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Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg

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Wolfgang William
Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg; painting by Johannes Spilberg (c. 1648)
Count Palatine of Neuburg
Reign22 August 1614 – 14 September 1653
PredecessorPhilipp Ludwig
SuccessorPhilip William
Born(1578-11-04)4 November 1578
Neuburg an der Donau
Died14 September 1653(1653-09-14) (aged 74)
Düsseldorf
SpouseMagdalene of Bavaria
Catharina Elisabeth Charlotte of Palatinate-Zweibrücken [de]
Maria Franziska of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg [de]
IssuePhilip William
Ferdinand Philip
Eleonore Franziska
HouseWittelsbach
FatherPhilip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg
MotherAnna of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
ReligionLutheranism (until 1613)
Roman Catholicism (from 1613)
Wolfgang Wilhelm

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.

Life

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Wolfgang 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, became inherited his lands.

Marriage and issue

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Wolfgang Wilhelm married three times:

Ancestry

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
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Wolfgang Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg
Born: 1578 Died: 1653
Regnal titles
Preceded by Count Palatine of Neuburg
1614–1653
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Johann Wilhelm
Duke of Jülich and Berg
1614–1653