Dietrich primogenitus (Kleve)

Dietrich primogenitus was the eldest son of Klever Count Dietrich IV./VI.

history

Dietrich primogenitus was probably born around 1214/15 as the son of Count Dietrich IV./VI. von Kleve born from his first marriage. He was first mentioned in a document in 1230 and acted as seal guide the following year. Since 1237 he is attested as the young count of Kleve. Since 1233 he was married to Elisabeth, a daughter of Duke Henry I of Brabant , with whom he had two daughters:

• Mechthild († 1304, ∞ Gerhard von Durbuy (* 1223; † around 1303))
• Elisabeth († after 1283)

Dietrich ruled independently parts of the county of Kleve on the right bank of the Rhine and was lord of Wesel , probably also of Dinslaken . In 1241 he issued the first Klevian town charter privilege for Wesel. Dietrich probably died on March 24, 1245 in the Wissel Abbey, long before his father.

designation

In research, the name Dietrich primogenitus for the early deceased firstborn son Count Dietrichs IV./VI. prevailed by Kleve, in particular by his younger brothers Dietrich V./VII. to be able to distinguish from Kleve and Dietrich Luf I. In the sources, however, other members of the Klever Grafenhaus are also referred to as Dietrich primogenitus, for example Dietrich V./VII. after the death of his brother, although he was not the firstborn of his father at all (but was the oldest living son).

literature

• Dieter Kastner: The territorial policy of the Counts of Kleve , Düsseldorf 1972 (= publications of the historical association for the Lower Rhine, especially the old Archdiocese of Cologne 11).