 Complete the following phrase:  In 1897 Frederick Francis IV b. 1882 succeeded his father Frederick Francis III 18511897 as the last grand duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In 1907 the Grand Duke promised a constitution to his subjects. The duchy had always been under a feudal system of government, the grand duke having the executive entirely in his hands though acting through ministers. The duchy shared a diet Landtag, which met for a short session each year. At other times they were represented by a committee consisting of the proprietors of knights estates Rittergüter, known as the Ritterschaft, and the Landschaft, or burgomasters of certain towns. Mecklenburg-Schwerin returned six members to the Reichstag. Upon the suicide of his cousin Grand Duke Adolphus Frederick VI on 23 February 1918, Frederick Francis served as regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Shortly afterwards, on 14 November, he was forced to renounce the Mecklenburg throne in the course of the 