Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine
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Johann Wilhelm II, Elector Palatine, also known as Johann Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg, (April 19, 1658 – June 8, 1716) was Elector Palatine (1690-1716), Duke Palatine of Neuburg/Danube (1690-1716), Duke of Jülich and Berg (1679-1716), and Duke of Upper Palatinate and Cham (1707-1714).
He was the son of Philip William of Palatinate-Neuburg and Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt and was born in Düsseldorf, where he resided, rather than in Heidelberg, which had been largely destroyed. He was educated by the Jesuits and in 1674 he made a grand tour to Italy.
He married in 1678 to Maria Anna Josepha, Archduchess of Austria. She was a daughter of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and his third wife Eleanor of Mantua. After her death, he married Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, the daughter of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. His brother was Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg, his sisters were married to Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, Peter II of Portugal and Charles II of Spain.
His father ceded the duchies of Jülich and Berg to him already in 1679 before he finally succeeded him also as Elector of the Palatinate in 1690. In the Peace of Rijswijk (1697), he was restored to many of the possessions which had been taken by the French, with the provision that the Palatinate not revert to Protestantism. This provision did not make him popular in the Palatinate and with Protestants. He was more popular in Jülich-Berg, where he erected impressive buildings such as the Castle of Bensberg and led a lavish court which gave work to many artists and artisans, like Eglon van der Neer, Adriaen van der Werff, Rachel Ruysch and Jan Weenix. His enormous collection of paintings by Rubens can still be seen in Munich.
In his residence at Düsseldorf, the Jan-Wellem Platz is named after him. During the war of the Spanish succession Johann Wilhelm received also the Bavarian Upper Palatinate which was returned to Bavaria in 1714. He died in Düsseldorf and was buried in the St. Andreas Church.
[edit] Ancestors
| Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine | Father: Philipp Wilhelm, Elector Palatine |
Paternal Grandfather: Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Philipp Ludwig of Pfalz-Neuburg |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Anna of Jülich-Cleves-Berg |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Magdalene of Bavaria |
Paternal Great-grandfather: William V, Duke of Bavaria |
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| Paternal Great-grandmother: Renata of Lorraine |
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| Mother: Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt |
Maternal Grandfather: George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Magdalena of Brandenburg |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Sophia Eleonore of Saxony |
Maternal Great-grandfather: John George I, Elector of Saxony |
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| Maternal Great-grandmother: Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia |
| Preceded by Philip William |
Duke of Jülich and Berg 1679–1716 |
Succeeded by Charles III Philip |
| Count Palatine of Neuburg 1690–1716 |
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| Elector Palatine 1690–1716 |
