeeded him in the Schwerin part of the country and his son Johann Albrecht was initially co-regent, after Ulrich's death in 1603 a duke in the Güstrow part of the country.

Marriage and children

On February 17, 1588 he married Sophia von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf , daughter of Duke Adolf I of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf (born January 11, 1569, † February 6, 1634). The couple had three children:

  • Adolf Friedrich I. (* 1588; † 1658), Duke of Mecklenburg [-Schwerin] 1592–1628, 1631–1658
  • Johann Albrecht II. (* 1590; † 1636), Duke of Mecklenburg [-Güstrow] 1610–1628, 1631–1636
  • Anna Sophie of Mecklenburg (* 1591; † 1648)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See BSLK , p. 16 and p. 763.
  2. ↑ Riddle solved: Where the mysterious St. Gallen globe comes from , SRF September 21, 2017, accessed on September 22, 2017
  3. ↑ Names of the victims of the witch trials / witch persecution Schwerin (PDF; 123 kB), accessed on May 9, 2016.
  4. ^ City council of Schwerin rehabilitates witches , April 18, 2016, memorial plaque near the town hall
predecessor Office successor
Johann Albrecht I. Duke of Mecklenburg [-Schwerin]
1576–1592 		Adolf Friedrich I.
personal data
SURNAME John VII
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johann VII of Mecklenburg
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1576–1592)
DATE OF BIRTH March 7, 1558
PLACE OF BIRTH Guestrow
DATE OF DEATH March 22, 1592
Place of death Schwerin