Albert II Duke of Mecklenburg was a feudal lord in Northern Germany on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Background
Albert was born in Schwerin as the second (but eldest surviving) son of Lord Henry II of Mecklenburg (c 1266-1329), Lord of Stargard (Stari Gard), of the old Vendic princely clan of the Obotrites, and his second wife Princess Anna of Saxe-Wittenberg (d 1327), of the princely Ascanian House. Duke Albert succeeded his father as reigning Prince (or Lord) of Mecklenburg in 1329.
Career
He reigned as the head of the House of Mecklenburg. His princely seat was located in Schwerin beginning in the 1350s. He was also keenly interested in obtaining influence in Scandinavia, e.g. fiefs or income.
On 10 April 1336, Albert married a kinswoman, the Scandinavian heiress Euphemia of Sweden and Norway.
Her father was Eric of Sweden, Duke of Södermanland and Halland, her mother was Princess Ingeborg of Norway, the heiress and the only legitimate daughter of King Haakon V of Norway. Through this marriage, Albert gained standing in Sweden by means of his wife"s hereditary estates and ancestral connections.
Albert acquired the nickname "The Fox of Mecklenburg" from the Swedes to evoke his scheming and avarice. Influential nobles attempted to curb the concentration of royal power in Sweden and set up Magnus" own elder son Eric as a rival king.
Already in Albert and Euphemia"s lifetime it was recognized that her genealogical position would become a pivotal point for any future claims to the Scandinavian thrones.
That marriage apparently was childless.
Politics
These enabled him to participate in the internal politics of Scandinavia. After young Eric"s death, Albert"s second son and namesake Albert became the next puppet claimant of the noble party in Sweden.