Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg
Encyclopedia
Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg (ca 1416 – 19 August 1475) was the son of William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg
and Adelheid of Tecklenburg. Gerhard was the second duke of the combined Duchy of Jülich-Berg but the 7th Gerhard in the House of Jülich.
Upon his father's death in 1428, Gerhard became Count of Ravensberg. In 1437, his uncle Adolf
died without heirs and Gerhard inherited his title as Duke of Jülich-Berg. Gerhard continued his uncle's fight for the dukedom of Guelders
, supported by King Albert II of Germany
. In 1444 he won the Battle of Linnich
but was unable to prevail in his fight for Guelders and ultimately sold his claim to Burgundy
and acquired Blankenheim
-Löwenberg and Heinsberg
from Guelders. He was increasingly unable to govern his territories after 1461. His spouse Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg then wielded regency for him.
(1428 – 9 September 1473), daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
. They had the following children:
William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg
William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg was the youngest son of William VII of Jülich, 1st Duke of Berg and Anna of the Palatinate....
and Adelheid of Tecklenburg. Gerhard was the second duke of the combined Duchy of Jülich-Berg but the 7th Gerhard in the House of Jülich.
Upon his father's death in 1428, Gerhard became Count of Ravensberg. In 1437, his uncle Adolf
Adolf, Duke of Jülich-Berg
Adolf, Duke of Jülich-Berg , was the first Duke of the combined duchies of Jülich and Berg. He was the son of William VII of Jülich, 1st Duke of Berg and Anna of the Palatinate....
died without heirs and Gerhard inherited his title as Duke of Jülich-Berg. Gerhard continued his uncle's fight for the dukedom of Guelders
Guelders
Guelders or Gueldres is the name of a historical county, later duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.-Geography:...
, supported by King Albert II of Germany
Albert II of Germany
Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna...
. In 1444 he won the Battle of Linnich
Linnich
Linnich is a town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Rur, approx. 10 km north-west of Jülich.-Economy:Linnich is the home of SIG Combibloc the specialist for aseptic carton packaging....
but was unable to prevail in his fight for Guelders and ultimately sold his claim to Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
and acquired Blankenheim
Blankenheim, North Rhine-Westphalia
Blankenheim is a municipality in the district of Euskirchen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Blankenheim is located in the Eifel hills, approx. 27 km south-west of Euskirchen...
-Löwenberg and Heinsberg
Heinsberg
Heinsberg is the capital of the district Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx...
from Guelders. He was increasingly unable to govern his territories after 1461. His spouse Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg then wielded regency for him.
Family and children
In 1444, Gerhard married Sophie of Saxe-LauenburgSophie of Saxe-Lauenburg
Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Jülich-Berg...
(1428 – 9 September 1473), daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick and Lunenburg , daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick and Lunenburg ....
. They had the following children:
- WilliamWilliam IV, Duke of Jülich-BergWilliam IV of Jülich-Berg was the last ruler of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg.- Life :William was the son of Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg and Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg. When his father died in 1475, William became Duke of Jülich-Berg.He married the rich Countess Elisabeth of Nassau-Saarbrücken in...
(1455–1511), succeeded his father as Duke of Jülich-Berg - Adolf (1458–1470)
- Gerhard (died young)
- Anna, married John III, Count of MörsMorsMors may refer to:*Mors , the personification of death in Roman mythology*Mors, Latin for death and is a feminine gender noun*Mors , a French car manufacturer from 1895-1925...
and Saarwerden