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| Magdalene of Jülich-Cleves-Berg | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Magdalena von Jüloch-Kleve und Berg | |
| Born | (1553-11-02)2 November 1553 Prague |
| Died | 30 August 1633(1633-08-30) (aged 79) Hambach |
| Burial | Reformed Church ofMeisenheim |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | La Marck |
| Father | William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg |
| Mother | Archduchess Maria of Austria |
Duchess Magdalene of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (2 November 1553 – 30 August 1633) was the fifth child of DukeWilliam "the Rich" ofJülich-Cleves-Berg andMaria of Austria, a daughter of EmperorFerdinand I.
Magdalenes paternal auntAmalia played a great part in raising her nieces though William resented the fact that she was a Lutheran and tried to influence his daughters to abandon theCatholic faith. Another aunt of Sibylles;Anne was for a short time the wife of the Protestant kingHenry VIII of England.
The influence of Lutheran sentiment at the Düsseldorf court worried the papal ambassadors present and they suggested that Magdalene and her sisters be either sent to their auntAnna of Austria inMunich or that they be sent to a convent where they would receive proper guidance in the Catholic faith. Their father however refused.
She married in 1579 with Count PalatineJohn Ithe Lame of Zweibrücken. EmperorCharles V had in 1546 granted the Duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg the right of female succession. So, when her brother, DukeJohn William, died in 1609 without a male heir of his own, both she and William's daughters could play a vital role in the question of who would inherit the important northwest German territory. Magdalene's husband John claimed the inheritance forPalatinate-Zweibrücken, as did the Elector of Brandenburg,John Sigismund, who was married toAnna, a daughter of Magdalena's sister Marie Eleonore (John Sigismund claimed his marriage contract from 1573 gave him the best claim). The third claimant was Count PalatinePhilip Louis of Neuburg, the husband of Magdalen's other sisterAnna. Finally, the Duchy of Saxony claimed Jülich-Cleves-Berg, based on an agreement to that effect with the Emperor.
Since all claimants were members of comprehensive European coalitions and so the Habsburgs and France were indirectly involved, an international conflict threatened: theWar of the Jülich succession. However, after KingHenry IV of France died, the conflict could be settled provisionally by theTreaty of Xanten. The duchy was divided betweenBrandenburg andPalatinate-Neuburg. In the meantime, Magdalena's husband had died in 1604 and his claim had been inherited by her eldest sonJohn II (1584–1635), who did not receive a share under the Treaty of Xanten.
Magdalene's daughter Elisabeth (1581–1637) married Georg Gustav, Count Palatine of Pfalz-Veldenz. She also had two younger sons:Frederick Casimir (1585–1645) andJohn Casimir (1589–1652). She died inHambach Castle on 30 August 1633 and was buried in the Reformed Church ofMeisenheim.[1]
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