The Tree of Europe · Person

John William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg

The last duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg of his line. His childless death in 1609 opened a succession dispute involving Brandenburg, Palatinate-Neuburg and the neighbouring great powers.

1562 – 1609DukeLa 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: 29 May 1562 Documented

Death: 25 March 1609 Documented

Role: Duke

Dynasty: La Marck · ES

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

Recorded governments and reigns

Duke · Jülich · Duchy Inferred1592–1609Effective rule

Duke · Cleves · Duchy Inferred1592–1609Effective rule

Duke · Berg · Duchy Inferred1592–1609Effective rule

Count · Mark · County Inferred1592–1609Effective rule

Count · Ravensberg · County Inferred1592–1609Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

William V of ClevesDocumentedMaria of Austria · ESPending review

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of John William of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1592

JülichDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Jülich · ESDuke · Effective rule1592–1609
ClevesDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Cleves · ESDuke · Effective rule1592–1609
BergDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Berg · ESDuke · Effective rule1592–1609
MarkCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Mark · ESCount · Effective rule1592–1609
RavensbergCount
View titles and jurisdictions
- Ravensberg · ESCount · Effective rule1592–1609

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

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

Evidence for this profile

9 recorded claims · 1 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
29 May 1562
The authority record gives the birth as 1562-05-29.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johann Wilhelm, Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
25 March 1609
The authority record gives the death as 1609-03-25.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johann Wilhelm, Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (1/2 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
William V of Cleves
The authority record identifies William V of Cleves (GND 118807358) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johann Wilhelm, Jülich-Kleve-Berg, Herzog · Relationships: father → GND 118807358
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherPending review
Maria of Austria
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (5/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentInferred
Duke · Jülich · 1592–1609
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 · 1592–1609
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 · 1592–1609
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 · 1592–1609
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 · 1592–1609
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 (2)

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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