Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg
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Wolfgang Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg (4 November 1578 in Neuburg an der Donau – 14 September 1653 in Düsseldorf) was a German Prince. He was Count Palatine of Neuburg and Duke of Jülich and Berg.
| Wolfgang William | |
|---|---|
 Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg; painting by Johannes Spilberg (c. 1648) | |
| Count Palatine of Neuburg | |
| Reign | 22 August 1614 – 14 September 1653 |
| Predecessor | Philipp Ludwig |
| Successor | Philip William |
| Born | 4 November 1578 Neuburg an der Donau |
| Died | 14 September 1653 (aged 74) Düsseldorf |
| Spouse | Magdalene of Bavaria Catharina Elisabeth Charlotte of Palatinate-Zweibrücken Maria Franziska of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg |
| Issue | Philip William Ferdinand Philip Eleonore Franziska |
| House | Wittelsbach |
| Father | Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg |
| Mother | Anna of Jülich-Cleves-Berg |
| Religion | Lutheranism (until 1613) Roman Catholicism (from 1613) |
Life
editWolfgang Wilhelm's parents were Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg, and Anna of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, a daughter of William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
His uncle, John William, Duke Julich-Cleves-Berg had no heirs, so Wolfgang Wilhelm rushed to secure the duchies for himself. Neuburg was small and weak, surrounded by stronger powers like Bavaria and the Electoral Palatinate. Acquiring the Jülich succession would not only provide more land but also enrich the Neuburg economy. Despite his Lutheran religious status, Wolfgang Wilhelm personally traveled to Prague to seek the Emperor's support. Neuburg also tried to gain the support of France and England, but these efforts were unsuccessful.[1]
He eventually entered negotiations with his main rival over the succession, Johann Sigismund of Brandenburg, and agreed to the Treaty of Dortmund in 1609. However, this treaty would break down when he converted to Catholicism in 1613.[1]
He eventually agreed settle the War of the Jülich Succession with his rival claimant, and thus became the first ruler of Palatinate-Neuburg who was also Duke of Jülich and Duke of Berg. In 1615, he was made a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece. Because he converted to Catholicism and practiced a strict policy of neutrality in the Thirty Years' War, his territories escaped widespread destruction.
Wolfgang Wilhelm moved his residence to Düsseldorf in 1636. Wolfgang Wilhelm attempted to stabilize and spread Catholicism in his lands. In 1651, disputes over church property led to the short Düsseldorf Cow War.
When he died, his son, Phillip William, inherited his lands.
Marriage and issue
editWolfgang Wilhelm married three times:
- In 1613 to Magdalene of Bavaria, who gave birth to
- Philip William, his successor.
- In 1631 to Catharina Elisabeth Charlotte of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, daughter of John II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, who gave birth to Ferdinand Philip and Eleonore Franziska. Both children died young.
- In 1651 to Countess Maria Franziska of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg, daughter of Egon VIII of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg, they had no children.
Ancestry
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References
edit- ^ a b Anderson, Alison D. (1999). On the verge of war: international relations and the Jülich-Kleve succession crises (1609-1614). Studies in Central European histories. Boston: Humanities Press. ISBN 978-0-391-04092-2.
External links
edit
Media related to Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg at Wikimedia Commons- Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg in the German National Library catalogue
- Biography and Portrait of Count palatine Wolfgang Wilhelm von Neuburg
- Ronny Baier (2003). "Pfalz-Neuburg, Wolfgang Wilhelm von, Pfalzgraf von Pfalz-Neuburg und Herzog von Jülich und Berg". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 21. Nordhausen: Bautz. cols. 1163–1168. ISBN 3-88309-110-3.
