Johann III "the Peaceful", Duke of Cleves

John III, Duke of Cleves http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_III,_Duke_of_Cleves

Johann (Jülich-Kleve-Berg) http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_%28J%C3%BClich-Kleve-Berg%29

was a son of John II der Kindermacher, Duke of Cleves and Mark and Matilda of Hesse.

John III became Regent of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg in 1521, and Lord of Ravensberg in 1528. He was a great-great-grandson of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. His wife was Maria, Duchess of Jülich-Berg.

John represented a compensatory attitude, which strove for a via media, a middle way, between the two confessions during the Protestant Reformation.

[edit] Family

In 1509, he married Maria of Jülich-Berg, daughter of Duke William IV of Jülich-Berg, who became heiress to her father's estates Jülich, Berg and Ravensberg. They had the following children:

  1. Sybille (17 January 1512 – 21 February 1554), married John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany, "Champion of the Reformation".

2. Anne (22 September 1515 – 16 July 1557), who was briefly married to Henry VIII, King of England, as his fourth wife. No issue.
3. Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (28 July 1516 – 5 January 1592), married Maria, Archduchess of Austria, daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
4. Amalia of Cleves (17 October 1517 – 1 March 1586), unmarried
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John III the Peaceful, Duke of Cleves and Mark (John III, Duke of Cleves; John I, Duke of Jülich-Berg; German: Johann III der Friedfertige, Herzog von Kleve-Jülich-Berg; 10 November 1490 – 6 February 1538/9) was a son of John II der Kindermacher, Duke of Cleves and Mark and Matilda of Hesse.

Johann III became Regent of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg in 1521, and Lord of Ravensberg in 1528. He was a great-great-grandson of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. His wife was Maria, Duchess of Jülich-Berg.

Johann represented a compensatory attitude, which strove for a via media, a middle way, between the two confessions during the Protestant Reformation.