War of the Jülich Succession
Encyclopedia
The War of the Jülich Succession (also known as the Jülich-Cleves War) was a conflict that began in 1609 and ended in 1614 with the signing of the Treaty of Xanten
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died on March 25, 1609, he had no legitimate heirs to succeed him. As a result, both Duke Wolfgang William of Palatinate-Neuburg and Elector John Sigismund of Brandenburg
claimed inheritance to the throne. Both King Henry IV of France
and representatives of the Dutch Republic
were suspicious of the possibility that Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II of Habsburg
would seize the throne of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Emperor Rudolph did contemplate annexing more territories to extend Habsburg possessions
in the Low Countries
. Ultimately, troops from the Holy Roman Empire
occupied the fortress at Jülich.
recommended that both individuals rule Jülich-Cleves-Berg jointly. Both claimants agreed to rule together and they also promised to maintain religious tolerance enshrined in the Dortmund Recess
developed on June 10, 1609. Even though the fortress at Jülich was still occupied by Emperor Rudolph's forces, it was eventually besieged by Dutch, Brandenburg and Palatine forces. The siege began on July 28, 1610 and ended on September 2, 1610 when the fortress surrendered and Imperial troops withdrew.
, Berg
, and Ravensberg since the accord was developed without the consent of all five cities. Overall, the five cities preferred to be represented by one prince rather than two. Ultimately the Dortmund Recess was replaced by the Treaty of Xanten
, by which Jülich-Cleves-Berg was divided between Duke William and Elector Sigismund.
.
Treaty of Xanten
The Treaty of Xanten was signed in the Lower Rhine town of Xanten on November 12, 1614 between Wolfgang William, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg and John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, with representatives from England and France serving as mediators....
.
Background
When Duke John William of Jülich-Cleves-BergJohn William, Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg
John William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg was a Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.His parents were William the Rich, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg and Maria of Austria , a daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. He grew up and was educated in Xanten. John William became...
died on March 25, 1609, he had no legitimate heirs to succeed him. As a result, both Duke Wolfgang William of Palatinate-Neuburg and Elector John Sigismund of Brandenburg
John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg
John Sigismund was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern. He also served as a Duke of Prussia.-Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia:...
claimed inheritance to the throne. Both King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
and representatives of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
were suspicious of the possibility that Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II of Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
would seize the throne of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Emperor Rudolph did contemplate annexing more territories to extend Habsburg possessions
Habsburg Netherlands
The Habsburg Netherlands was a geo-political entity covering the whole of the Low Countries from 1482 to 1556/1581 and solely the Southern Netherlands from 1581 to 1794...
in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
. Ultimately, troops from the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
occupied the fortress at Jülich.
Conflict
Eventually, Emperor Rudolf retracted his claim to the throne and for a brief time supported the House of Wettin (Duke of Saxony) and their claim to Jülich-Cleves-Berg. However, the claim made by the House of Wettin was ultimately withdrawn. It was when Duke Wolfgang William and Elector John Sigismund established their respective claims to the throne that the conflict gained momentum. King Henry IV suggested that the lands be divided between both Duke William and Elector Sigismund. The Count of HesseHesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
recommended that both individuals rule Jülich-Cleves-Berg jointly. Both claimants agreed to rule together and they also promised to maintain religious tolerance enshrined in the Dortmund Recess
Recess (Holy Roman Empire)
A Recess in the Holy Roman Empire was the document detailing all the decisions made by an Imperial Diet.Until 1654, a Diet began, in addition to ceremonial rituals, with the reading of the Imperial Proposition—the agenda predetermined by the Emperor—and ended with the decisions being...
developed on June 10, 1609. Even though the fortress at Jülich was still occupied by Emperor Rudolph's forces, it was eventually besieged by Dutch, Brandenburg and Palatine forces. The siege began on July 28, 1610 and ended on September 2, 1610 when the fortress surrendered and Imperial troops withdrew.
Aftermath
After the conflict, the Dortmund Recess was rejected by the cities of Cleves, Mark, JülichJülich
Jülich is a town in the district of Düren, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Jülich is well known as location of a world-famous research centre, the Forschungszentrum Jülich and as shortwave transmission site of Deutsche Welle...
, Berg
Berg (state)
Berg was a state – originally a county, later a duchy – in the Rhineland of Germany. Its capital was Düsseldorf. It existed from the early 12th to the 19th centuries.-Ascent:...
, and Ravensberg since the accord was developed without the consent of all five cities. Overall, the five cities preferred to be represented by one prince rather than two. Ultimately the Dortmund Recess was replaced by the Treaty of Xanten
Treaty of Xanten
The Treaty of Xanten was signed in the Lower Rhine town of Xanten on November 12, 1614 between Wolfgang William, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg and John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, with representatives from England and France serving as mediators....
, by which Jülich-Cleves-Berg was divided between Duke William and Elector Sigismund.
Legacy
Historically, the Jülich-Cleves War was recognized as a precursor to the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.