Duchy of Cleves
Coordinates: 51°47′N 6°8′E / 51.783°N 6.133°E
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The Duchy of Cleves (German: Herzogtum Kleve; Dutch: Hertogdom Kleef) was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in present Germany (part of North Rhine-Westphalia) and the Netherlands (parts of Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Gelderland). Its territory was situated on both sides of the river Rhine, around its capital Cleves and roughly covering today's districts of Cleves, Wesel and the city of Duisburg.
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History
The County of Cleves (German: Grafschaft Kleve; Dutch: Graafschap Kleef) was first mentioned in the 11th century. In 1417, the county became a duchy. Its history is closely related to that of its neighbours: the Duchies of Jülich, Berg and Guelders and the County of Mark. In 1368, Cleves and Mark were united. In 1521 Jülich, Berg, Cleves and Mark formed the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Anne of Cleves (1515–57), Queen Consort of England in 1540, was a daughter of Duke John III.
When the last duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg died issueless in 1609, a war broke out for the succession. The duchy was divided between Palatinate-Neuburg (Jülich and Berg) and Brandenburg (Cleves and Mark) in the Treaty of Xanten (1614). However, large parts of the Duchy of Cleves were occupied by the United Provinces until 1672. Part of the Kingdom of Prussia after 1701, Cleves was occupied by France in the Seven Years' War (1757–62).
In 1795 the Duchy of Cleves left of the Rhine and Wesel was occupied by France, and became part of the French département of the Roer. The rest of the duchy was occupied between 1803 and 1805, and became part of the département of Yssel-Supérieur and the puppet-state Grand Duchy of Berg (after 1811, the département of Lippe). In 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon, the duchy became part of the Prussian Province of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, which became part of the Prussian Rhine Province in 1822. The cities Gennep, Zevenaar, and Huissen became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands as a result of the 1815 Congress of Vienna.
Rulers of Cleves
Cleves
- 1092–1119 Dietrich I
- 1119–1147 Arnold I
- 1147–1172 Dietrich II
- 1172–1188 Dietrich III
- 1188–1198 Dietrich IV
- 1198–1201 Arnold II
- 1201–1260 Dietrich V
- 1260–1275 Dietrich VI
- 1275–1305 Dietrich VII of Meissen
- 1305–1310 Otto
- 1310–1347 Dietrich VIII
- 1347–1368 Johann
Cleves-Mark
- 1368–1394 Adolf III; see de la Marck family
- 1394–1448 Adolph I
- 1448–1481 John I, father of Engelbert, Count of Nevers
- 1481–1521 John II the Pious
Cleves-Mark-Jülich-Berg-Ravensberg
- 1511–1539 John III the Peaceful
- 1539–1592 William the Rich
- 1592–1609 John William
External links
- Edicts of Jülich, Cleves, Berg, Grand Duchy Berg, 1475–1815 (Coll. Scotti) online
- Settlement of Dortmund between Brandenburg and Palatinate-Neuburg and the conflict of succession in Jülich, in full text
- Map of the Duchy of Cleves in 1789
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