The Tree of Europe · Person

John III of Cleves

«the Peaceful»

His marriage to Maria of Jülich-Berg brought him Jülich, Berg and Ravensberg in 1511. From 1521 he also governed Cleves and Mark. The territories retained their own institutions.

1490 – 1539DukeLa Marck · ES

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This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 10 November 1490 Documented

Death: 6 February 1539 Documented

Role: Duke

Dynasty: La Marck · ES

Territories: Cleves (ES) · Mark (ES) · Jülich (ES) · Berg (ES) · Ravensberg (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Duke · Jülich · Duchy Inferred1511–1539Effective rule

Duke · Berg · Duchy Inferred1511–1539Effective rule

Duke · Cleves · Duchy Inferred1521–1539Effective rule

Count · Mark · County Inferred1521–1539Effective rule

Count · Ravensberg · County Inferred1511–1539Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

John II of Cleves · ESDocumentedMathilde of Hesse · ESDocumented

Partners

Maria of Jülich-Berg · ESDocumented

Children

William V of ClevesAnne of Cleves · ESSibylla of Cleves · ES

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of John III of Cleves. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1521

JülichDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Jülich · ESDuke · Effective rule1511–1539
BergDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Berg · ESDuke · Effective rule1511–1539
ClevesDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Cleves · ESDuke · Effective rule1521–1539
MarkCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Mark · ESCount · Effective rule1521–1539
RavensbergCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Ravensberg · ESCount · Effective rule1511–1539

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Johann III., Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

10 recorded claims · 0 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
10 November 1490
The authority record gives the birth as 1490-11-10.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johann III., Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
6 February 1539
The authority record gives the death as 1539-02-06.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johann III., Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (3/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
John II of Cleves
The biography identifies John III among his children.
Deutsche Biographie · Johann II. von Kleve · Heading, family and government.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherDocumented
Mathilde of Hesse
The biography identifies Matilda of Hesse as his mother.
Deutsche Biographie · Johann II. von Kleve · Heading, family and government.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Maria of Jülich-Berg
The authority record identifies Maria of Jülich-Berg (GND 1029511500) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johann III., Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog · Relationships: spouse → GND 1029511500
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (5/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentInferred
Duke · Jülich · 1511–1539
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Duke · Berg · 1511–1539
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Duke · Cleves · 1521–1539
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Count · Mark · 1521–1539
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Count · Ravensberg · 1511–1539
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (1)

Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Johann III., Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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