Polity Duchy of Jülich-Kleve-Berg-Mark

This article is about the specific polity Duchy of Jülich-Kleve-Berg-Mark and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Was a duchy (de facto a composite state), of the Holy Roman Empire located in area between modern-day Germany and Netherlands. It originated from the union of two composite states: Kleve-Mark and Jülich-Berg.

Establishment

  • January 1522: In 1521, the territory of Jülich united with Berg, Cleves, and Mark under the rule of John III, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Italian Wars

Were a series of conflicts covering the period between 1494 to 1559, fought mostly in the Italian peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and the Mediterranean Sea. The primary belligerents were the Valois kings of France, and their Habsburg opponents in the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.

1.1. Italian War of 1542-1546

Was one of the so-called Italian Wars.

1.1.1. Low Countries Theatre (Italian War of 1542-1546)

Was the war theatre of the Low Countries in the Italian War of 1542-1546.

  • July 1543: In 1543, Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire attacked Wilhelm of Cleves, capturing Düren in the Duchy of Jülich. Charles V was a powerful ruler who sought to expand his territory through military conquests. Wilhelm of Cleves was a nobleman who opposed Charles V's ambitions.
  • September 1543: Wilhelm of Jülich-Kleve-Berg-Mark surrendered on 7 September to the Imperials, signing the Treaty of Venlo with Charles V of Habsburg. By the terms of this treaty, Wilhelm was to concede the overlordship of the Duchy of Guelders and County of Zutphen to Charles, and to assist him in suppressing the Reformation.

2. War of the Jülich Succession

Was a war of succession in the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg between Brandenburg and the Palatinate.

  • May 1609: The commander of the Jülich fortress, Colonel Johann von Reuschenberg zu Overbach, did not recognize Ernst and Wolfgang Wilhelm and installed an imperial government in his fortress.
  • May 1609: When Johann Wilhelm died, both Brandenburg and Palatinate-Neuburg began to take control of individual places in the Principality.
  • May 1609: Forces of Neuburg-Palatinate occupied Jülich and Berg.

3. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

  • January 1529: The Ravenstein Lordship is acquired by the Duchy of Jülich-Kleve-Berg-Mark.
  • January 1546: In 1545, the territory of Neuenahr was partitioned between the Archbishopric of Cologne and the Duchy of Jülich-Kleve-Mark.
  • July 1560: On May 4, 1554, Duke Wilhelm V of Cleve, Jülich and Berg redeemed half of Remagen, and on July 19, 1560 the other half.

Disestablishment

  • May 1609: The commander of the Jülich fortress, Colonel Johann von Reuschenberg zu Overbach, did not recognize Ernst and Wolfgang Wilhelm and installed an imperial government in his fortress.
  • May 1609: When Johann Wilhelm died, both Brandenburg and Palatinate-Neuburg began to take control of individual places in the Principality.
  • May 1609: Forces of Neuburg-Palatinate occupied Jülich and Berg.