"Duchy of Jülich-Berg" redirects here. For a list of rulers of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg, see Duchy of Berg.
The so-called United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg was a territory in the Holy Roman Empire between 1521 and 1666, formed from the personal union of the duchies of Jülich, Cleves and Berg.
United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
Vereinigte Herzogtümer Jülich-Kleve-Berg (de) Verenigde Hertogdommen Gulik-Kleef-Berg (nl)
Map of Jülich-Cleves-Berg including the province of Gelderland (around 1540)
The United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg was a combination of states of the Holy Roman Empire. The duchies of Jülich and Berg united in 1423. Nearly a century later, in 1521, these two duchies, along with the county of Ravensberg, fell extinct, with only the last duke's daughter Maria von Geldern left to inherit; under Salic law, women could only hold property through a husband or guardian, so the territories passed to her husband—and distant relative—John III, Duke of Cleves and Mark as a result of their strategic marriage in 1509. These united duchies controlled most of the present-day North Rhine-Westphalia that was not within the ecclesiastical territories of Electoral Cologne and Münster.
Only a century after John III's marriage, however, the united ducal line fell extinct, prompting a war over the succession to the territories. The grandson of John III — Duke John-William — died without issue in 1609. His inheritance was claimed by the heirs of his two eldest sisters. Whilst the dukes, inspired by the humanism of Desiderius Erasmus, had managed to bear a "via media" between the confessional disputes ensuing from the Protestant Reformation, the heirs of the last duke's two eldest sisters were on opposite sides of the divide. The situation was further complicated by acquisitive desires of Emperor Rudolph II and the Wettindukes of Saxony—the former particularly worrying to Henry IV of France and the Dutch Republic, who feared any strengthening of the Habsburg Netherlands.
united, duchies, jülich, cleves, berg, duchy, jülich, berg, redirects, here, list, rulers, duchy, jülich, berg, duchy, berg, called, territory, holy, roman, empire, between, 1521, 1666, formed, from, personal, union, duchies, jülich, cleves, berg, vereinigte, . Duchy of Julich Berg redirects here For a list of rulers of the Duchy of Julich Berg see Duchy of Berg The so called United Duchies of Julich Cleves Berg was a territory in the Holy Roman Empire between 1521 and 1666 formed from the personal union of the duchies of Julich Cleves and Berg United Duchies of Julich Cleves BergVereinigte Herzogtumer Julich Kleve Berg de Verenigde Hertogdommen Gulik Kleef Berg nl 1521 1614Coat of armsMap of the Lower Rhenish Westphalian Circle around 1560 United Duchies of Julich Cleves Berg highlighted in redStatusDuchy State of Holy Roman Empire CapitalDusseldorfCommon languagesSouth Guelderish LimburgishGovernmentDuchyHistorical eraMiddle Ages Cleves and Mark inherited by Duke of Julich Berg1521 Partitioned at Xanten12 November 1614Preceded by Succeeded byDuchy of BergDuchy of ClevesDuchy of JulichCounty of MarkCounty of Ravensberg Margraviate of BrandenburgPalatinate NeuburgToday part ofGermanyNetherlandsThe name was resurrected after the Congress of Vienna for province of Julich Cleves Berg of the Kingdom of Prussia between 1815 and 1822 Its territory is today split between the German state of North Rhine Westphalia and the Dutch province of Gelderland Contents 1 History 2 Dukes of Julich Cleves Berg House of La Marck 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit Map of Julich Cleves Berg including the province of Gelderland around 1540 The United Duchies of Julich Cleves Berg was a combination of states of the Holy Roman Empire The duchies of Julich and Berg united in 1423 Nearly a century later in 1521 these two duchies along with the county of Ravensberg fell extinct with only the last duke s daughter Maria von Geldern left to inherit under Salic law women could only hold property through a husband or guardian so the territories passed to her husband and distant relative John III Duke of Cleves and Mark as a result of their strategic marriage in 1509 These united duchies controlled most of the present day North Rhine Westphalia that was not within the ecclesiastical territories of Electoral Cologne and Munster Only a century after John III s marriage however the united ducal line fell extinct prompting a war over the succession to the territories The grandson of John III Duke John William died without issue in 1609 His inheritance was claimed by the heirs of his two eldest sisters Whilst the dukes inspired by the humanism of Desiderius Erasmus had managed to bear a via media between the confessional disputes ensuing from the Protestant Reformation the heirs of the last duke s two eldest sisters were on opposite sides of the divide The situation was further complicated by acquisitive desires of Emperor Rudolph II and the Wettin dukes of Saxony the former particularly worrying to Henry IV of France and the Dutch Republic who feared any strengthening of the Habsburg Netherlands The Lutheran Anna of Prussia was married to John Sigismund Elector of Brandenburg whereas Roman Catholic Anna of Cleves was married to Philip Louis Count Palatine of Neuburg As a result after the War of the Julich Succession one of the precursors to the Thirty Years War was settled at Xanten the Protestant territories Cleves Mark and Ravensburg passed to Brandenburg Prussia with the Catholic lands Julich and Berg being awarded to the Palatinate Neuburg Years of being trampled by armies had destroyed much of the lands wealth that had been so renowned under John William s father William the Rich Philip Louis grandson Philip William became Elector Palatine in 1685 with the Bergish capital becoming the seat of the Electorate of the Palatinate until the line inherited Bavaria in 1777 In 1701 the Margrave Electors of Brandenburg became Kings in Prussia with Cleves Mark as their first possession in western Germany it was the seed of the future Prussian Rhineland Dukes of Julich Cleves Berg House of La Marck Edit1521 1539 John III Duke of Cleves 1539 1592 William the Rich 1592 1609 John William See also EditProvince of Julich Cleves BergReferences EditThis article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message External links EditArchive org Online map of the United Duchies of Julich Cleves Berg in 1635 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United Duchies of Julich Cleves Berg amp oldid 1127921929, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
