at first adolf frederick and his brother john albert ii reigned under the guardianship of duke ulrich iii of mecklenburg-güstrow and charles i of mecklenburg (his father's uncles). the two brothers adolf frederick and john albert took over governance of mecklenburg-schwerin beginning on 16 april 1608, and after the death of charles on 22 july 1610 they also governed in mecklenburg-güstrow.