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Duke William of Cleves

William "the Rich", Duke of Cleves as played by Paul Ronan
German Name:Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg

born July 28,1516 - died January 5,1592

Character's backstory:
William was born in Dusseldorf on July.28,1516 the second oldest and only son to John III "the Pacific" Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg and Maria Duchess of Julich-Berg.
His father was influenced by Erasmus and followed a moderate path within the Reformation. He sided with the Schmalkaldic League and opposed Emperor Charles V. After his father's death, he became Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. From 1539 to 1543, William held the Duchy of Guelders, as successor of his distant relatives, the Egmond dukes. Emperor Charles V. claimed this duchy for himself as the dukes had sold their right of heritage, and William tried to hold on to it. He made a treaty with the King of France and married Jeanne d'Albret, and with this backup dared to challenge the Emperor.
The Duke's ongoing dispute over Gelderland with Emperor Charles V made them suitable allies for King Henry VIII in the wake of the Truce of Nice.
All too soon he learned that the French did not lift a finger to help him, and he was overwhelmed and had to surrender. In accordance with the Treaty of Venlo (1543) that was the result of this war, Guelders and the County of Zutphen were transferred to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, combining them with the Habsburg Netherlands.
In 1545 there was an annulment of the marriage with Jeanne d'Albret and William married Mary of Habsburg a niece to Karl V. A close connection to the house of Habsburg.

Gentility:

Position: Duke of Berg and Julich and the Count Ravenstein

Personality type:

Signature look:

Endearing trait(s):

Annoying trait(s):

Links: See The Schmalkaldic League

Excerpt from Reformation Europe, 1517 - 1559 by G.R. Elton:

....though not Lutheran, Cleves was also not orthodox. Since 1532 it had enjoyed a peculiar Church order of its own in which the duke ruled as spiritual head. Duke William was an Erasmian and the religion of the duchy was a mildly reforming compromise between Rome and Wittenberg. In its constitution as well as its via media [a middle way], it bore some resemblance to Henry VIII's Church of England. The presence of this powerful and dissident new state has immediate repercussions on the religious situation in the north and necessarily affected the political situation to the emperor's detriment.

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CHARACTER CONNECTIONS

Family members:
Mother:Maria,Duchess of Julich-Berg (August 3,1491-August 29,1543)
Father:John III,Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg (died 1539)
Sister: Sybille of Cleves (January17,1512 - February 21,1554) who married John Frederick 1 of Saxony who was one of the main leaders of The Schmalkaldic League
Sister: Anne of Cleves (September 22,1515 - July16,1557)
Sister: Amelia of Cleves (October 17, 1517 - March 1, 1586)

Children:
with Maria
Daughter-Marie Eleonore(June.25,1550-1608)
Daughter-Anna(March.1,1552-1632)
Daughter-Magdlalene(1553-1633)
Son-Charles Frederick(1555-1575)
Daughter-Elizabeth(1556-1561)
Daughter-Sybille(1557-1627)
Son-John William(May.28,1562-March.25,1609)

Romance(s):
Married:
1st:Jeanne d'Albret(Jan.7,1528-June.9,1572-m.1541)-annulled in 1545
2nd:Maria of Austria(May.15,1531-m.July.18,1546)-died 1581

Friends:

Enemies:

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

PHOTOS





	His wife Maria and daughter Maria Eleonore

MsSquirrly	Latest page update: made by MsSquirrly , Jul 25 2009, 5:01 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by MsSquirrly 18 words added 18 words deleted view changes - complete history)
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Duke William of Cleves

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