John III, Duke of Cleves

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John III, The Peaceful, Duke of Kleve-Mark, (German: Johann III "Der Friedfertige", Herzog von Kleve-Jülich-Berg) (10 November 1490 - 6 February 1538/9) was a son of Johann II "der Kindermacher" Duke of Kleve-Mark and Matilda von Hessen. Johann III became Regent of the combined Duchies of Jülich-Kleve-Berg in 1521, and Lord of Ravensburg in 1528. {He was a great-great-grandson of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy}.

Johann represented a compensatory attitude, which strove for a "via media", a middle way, between the two confessions during the Protestant Reformation.

[edit] Marriage and Descendants

In 1509, he married Maria von Geldern, daughter of William VIII of Jülich-Berg, who became heiress to her father's estates Jülich, Berg and Ravensburg. They had the following children:

1. Sybille (17 January 1512 – 1554), married John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany, "Champion of the Reformation".
2. Anne of Cleves (22 September 1515 - 16 July 1557), who married Henry VIII, King of England, as his fourth wife.
3. William, Duke of Jülich-Berg-Ravensberg-Kleve-Mark (28 July 1516 - 5 January 1592), married Maria of Hapsburg, Archduchess of Austria, daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
4. Amelia (1517–1586), unmarried