Johann I (Pfalz-Zweibrücken)

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Johann I von Pfalz-Zweibrücken (born May 8, 1550 in Meisenheim ; † August 12, 1604 in Germersheim ) was Count Palatine and Duke of Pfalz-Zweibrücken from 1569 until his death and was also active as a genealogist of his house and his house Wife Magdalena von Jülich-Kleve-Berg . He founded the younger line in Zweibrücken.

Life

Johann was the second son of Count Palatine and Duke Wolfgang von Zweibrücken (1526–1569) from his marriage to Anna (1529–1591), daughter of Landgrave Philip I of Hesse . Among other things, Georg Marius took care of the upbringing of the prince , who had a reformist influence on Johann and was therefore dismissed by Johann's Lutheran father.

While his older brother Philipp Ludwig received the Principality of Palatinate-Neuburg in the inheritance distribution , Johann was given the Principality of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, which had put a considerable financial burden on his father. Therefore, Johann stayed at his brother's court in Neuburg for financial reasons, while the regency in Zweibrücken was carried out by councilors. In 1575 Johann entered the government himself, but was unable to cope with the burden of debt despite the partial assumption of the debt by the regions , in which citizens and farmers were also represented. In 1577 Johann signed the formula of the Agreement after the Lutheran church order had been renewed in 1570. In 1588 he replaced his father's Lutheran creed in his principality with the reformed one , which put a lasting strain on relations with his brothers. As the world's first ruler, he introduced compulsory schooling in 1592 . From 1593 Johann Huguenots settled in Annweiler . Johann, who suffered from a handicap and limped all his life, took care of the state administration very intensively. In terms of foreign policy, Johann approached the Electoral Palatinate and his son Johann II was appointed regent in the will of Frederick IV of the Palatinate , bypassing his cousin Wolfgang Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg , which ultimately broke the lines between Palatinate and Zweibrücken, which were already at odds over the denominational issue and Pfalz-Neuburg led.

Johann's grave in the Alexanderskirche in Zweibrücken was destroyed in World War II.

Marriage and offspring

Johann I married Magdalena (1553–1633), daughter of Duke Wilhelm von Jülich-Kleve-Berg in Bergzabern in 1579 , with whom he had the following children:

⚭ 1601 Count Palatine Georg Gustav von Pfalz-Veldenz (1564–1634)
  • Anna Magdalena (* / † 1583)
  • Johann II. (1584–1635), Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
⚭ 1. 1604 Princess Cathérine de Rohan (1578–1607)
⚭ 2. 1612 Countess Palatine Luise Juliane von Simmern (1594–1640)
⚭ Princess Emilia Secunda Antwerpiana of Orange-Nassau (1581–1657)
  • Elisabeth Dorothea (1586–1593)
  • Son (* / † 1588)
  • Johann Kasimir (1589–1652), Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg
⚭ Princess Catherine of Sweden (1584–1638)
⚭ 1638 Count Jakob Franz von Pestacalda († 1645)
  • Son (* / † 1593)

literature

predecessor Office successor
wolfgang Duke of Pfalz-Zweibrücken
1569–1604 		Johann II in Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Veldenz
Friedrich Casimir in Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Landsberg
Johann Casimir in Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Kleeburg
personal data
SURNAME Johann I.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pfalz-Zweibrücken, Johann I. von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Duke of Pfalz-Zweibrücken
DATE OF BIRTH May 8, 1550
PLACE OF BIRTH Meisenheim
DATE OF DEATH August 12, 1604
Place of death Germersheim