Frederick Francis III

He was born in Schloss Ludwigslust as the son of Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his first wife Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke on 15 April 1883.

From an early age Frederick Francis suffered from asthma and severe breathing difficulties. He could not live in the north of Europe and lived instead on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the mild climate agreed with him. His homosexuality was an open secret.^[1]

Frederick Francis' death in Cannes on 10 April 1897 is shrouded in mystery, as he was originally reported to have committed suicide by throwing himself off a parapet of a bridge.^[2] According to the official account of his death, however, he was in his garden when he experienced breathing difficulties and staggered around before falling over a low wall.^[3] Barones Louise von Reibnitz-Maltzan, a lady-in-waiting who was in Cannes with the family at the time of his death, described the incident as "the Grand Duke's suicide".^[4]

He was succeeded by his son Frederick Francis IV, who would be the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Frederick Francis married Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, his second cousin once removed, he being the great-great-grandson and she great-granddaughter of Paul I of Russia. They were also second cousins because they were great-grandchildren of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. They married in Saint Petersburg on 24 January 1879. They had three children:

• Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (24 December 1879 – 28 December 1952) she married King Christian X of Denmark on 26 April 1898. They had two sons.
• Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (9 April 1882 – 17 November 1945) he married Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland on 7 June 1904. They had five children.
• Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (20 September 1886 – 6 May 1954) she married Wilhelm, German Crown Prince on 6 June 1905. They had six children.

He was described by his daughter Cecilie in her 1952 memoirs:

"His whole soul was bound up with his country of Mecklenburg, and it was infinitely painful for him, as its ruling prince, to have to spend several months each year away from his country on account of his health. [...] When I call to mind what my father looked like, I see before me the most lovable and kindly being that has ever existed. He was tall and slim in build, with beautiful gleaming eyes whom which his warm heart shone forth- that is my unforgettable impression of my father. Nothing could bring me greater pleasure later on than when people who had known him well have told me that I look like him. He had to suffer infinitely much, but never did a word of complaint pass his lips."^[5]

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

He received the following orders and decorations:^[6][7]

German honours

Foreign honours

• Bernd-Ulrich Hergemöller, Mann für Mann, pages 253
• Hans von Tresckow, Von Fürsten und anderen Sterblichen, Erinnerungen eines Kriminalkommisars, 1922, Berlin, page 89