Wolfgang Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg (4 November 1578 in
Neuburg an der Donau – 14 September 1653 in
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants, seventh-largest city ...
) was a German Prince. He was
Count Palatine of Neuburg and Duke of
Jülich and
Berg.
Life
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
Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...
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
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
and
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
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.
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
Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants, seventh-largest city ...
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, inherited his lands.
Marriage and issue
Wolfgang Wilhelm married three times:
* In 1613 to
Magdalene of Bavaria, who gave birth to
**
Philip William, his successor.
* In 1631 to , daughter of
John II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken, who gave birth to Ferdinand Philip and Eleonore Franziska. Both children died young.
*In 1651 to Countess , daughter of
Egon VIII of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg, they had no children.
Ancestry
References
External links
*
*
Biography and Portrait of Count palatine Wolfgang Wilhelm von Neuburg*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg
1578 births
1653 deaths
Converts to Roman Catholicism from Lutheranism
German Roman Catholics
House of Wittelsbach
Counts Palatine of Neuburg
Dukes of Berg
Knights of the Golden Fleece
Hereditary princes of Neuburg
People from Neuburg an der Donau