Adolf III of the Marck
Encyclopedia
Adolph III of the Marck (German: Adolf III von der Mark) (1334 – September 7, 1394) was the Bishop of Münster
(as Adolph) from 1357 until 1363, the Archbishop of Cologne
(as Adolph II) in 1363, the Count of Cleves (as Adolph I) from 1368 until 1394, and the Count of Mark (as Adolph III) from 1391 until 1393.
Adolph was the second son of Count Adolph II of the Marck
. On 16 November 1357 Pope Innocent VI
appointed him the Bishop of Münster
. In 1362 he signed a contract with his uncle Bishop Engelbert III of the Marck
of Liège
whereby he would inherit Cleves in the likely event Count John of Cleves died childless. On 13 June 1363 he was appointed the Archbishop of Cologne against the favourite John of Virneburg, but by the end of the year had resigned from the position to focus on the County of Cleves, despite the fact that his short tenure was scandalous and ridden with controversy.
In 1368 he succeeded his uncle John of Cleves and could maintain his rule there through the support of Liège
. In 1369 he married Margaret of Jülich, daughter of Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg
and had fourteen children, at least five of which did not survive infancy.
After his brother Engelbert III of the Marck died without heirs in 1391, Adolph inherited Marck too. However, he gave Marck to his son Dietrich
in 1393.
Adolph died in 1394 and was succeeded in Cleves by another of his sons, Adolph.
Cleves and Marck were reunited again 4 years later, when Dietrich died and was succeeded by Adolph IV.
Bishopric of Münster
The Bishopric of Münster was an ecclesiastical principality in the Holy Roman Empire, located in the northern part of today's North Rhine-Westphalia and western Lower Saxony...
(as Adolph) from 1357 until 1363, the Archbishop of Cologne
Archbishopric of Cologne
The Electorate of Cologne was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire and existed from the 10th to the early 19th century. It consisted of the temporal possessions of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne . It was ruled by the Archbishop in his function as prince-elector of...
(as Adolph II) in 1363, the Count of Cleves (as Adolph I) from 1368 until 1394, and the Count of Mark (as Adolph III) from 1391 until 1393.
Adolph was the second son of Count Adolph II of the Marck
Adolph II of the Marck
Adolph II of the Marck was Count of the Marck.He was the eldest son of Engelbert II of the Marck and Mechtild of Arenberg....
. On 16 November 1357 Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI
Pope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...
appointed him the Bishop of Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
. In 1362 he signed a contract with his uncle Bishop Engelbert III of the Marck
Engelbert III of the Marck, Archbishop of Cologne
Engelbert III von der Mark was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne from 1364 until 1368 and the Prince-Bishop of Liège from 1345 until 1364....
of Liège
Bishopric of Liège
The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries in present Belgium. It acquired its status as a prince-bishopric between 980 and 985 when Bishop Notger, who had been the bishop of Liege since 972, acquired the status of Prince-Bishop...
whereby he would inherit Cleves in the likely event Count John of Cleves died childless. On 13 June 1363 he was appointed the Archbishop of Cologne against the favourite John of Virneburg, but by the end of the year had resigned from the position to focus on the County of Cleves, despite the fact that his short tenure was scandalous and ridden with controversy.
In 1368 he succeeded his uncle John of Cleves and could maintain his rule there through the support of Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
. In 1369 he married Margaret of Jülich, daughter of Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg
Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg
Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg was the son of William V, Duke of Jülich and Joanna of Hainaut.Gerhard was betrothed in 1333 to Margaret of Guelders, daughter of Rainald II of Guelders and Sophia Betrout. However, this marriage was never consummated, likely due either to...
and had fourteen children, at least five of which did not survive infancy.
- AdolphAdolph I, Duke of ClevesAdolph I of Cleves was 2nd. Count of Cleves and 4th. Count of Mark.- Life :He was the son of Adolph III, Count of Mark, and Margaret of Julich ....
(1373-1448), his successor in Cleves and later also in Marck. - DietrichDietrich IX, Count of MarkDietrich IX, Count of Mark was the Count of Mark from 1393 until 1398.Dietrich was the second son of Count Adolf III of the Marck and Margaret of Julich....
(1374-1398), his successor in Marck. - GerhardGerhard, Count of MarkGerhard, Count zur Mark was the de facto ruler of the County of Mark between 1430 and 1461. He was not allowed to use the title Count of Mark in his own rights....
(† 1461), Graf zur Mark - Margaret (1375-1411), married in 1394 Albert I, Duke of BavariaAlbert I, Duke of BavariaDuke Albert I or Albrecht KG was a feudal ruler of the counties of Holland, Hainaut, and Zeeland in the Low Countries...
(† 1404) - ElisabethElisabeth of ClevesMyntha Elisabeth of Cleves was the daughter of the Duke of Cleves - Adolf III of the Marck and Margaret of Jülich. She married Reginald of Falkenburg in 1393, who died in 1396. In 1401, she started a new marriage with the Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria but had no children.-See also:*Duchy of...
(1378-1439), married Reinold von Valkenburg († 1396) and Stephen III, Duke of BavariaStephen III, Duke of BavariaDuke Stephen III of Bavaria was a Duke of Bavaria since 1375. He was the eldest son of Stephen II and Elizabeth of Sicily.-Family:... - Engelberta († 1458), married Friedrich IV of Moers
After his brother Engelbert III of the Marck died without heirs in 1391, Adolph inherited Marck too. However, he gave Marck to his son Dietrich
Dietrich IX, Count of Mark
Dietrich IX, Count of Mark was the Count of Mark from 1393 until 1398.Dietrich was the second son of Count Adolf III of the Marck and Margaret of Julich....
in 1393.
Adolph died in 1394 and was succeeded in Cleves by another of his sons, Adolph.
Cleves and Marck were reunited again 4 years later, when Dietrich died and was succeeded by Adolph IV.