Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg

Duke Borwin of Mecklenburg was born in Freiburg im Breisgau the youngest child and only son of Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg and his wife Archduchess Ilona of Austria (1927–2011) the daughter of Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria and Princess Anna of Saxony. He is an agnatic descendant of Grand Duke Georg of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and through his mother a descendant of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. Duke Borwin became the heir apparent to headship of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on 6 July 1963 when his grandfather died and his father succeeded as head of the house. Borwin has studied viticulture at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute and served as an officer in the German Army. He has also managed a Swiss drinks company. ==Head of the house==

In 1928 his grandfather George was adopted by his uncle and the head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Duke Charles Michael. His grandfather subsequently assumed the title of Duke of Mecklenburg with the style Serene Highness which was confirmed on 18 July 1929 by the head of the Imperial House of Russia, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich and then recognised on 23 December by the former Grand Duke Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. On 18 December 1950, Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg-Schwerin confirmed the ducal title and also granted the style Highness, which in conjunction with the title, is the style enjoyed by dynastic members of the House of Mecklenburg. His grandfather was also confirmed as head of the house. Duke Borwin succeeded as head of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz following his father's death on 26 January 1996. He has also served on the Almanach de Gotha's Comité de Patronage. In 2005 Duke Borwin along with the head of the House of Hohenzollern, Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia attended the seasonal opening of Hohenzieritz Castle in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was the castle where Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married Frederick William III of Prussia and became Queen of Prussia, died in 1810. ==Marriage and children==

Duke Borwin married Alice Marianne Wagner (born 2 August 1959 in Hinterzarten, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany), daughter of Dr. Jürgen-Detlev Wagner (28 January 1918, Lübeck, 18 August 1918 - ?) and wife Marianne Biehl (3 February 1930 – Hinterzarten, 26 April 2008) in a civil marriage on 24 December 1985 in Hinterzarten followed by a religious ceremony on 19 July 1986 also in Hinterzarten. They have three children. ==Honours==

National dynastic honours • House of Mecklenburg: Sovereign Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the House Order of the Wendish Crown Foreign dynastic honours • Montenegrin Royal Family: Knight of the Royal Order of Saint Peter of Cetinje • Montenegrin Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Prince Danilo I, Special Class ==Ranks==

• : Member of the Sons of the American Revolution ==Ancestry==

Patrilineal descent • Niklot, Prince of the Obotrites and Lord of Mecklenburg, 1090–1160 • Pribislav of Mecklenburg, Prince of the Obotrites and Lord of Mecklenburg, d. 1178 • Henry Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg, d. 1227 • Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1170–1226 • John I, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1211–1264 • Henry I, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1230–1302 • Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg, 1266–1329 • Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1318–1379 • Magnus I, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1345–1384 (younger brother of Albert III, Duke of Mecklenburg, Albert, King of Sweden) • John IV, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1370–1422 • Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1417–1477 • Magnus II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1441–1503 • Albert VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1486–1547 • John Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Güstrow, 1525–1576 • John VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1558–1592 • Adolphus Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1588–1658 • Adolphus Frederick II, 1st Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1658–1708 • Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1708–1752 • Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1741–1816 • George, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1779–1860 • Duke George Augustus of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1824–1876 • Duke George Alexander of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1859–1909 • George, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1899–1963 • George Alexander, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1921–1996 • Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg, b. 1956 ==References==