Balthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg

Balthasar of Mecklenburg
Born	1451
Died	16 March 1507 Wismar
Spouse	Margaret of Pomerania
House	House of Mecklenburg
Father	Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg
Mother	Dorothea of Brandenburg (1420–1491)

Balthasar of Mecklenburg (1451 – 16 March 1507) was a Duke of Mecklenburg and Coadjutor of the Diocese of Hildesheim between 1471 and 1474 and the Diocese of Schwerin between 1474 and 1479.

Balthasar was the youngest son of Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg and Dorothea of Brandenburg, the daughter of the Margrave Frederick I of Brandenburg. When he came of age, Balthasar chose an ecclesiastical career. He was coadjutor of the Diocese of Hildesheim in the years 1471-1474 and then in the Diocese of Schwerin from 1474 to 1479. He probably was not satisfied with ecclesiastical life and returned to lay status in 1479. After mediation by his mother, an agreement was reached on 13 January 1480 between him and his older brothers to divide the duchy. His brother Albert VI received the larger part of the former Principality of Werle, while Balthasar and his brother Magnus II jointly administered the rest of the Duchy. After Magnus died, Balthasar ruled jointly with Magnus' sons.

Balthasar died on 16 March 1507 (or, less likely, on 17 March) in Wismar and was buried in the Doberan Abbey in Bad Doberan.

He married Margaret, daughter of Duke Eric II of Pomerania, in 1487. They had no children.

External links

• genealogical table of the House of Mecklenburg

Balthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg House of Mecklenburg Born: 1451 Died: 1507
Regnal titles
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Werner Wolmer as prince-bishop	Administrator of the Prince-Bischopric of Schwerin 1474-1479	Succeeded by Nicholas II as prince-bishop
Regnal titles
Preceded by Albert VI and Magnus II of Mecklenburg	Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1479–1507 with Magnus II (brother) (1479–1503) Albert VII (nephew) (1503–1520) Eric II (nephew) (1503–1508) Henry V (nephew) (1503–1520)	Succeeded by Albert VII, Eric II and Henry V of Mecklenburg
Preceded by Albert VI of Mecklenburg-Güstrow in 1483 M.-Güstrow reverted to M.-Schwerin