| Johann Wilhelm II | |
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| Johann Wilhelm and his second consort, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici by Jan Frans van Douven | |
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| Reign | 2 September 1690 – 8 June 1716 |
| Predecessor | Philip William |
| Successor | Charles III Philip |
| Spouse | Maria Anna Josepha of Austria Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici |
| House | House of Wittelsbach |
| Father | Philip William |
| Mother | Elisabeth Amalia of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Born | 19 April 1658 Düsseldorf |
| Died | 8 June 1716 (aged 68) Düsseldorf |
| Burial | Saint Adeas Church, Düsseldorf |
Johann Wilhelm II, Elector Palatine ("Jan Wellem" in Low German, English: "John William"; 19 April 1658 – 8 June 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). From 1697 onwards Johann Wilhelm was also Count of Megen.
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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.
Influenced by his mistress Dorothea von Velen, Johann Wilhelm proclaimed religious toleration in 1705.
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. Having no son, Johann Wilhelm was succeeded by his brother Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine.
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 the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Today in Düsseldorf, the Jan-Wellem Platz is named after him.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Johann_Wilhelm,_Elector_Palatine Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine] at Wikimedia Commons
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Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine
Born: 1658 Died: 1716 |
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| German royalty | ||
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| Regnal titles | ||
| Preceded by Philip William |
Duke of Jülich and Berg 1679–1716 |
Succeeded by Charles III Philip |
| Count Palatine of Neuburg Elector Palatine 1690–1716 |
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