| BIOGRAPHY: The TREATY OF KLEVE 1666 finally split the inheritance of Juelich, Berg, Kleve, Mark and Ravensberg among the lines of Pfalz-Neuburg, who inherited JUELICH-BERG, and BRANDENBURG, the elector of which inherited Kleve-Mark and Ravensberg. Juelich-Berg consisted of two separate Duchies, Juelich on the west bank of the Rhine with capital Juelich and Berg on the right bank of the Rhine with capital DUESSELDORF. Since 1658, Juelich-Berg was a member of the RHENIAN CONFEDERATION (a federation of mostly Catholic German principalities leaning on France). In several treaties, finally in the RECESS OF 1666, the religious matter is settled, as the situation of 1624 was declared as binding - whatever community was Catholic at that time would continue to beso, and whatever community was Lutheran (resp. Calvinist) at that time would remain so. In the HAUPTREZESS of 1675, the authority of the ESTATES of Juelich-Berg was confirmed. A HOFRAT (court council) had been established early in the 17th century; in 1668an additional GEHEIMRAT (secret council) was established for Juelich -Berg. Duesseldorf was the Duke's residence 1679-1712; in 1710 here Germany's first GALLERY was opened. Since 1685 Duke Philipp Wilhelm was also Count Palatine (and thus Elector). DukeJOHANN WILHELM built a new capital at Mannheim and officially declared it residence in 1712. Yet he died in Duesseldorf; only his successor KARL PHILIPP moved to Mannheim. During the FRENCH-DUTCH WAR (1672-1678), the WAR OF DEVOLUTION (1689-1697), the WAROFSPANISH SUCCESSION (1700-1713) Juelich and Berg often saw foreign (mostly French) troops occupied or passed through. In 1678-1680 French troops ravaged the Duchy of Juelich; from 1695 onward the fortress of Juelich was modernized. In 1741 the city andfortress of Juelich were occupied by French forces. |
Of Burg
Elizabeth Amalie MAGDALENA
Birth