Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg, nicknamed the Peaceful, (3 May 1479 – 6 February 1552) was the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg in the region Mecklenburg-Schwerin
, son of the Duke Magnus II and Sophia of Pomerania
.
Henry ruled jointly with his brothers, Eric
and Albert VII
and his uncle Balthasar
from 27 December 1503. Balthasar died on 16 March 1507 and Erich on 22 M December 1508, both without an heir, so Henry and Albert came into possession of the whole country. They ruled jointly at first. Albert repeatedly advocated to divide the territory, and this was agreed in the House Treaty of Neubrandenburg, sealed on 7 May 1520. The treaty stipulated that Henry in ruled in Schwerin
and Albrecht in Güstrow
, without a de facto division of the country.
During their government was the Luther
launched the Reformation
, which quickly found supporters in Mecklenburg. Lutheran doctrine was preached here more or less openly as early as 1523 and perhaps even earlier. Duke Henry supported the new doctrine from the beginning, at first in a very cautious manner, and but more openly after Diet of Augsburg
. Since 1524, he corresponded with Luther, who sent him teachers and preachers.
He joined the League of Torgau
on 12 in June 1526, and in 1532 he finally came out publicly as a supporter of Luther. Naturally, his position led him to been to give the new doctrine of a firm external and internal organization, so he asked Johann Riebling, whom Luther had recommended to him in 1537, and whom he had appointed Superintendent
, to draft a Church Order
, a Catechism
and an Agenda
. During the following years of his reign, he was occupied with organizing of the Lutheran church.
After Luther's death, a religious war erupted in Germany. Henry, however, did not participate and although he was a Protestant prince, he was not a member of the Schmalkalden League. He resisted, the introduction of the Augsburg Interim
by Emperor Charles V in 1548. Henry approved the decision of the Mecklenburg estates of July 1549, which was formally recognized by the Lutheran doctrine. Soon after, on 6 February 1552, he died with the glory of a pious and peaceable prince.
First, since 12 December 1505 with Ursula
(17 October 1488 – September 18, 1510), daughter of the elector John II Cicero of Brandenburg.
Henry's second marriage, on 12 June 1513 was with Helen
(1493 – August 4, 1524), daughter of the elector palatine Philip.
This was followed on 14 May 1551, by his third marriage, to Ursula (died after 1565 in Minden
), daughter of Duke Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg
and his wife Catherine
.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
, son of the Duke Magnus II and Sophia of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
.
Henry ruled jointly with his brothers, Eric
Eric II, Duke of Mecklenburg
Eric II, Duke of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg and a son of the Duke Magnus II and his wife Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin.Eric ruled Mecklenburg-Schwerin jointly with his brothers, Henry V and Albert VII and his uncle Balthasar since father's death on 27 December 1503. John died on 16 March. ...
and Albert VII
Albert VII, Duke of Mecklenburg
Albrecht VII, the Handsome, Duke of Mecklenburg in Gustrow , was a minor ruler in North Germany of the 16th century...
and his uncle Balthasar
Balthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg
Balthasar of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg, Coadjutor and administrator of the Diocese of Hildesheim and the Diocese of Schwerin from 1474 to 1479....
from 27 December 1503. Balthasar died on 16 March 1507 and Erich on 22 M December 1508, both without an heir, so Henry and Albert came into possession of the whole country. They ruled jointly at first. Albert repeatedly advocated to divide the territory, and this was agreed in the House Treaty of Neubrandenburg, sealed on 7 May 1520. The treaty stipulated that Henry in ruled in Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
and Albrecht in Güstrow
Güstrow
Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located...
, without a de facto division of the country.
During their government was the Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
launched the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
, which quickly found supporters in Mecklenburg. Lutheran doctrine was preached here more or less openly as early as 1523 and perhaps even earlier. Duke Henry supported the new doctrine from the beginning, at first in a very cautious manner, and but more openly after Diet of Augsburg
Diet of Augsburg
The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire in the German city of Augsburg. There were many such sessions, but the three meetings during the Reformation and the ensuing religious wars between the Roman Catholic emperor Charles V and the Protestant...
