Johann (Jülich-Kleve-Berg)

Johann III. from Kleve-Jülich-Berg

Johann von Jülich-Kleve-Berg (born November 10, 1490 ; † February 6, 1539 ), also called Johann the Peaceful , was the first ruler of the United Duchies of Jülich-Kleve-Berg from 1521 .

Life

Johann came from the Mark family . At the age of six he was engaged to the heir to the duchies of Jülich and Berg (a child engagement ), the marriage was concluded 14 years later in Düsseldorf , as the so-called "Klever Union". After the death of his father-in-law, Duke Wilhelm von Jülich-Berg , he took over rule in Jülich , Berg and Ravensberg in 1511 . In 1521 he also inherited the inheritance of his father Johann II von Kleve in Kleve and Mark and thus formed the United Duchies of Jülich, Kleve and Berg, making him the most powerful prince in West Germany. In addition, through his mother Mechthild von Hessen , Johann was a great-grandson of the last ruling Count Philip I of Katzenelnbogen and also carried the title of "Count of Katzenelnbogen".

During the Reformation , Johann showed a balancing attitude that sought to find a “via media”, a middle path, between the two confessions. One of his most important advisors was the humanist Konrad Heresbach .

progeny

On October 1, 1510 Johann married Maria von Jülich-Berg (1491–1543), daughter of Duke Wilhelm von Jülich-Berg.

• Sibylle (1512–1554)
  ⚭ 1527 with Johann Friedrich I , Elector of Saxony
• Anna (1515–1557)
  ⚭ January 6, 1540 with Henry VIII , King of England
• Wilhelm V (1516–1592), Duke of Jülich-Kleve-Berg
  (I) ⚭ 1541 with Jeanne d'Albret
  (II) ⚭ July 18, 1546 with Maria von Habsburg
• Amalia (1517–1586)

Works

• VAn Gots genadenn.// We Johan Hertzog zů Cleef, // Gulich vnnd Berg Graff zů der // Marck vnnd Rauenßberg etc. doin // kunt ... [Church regulations], Johannes Soter, Cologne, dated Monreberg , April 8th 1533 ( digitized edition of the University and State Library Düsseldorf )

literature

• Woldemar Harleß :  Johann III., Duke of Cleve-Mark and Jülich-Berg . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 14, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1881, pp. 213-215.
• Wilhelm Janssen:  Johann III. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 10, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1974, ISBN 3-428-00191-5 , p. 493 f. ( Digitized version ).

Individual evidence

1. ^ Wilhelm Janssen:  Johann III. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 10, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1974, ISBN 3-428-00191-5 , p. 493 ( digitized version ).
2. ^ Journal of the Düsseldorf History Association. In: Documents on the history of the city of Düsseldorf, Certificate No. 5 . 1889, Volume 4, p. [101] 98. Online version
3. ^ Charles Cawley FMG, Medieval Lands [1]

predecessor	Office	successor
Wilhelm	Duke of Jülich-Berg 1511–1539	Wilhelm V (IV.)
Wilhelm	Count of Ravensberg 1511–1539	Wilhelm V (IV.)
Johann II.	Duke of Kleve 1521–1539	Wilhelm V (IV.)
Johann II.	Count of the Mark 1521–1539	Wilhelm V (IV.)