Mecklenburg History
by Daniel Schlyter
The History
It is very important to understand the history of Mecklenburg and its record keeping in order to take the right steps in your research.
Mecklenburg was occupied in the sixth century by the Wends, a Slavic people. The Mecklenburg dynasty was established in the 1100s when the Wendish ruling family accepted Christianity and German domination.
| 1348 | The Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV elevated the Mecklenburg princes to the position of dukes of the empire. |
| 1419 | A university was established in the city of Rostock. |
| 1549 | Mecklenburg accepted Protestantism. The Evangelical Church (Lutheran) became the state church. |
| 1602 | A proclamation was made requiring every parish in Mecklenburg to maintain registers of births and marriages. |
| 1621 | Mecklenburg was divided into two duchies, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow. |
| 1648 | Sweden took over the district of Wismar. |
| 1650 | All parishes in Mecklenburg were required to maintain death registers. |
| 1695 | The Güstrow line died out and Mecklenburg was temporarily reunited. |
| 1701 | Mecklenburg was divided again, this time as Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz. |
| 1786 | The Evangelical Church of Mecklenburg-Schwerin introduced a uniform system for parish registers. |
| 1803 | Sweden returned the Lordship of Wismar to Mecklenburg. |
| 1810 | The Evangelical Church of Mecklenburg-Strelitz introduced a uniform system for parish registers similar to that in Mecklenburg-Schwerin. |
| 1815 | Both Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz were elevated to the status of grand-duchy. |
| 1819 | The population of Mecklenburg Schwerin was counted in a census. |
| 1820 | The peasants (serfs) were emancipated. |
| 1860 | The population of Mecklenburg was again counted in a census. |
| 1867 | Mecklenburg became part of the North German Confederation. |
| 1871 | Mecklenburg became part of the German Empire. |
| 1876 | Civil authorities in Mecklenburg began registering births, marriages, and deaths. |
| 1918 | The Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz were deposed. |
| 1934 | The two grand-duchies were united to create the state of Mecklenburg. |
| 1945 | Mecklenburg was captured by British and Soviet Troops and placed under Soviet occupation. |
| 1949 | Mecklenburg came under the jurisdiction of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). |
| 1952 | The area was divided into three districts [Bezirks]; Schwerin, Rostock, and Neubrandenburg. |
| 1990 | After the reuniting of Germany the region of Mecklenburg was became part of the new state [Land] of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. |
