This
list of dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg dates from the origins of the
German princely state of
Mecklenburg's royal house in the
High Middle Ages to the monarchy's abolition at the end of
World War I. Strictly speaking, Mecklenburg’s princely dynasty was descended linearly from the princes (or kings) of a Slavic tribe, the
Obotrites, and had its original residence in a castle (
Mecklenburg) in
Dorf Mecklenburg (Mikelenburg) close to
Wismar. As part of a feudal union under German law from 1160—at first under the
Saxons—Mecklenburg was granted
imperial immediacy in 1348 and its princely rulers styled
Dukes of Mecklenburg. Despite several partitions, Mecklenburg remained an integral state until the end of the monarchy. The First Partition of Mecklenburg came in 1234, causing the principality to lose land. Thus arose the partial principalities (lordships) of
Werle, Parchim-Richenberg, Rostock and
Mecklenburg. In modern times it was divided into the two (partial) duchies of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (I) and
Mecklenburg-Stargard (1348–1471),
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (II) and
Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1555–1695), and with the
Treaty of Hamburg (1701) into
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (III) and
Mecklenburg-Strelitz. However, the dynasty always retained feudal rights to the entire fief and the rulers of both parts of the country always had identical titles, which led to diplomatic confusion.