John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
John Frederick | |
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Prince of Calenberg | |
John Frederick, c. 1675, by Johann Hulsman | |
Born |
Herzberg am Harz | 25 April 1625
Died |
18 December 1679 54) Augsburg | (aged
Noble family | Hanover |
Spouse(s) | Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate |
Issue | |
Father | George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
Mother | Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt |
John Frederick (German: Johann Friedrich; 25 April 1625 in Herzberg am Harz – 18 December 1679 in Augsburg) was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg, a subdivision of the duchy, from 1665 until his death.
The third son of George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, John converted to the Roman Catholic Church, the only member of his family to do so, in 1651. He received Calenberg when his elder brother George William inherited the Principality of Lüneburg. In 1666, he had a palace built in Herrenhausen near Hanover that was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and is famous for its gardens, the Herrenhausen Gardens.
In 1667, he employed as his master builder the Venetian architect Girolamo Sartorio, who designed many buildings in the town, including the Neustädter Kirche, and was instrumental in the expansion of the Herrenhausen Gardens.
In 1676, John Frederick employed Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz as Privy Councillor and librarian of the important ducal library. Thus began Leibniz's 40-year association with the House of Hanover, which resulted in three generations of Hanovers being patrons to one of the most eminent philosophers and mathematicians of Europe.
Children
John Frederick married Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate (14 March 1652 – 12 August 1730), daughter of Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern and Anna Gonzaga, on 30 November 1668. They had four daughters:
- Anne Sophie (10 February 1670 – 24 March 1672)
- Charlotte Felicitas (8 March 1671 – 29 September 1710), married Rinaldo III, Duke of Modena
- Henriette Marie (9 March 1672 – 4 September 1757)
- Wilhelmina Amalia (1673 – 10 April 1742), married Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
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Ancestry
References
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Cadet branch of the House of Welf Born: 25 April 1625 Died: 18 December 1679 | ||
German nobility | ||
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Preceded by George William |
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg Prince of Calenberg 1665–1679 |
Succeeded by Ernest Augustus |