Frederick Francis IV was the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Background
He was born in Palermo the son of Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. He succeeded his father as Grand Duke upon his death on 10 April 1897, but due to his minority the grand duchy was governed by his uncle Duke Johann Albrecht as regent until Friedrich Franz came of age on 9 April 1901.
Career
He inherited the throne when he was fifteen years old in 1897 and was forced to renounce it in 1918. Marriage and issue Abdication Following the 1918 suicide of Grand Duke Adolphus Frederick VI of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Frederick Francis took up the regency of Strelitz. This happened because the heir presumptive Duke Charles Michael was serving in the Russian Army at the time and had indicated that he wished to renounce his succession rights.
Friedrich Franz abdicated the grand ducal throne on 14 November 1918 following the German Empire"s defeat in World War I. The regency ended at the same time.
After his abdication, he was initially not allowed to live in Mecklenburg and he had to move to Denmark.
A year later he was permitted to return. He recovered some of his former properties and occupied some of his former homes. Frederick Francis died on 17 November 1945 in Flensburg after being arrested by No6 Royal Air Force Security section on 9 November 1945.
However, his former states became part of East Germany.