Death
On 23 February 1918 at Neustrelitz, Adolphus Frederick committed suicide. This left Mecklenburg-Strelitz facing a succession crisis, as the only surviving member of the Strelitz line, Duke Charles Michael of Mecklenburg, was serving in Russia and had indicated that he wished to renounce his rights to Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1914. At Adolphus Frederick's request, he later agreed to defer any renunciation until the matter arose. There was also a morganatic male-line relative, Duke Charles Michael's nephew George, Count of Carlow, but as Charles Michael was in Russia Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became regent and remained such until the end of the German monarchies in 1918, when the government in Strelitz declared the end of the regency. Friedrich Franz IV received confirmation from Charles Michael that he wished to renounce his succession rights, although this only arrived in 1919 after the abolition of the monarchies and the establishment of the Free State of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Adolphus' fortune had been amassed by his grandfather and was estimated at 30 million Marks. In his will, he left his entire fortune to Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin's second son Duke Christian Ludwig (1912–96). He did this on the condition that Christian agree to become Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and take up residence in Neustrelitz; otherwise the inheritance would be reduced to 3 million Marks.
Read more about this topic: Adolphus Frederick VI, Grand Duke Of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
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