Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken

Frederick (German: Friedrich) (5 April 1616 – 9 July 1661) was the Duke of Zweibrücken from 1635 until 1661.

Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrucken
Born(1616-04-05)5 April 1616
Zweibrücken
Died9 July 1661(1661-07-09) (aged 45)
Nohfelden
Noble familyWittelsbach
Spouse(s)Anne of Nassau-Dillenburg
FatherJohn II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
MotherLouise Juliana of the Palatinate

Life

Frederick was born in Zweibrücken in 1616 as the elder son of John II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken. He succeeded his father in 1635. During his reign, Palatinate-Zweibrücken was devastated during the Thirty Years' War. The population of the duchy had decreased to a mere tenth of the population during the turn of the Century. Most of his castles were destroyed and he spent most of his reign moving between residences. In 1650 he settled for a few years in Castle Kirkel after its reconstruction. He carefully attempted to rebuild his shattered duchy.

Frederick died in Veldenz Castle in 1661 and is buried alongside other counts/dukes of the house's line, in the crypt of Alexander's Church (Alexanderskirche) in Zweibrücken, built in 1493 by his ancestor Alexander, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken.[1] Without any male heirs, the elder branch of the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken became extinct. Palatinate-Zweibrücken was inherited by Frederick Louis.

Marriage

Frederick married Anna Juliane of Nassau-Saarbrücken (1617–1667), daughter of Count William Louis, on 6 April 1640 and had the following children:

  1. William Louis (23 March 1641 – 9 May 1642)
  2. Elizabeth (1 April 1642 – 17 April 1677) – married to Victor Amadeus, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg
  3. Christine Louise Juliana (18 April 1643 – 21 July 1652)
  4. Frederick Louis (23 November 1644 – 12 June 1645)
  5. Sophie Amalie (15 December 1646 – 30 December 1695), married John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen.
  6. Eleanore Augusta (15 March 1648 – 16 November 1658)
  7. Charles Gustavus (23 May 1649 – 15 February 1650)
  8. Catherine Charlotte (22 February 1651 – 10 July 1652)
  9. Charlotte Fredericka (2 December 1653 – 27 October 1712)
  10. unnamed son (18 April 1656)

Ancestors
Frederick's ancestors in three generations
Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken Father:
John II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken		 Paternal Grandfather:
John I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken		 Paternal Great-grandfather:
Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Anna of Hesse
Paternal Grandmother:
Magdalene of Jülich-Cleves-Berg		 Paternal Great-grandfather:
Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Maria of Habsburg, Archduchess of Austria
Mother:
Louise Juliana of the Palatinate		 Maternal Grandfather:
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine		 Maternal Great-grandfather:
Louis VI, Elector Palatine
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Elisabeth of Hesse
Maternal Grandmother:
Louise Juliana of Nassau		 Maternal Great-grandfather:
William the Silent
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Charlotte of Bourbon
Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Born: 5 April 1616 Died: 9 July 1661
Preceded by
John II		 Duke of Zweibrücken
1635–1661		 Succeeded by
Frederick Louis

References
  1. Hudlet, Richard B. (1993). 500 Jahre Alexanderskirche Zweibrücken, 1493-1993 : Betrachtungen zur Geschichte einer Kirche und einer Stadt [500 years of Alexander's Church Zweibrücken, 1493-1993: Reflections on the history of a church and a city] (in German). Zweibrücken: Protestantische Kirchengemeinde Zweibrücken-Mitte [Protestant parish of Zweibrücken-Mitte]. ISBN 9783924171186. OCLC 34658300.
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