. Since 1524, he corresponded with Luther, who sent him teachers and preachers.
He joined the League of Torgau
League of Torgau
The League of Torgau was an alliance of Protestant princes, including Philip of Hesse and John of Saxony, which was formed in 1526 by Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire, to oppose the terms set forth in the Edict of Worms. Because it had no substantial military, it was unable to...
on 12 in June 1526, and in 1532 he finally came out publicly as a supporter of Luther. Naturally, his position led him to been to give the new doctrine of a firm external and internal organization, so he asked Johann Riebling, whom Luther had recommended to him in 1537, and whom he had appointed Superintendent
Superintendent
Superintendent may refer to:*Superintendent , Superintendent of Police, SP, Senior Superintendent of Police or SSP - a police rank*Superintendent or Superintendent of Prison, Superintendent of Jail, Senior Superintendent of Jail - a rank in prisons - head of a district, central or special prison...
, to draft a Church Order
Church Order (Lutheran)
The Church Order or Church Ordinance means the general ecclesiastical constitution of a State.The early Evangelical Church attached less importance to ecclesiastical ritual than the pre-Reformation Church had done...
, a Catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
and an Agenda
Agenda (liturgy)
The name Agenda is given, particularly in the Lutheran Church, to the official books dealing with the forms andceremonies of divine service.- The Term; its Equivalents Before the Reformation :...
. During the following years of his reign, he was occupied with organizing of the Lutheran church.
After Luther's death, a religious war erupted in Germany. Henry, however, did not participate and although he was a Protestant prince, he was not a member of the Schmalkalden League. He resisted, the introduction of the Augsburg Interim
Augsburg Interim
The Augsburg Interim is the general term given to an imperial decree ordered on May 15, 1548, at the 1548 Diet of Augsburg, after Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, had defeated the forces of the Schmalkaldic League in the Schmalkaldic War of 1546/47...
by Emperor Charles V in 1548. Henry approved the decision of the Mecklenburg estates of July 1549, which was formally recognized by the Lutheran doctrine. Soon after, on 6 February 1552, he died with the glory of a pious and peaceable prince.
Offspring
Henry was married three times.First, since 12 December 1505 with Ursula
Ursula of Brandenburg
Ursula, Margravine von Brandenburg was a German noblewoman.She was the daughter of Johann Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg and Margarethe of Saxony....
(17 October 1488 – September 18, 1510), daughter of the elector John II Cicero of Brandenburg.
- Magnus (1509–1550), Duke of Mecklenburg -Schwerin, Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin, from 1532 Bishop of Schwerin
- Sophie (1508–1541) married Duke Ernest of Brunswick-LüneburgErnest I, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgErnest of Brunswick-Lüneburg , also frequently called Ernest the Confessor, was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and a champion of the protestant cause during the early years of the Protestant Reformation...
- Ursula († 1586), last abbess in the Poor Clares monastery at Ribnitz.
Henry's second marriage, on 12 June 1513 was with Helen
Helen of the Palatinate
Helen of the Palatinate was a member of the Palatinate-Simmern branch of House of Wittelsbach and a Countess Palatine of Simmern by birth and by marriage Duchess of Mecklenburg.- Life :...
(1493 – August 4, 1524), daughter of the elector palatine Philip.
- Philip (1514–1557), Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Margaret († 1586) married Duke Henry II of Münsterberg-OelsHenry II, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsHenry II of Münsterberg-Oels was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Münsterberg and of Oels and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt...
. - Catherine († 1586) married Duke Frederick III of LegnicaDuchy of LegnicaThe Duchy of Legnica or Duchy of Liegnitz was one of the Duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Legnica in Lower Silesia....
.
This was followed on 14 May 1551, by his third marriage, to Ursula (died after 1565 in Minden
Minden
Minden is a town of about 83,000 inhabitants in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town extends along both sides of the river Weser. It is the capital of the Kreis of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Detmold. Minden is the historic political centre of the...
), daughter of Duke Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg
Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg from the House of Ascania.-Life:...
and his wife Catherine
Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg
Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a member of the house of Welf and a Princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg.- Life :...
.