Christopher was born in
Augsburg. At the urging of his elder brother,
John Albert I, the cathedral chapter appointed Christopher as the successor of the bishop
Christopher I of
Ratzeburg in 1554. Christopher thus became the first
Lutheran administrator of the Bishopric. In 1555, he was also elected the
coadjutor of the bishop
William of
Riga, with the right of succession. His election was controversial and led to armed clashes. During a clash on 1 July 1556 in
Koknese, Christoper and William were both taken prisoner. They were released in 1557, and Christopher was recognized as coadjutor. However, when William died in 1563, Christopher found himself unable to exercise his right of succession. Instead, he was taken prisoner again during renewed fighting against Poland. He was released in 1569, after he had renounced all claims on Riga. After his release, he returned to Mecklenburg. He died on 4 March 1592 at
Tempzin Abbey and was buried in the northern chapel of the high choir of
Schwerin Cathedral. His widow commissioned a grave monument, which shows a couple kneeling before a
prie-dieu. It was crafted in the workshop of the Flemish sculptor
Robert Coppens, with assistance from the Pomeranian painter Georg Strachen. == Marriages and issue ==