Kaspar, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Encyclopedia
Kaspar, Count Palatine
of Zweibrücken
and Veldenz
(July 11, 1459 – c. Summer 1527) was Duke of Zweibrücken
from 1489 to 1490. He was the son of Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
and Johanna of Croÿ
. In 1478 in Zweibrücken
he married Amalie of Brandenburg (1461–1481), daughter of Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg. Amalie died shortly before her twentieth birthday. They had no children.
His father, Louis I, was afraid that after his death his dominions would be divided between his sons, with Kaspar receiving the County of Veldenz and his brother Alexander the Cripple
receiving the Duchy of Zweibrücken. In order to prevent this, Louis ordered that after his death, his sons should rule the dominion jointly. However, just one year after Louis's death, Alexander had Kaspar arrested. Kaspar was declared mentally ill and incarcerated in Veldenz Castle
. Henceforth, Alexander reigned alone.
Kaspar's dukedom was formally revoked in 1514. He remained incarcerated for the rest of his life. He died in the summer of 1527.
It cannot be determined conclusively whether Kaspar actually suffered mental or moral issues relevant to his duties as Duke, or whether he was moved out of the way by a power-hungry younger brother. Louis' decision that the brothers should jointly rule, can be interpreted in different ways.
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
of Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Schwarzbach river.- Name :Zweibrücken appears in Latin texts as Geminus Pons and Bipontum, in French texts as Deux-Ponts. The name derives from Middle High German Zweinbrücken...
and Veldenz
Veldenz
Veldenz is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
(July 11, 1459 – c. Summer 1527) was Duke of Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Zweibrücken is a former state of the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was Zweibrücken.-Overview:→ History before 1394 see main article County of Zweibrücken→ History before 1444 see main article County of Veldenz...
from 1489 to 1490. He was the son of Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Louis I of Zweibrücken was Count Palatine and Duke of Zweibrücken and of Veldenz in 1444–1489.He was the younger son of Stefan, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken and his wife Anna, heiress of the County of Veldenz, whom he had wed in 1409. Although Anne died in 1439, her widower did not...
and Johanna of Croÿ
House of Croÿ
The House of Croÿ is an international family of European mediatized nobility which held a seat in the Imperial Diet from 1486, and was elevated to the rank of Imperial Princes in 1594...
. In 1478 in Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken
Zweibrücken is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Schwarzbach river.- Name :Zweibrücken appears in Latin texts as Geminus Pons and Bipontum, in French texts as Deux-Ponts. The name derives from Middle High German Zweinbrücken...
he married Amalie of Brandenburg (1461–1481), daughter of Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg. Amalie died shortly before her twentieth birthday. They had no children.
His father, Louis I, was afraid that after his death his dominions would be divided between his sons, with Kaspar receiving the County of Veldenz and his brother Alexander the Cripple
Alexander, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Alexander of Zweibrücken was Count Palatine and Duke of Zweibrücken and of Veldenz in 1489–1514.He was the son of Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken and his wife Johanna of Croÿ...
receiving the Duchy of Zweibrücken. In order to prevent this, Louis ordered that after his death, his sons should rule the dominion jointly. However, just one year after Louis's death, Alexander had Kaspar arrested. Kaspar was declared mentally ill and incarcerated in Veldenz Castle
Veldenz Castle
Veldenz Castle was built on a spur above the village of Nohfelden in Landkreis Sankt Wendel in the northeast of Saarland, Germany.- History :...
. Henceforth, Alexander reigned alone.
Kaspar's dukedom was formally revoked in 1514. He remained incarcerated for the rest of his life. He died in the summer of 1527.
It cannot be determined conclusively whether Kaspar actually suffered mental or moral issues relevant to his duties as Duke, or whether he was moved out of the way by a power-hungry younger brother. Louis' decision that the brothers should jointly rule, can be interpreted in different ways.