William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg

William of Jülich-Cleves-Berge (I of Cleves, V of Jülich-Berg) (German: Wilhelm der Reiche; 28 July 1516 – 5 January 1592) was a Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (1539–1592). William was born in and died in Düsseldorf. He was the only son of John III, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, and Maria, Duchess of Jülich-Berg. William took over rule of his father's estates (the Duchy of Cleves and the County of Mark) upon his death in 1539. Despite his mother having lived until 1543, William also became the Duke of Berg and Jülich and the Count of Ravenstein.

From 1539 to 1543, William held the neighbouring Duchy of Guelders, as successor of his distant relatives, the Egmond dukes. Emperor Charles V claimed this duchy for himself as the dukes had sold their right of heritage, and William tried to hold on to it. He made a treaty with the King of France and married Jeanne d'Albret, and with this backup dared to challenge the Emperor. All too soon he learned that the French did not lift a finger to help him, and he was overwhelmed and had to surrender. In accordance with the Treaty of Venlo (1543) that was the result of this war, Guelders and the County of Zutphen were transferred to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, combining them with the Habsburg Netherlands.

William then tried to strengthen his inherited territories and launched an impressive development project for the most important cities. The three duchies all got new main fortresses as major strongpoints, for the older medieval fortifications had proved to be no match against the Imperial artillery. The cities of Jülich, Düsseldorf and Orsoy became fortresses for the duchies of Jülich, Berg and Cleves respectively, and Jülich and Düsseldorf were turned into impressive residences. For this task, the renowned Italian architect Alessandro Pasqualini from Bologna was hired, who had already made some impressive display of his craft in the Netherlands. He made the plans for the fortifications and palaces, of which some traces still remain, especially at Jülich where the citadel (built 1548-1580) is a major landmark, with parts of the Renaissance palace still standing.

William's sister Anne of Cleves was briefly married to King Henry VIII of England. Through his daughter, Marie Eleonore, he is an ancestor of Alexander II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and the British Royal Family.

Marriages and descendants

William married Jeanne d'Albret (1528–72), heiress of Navarre in 1541, when she was just 13 years old, but this political marriage was annulled four years later.

William married Maria of Austria (1531–81), daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary on 18 July 1546 and they had the following children:

1. Marie Eleonore (25 June 1550–1608), married Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia.^[2]
2. Anna (1 March 1552–1632), married Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg.^[2]
3. Magdalene (1553–1633), married John I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (brother of Philip Louis)^[2]
4. Charles Frederick (1555–75)
5. Elizabeth (1556–61)
6. Sibylle of Cleves (1557–1627), married Karl II of Austria, Margrave of Burgau, morganatic son of Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria and Philippine Welser ^[2][3]
7. John William (28 May 1562 – 25 March 1609), Bishop of Münster, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berge, Count de la Marck, Count of Ravensberg, Lord of Ravenstein. He was first married in 1585 to Jakobea of Baden (died 1597), daughter of Philibert, Margrave of Baden-Baden. He was secondly married to Antonia of Lorraine (died 1610) daughter of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine.

Gallery

References