John III, Duke of Cleves

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John III, The Peaceful, Duke of Kleve-Mark, (German: Johann III "Der Friedfertige", Herzog von Kleve-Jülich-Berg) (10 November 1490 – 6 February 1538/9) was a son of Johann II "der Kindermacher" Duke of Kleve-Mark and Matilda of Hesse. Johann III became Regent of the combined Duchies of Jülich-Kleve-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.

[edit] Ancestry

16. Adolph III, Count of Mark

8. Adolph I, Duke of Cleves

17. Margaret of Jülich-Berg

4. John I, Duke of Cleves

18. John II "the Fearless", Duke of Burgundy

9. Marie of Burgundy

19. Margaret of Bavaria

2. John II, Duke of Cleves

20. Philip II, Count of Nevers

10. John II, Count of Nevers

21. Bonna of Artois

5. Elizabeth of Nevers

22. Raoul of Ailly

11. Jacqueline d'Ailly

23. Jacqueline of Bethune

1. John III, Duke of Cleves

24. Hermann II, Landgrave of Hesse

12. Louis I, Landgrave of Hesse

25. Margaret of Hohenzollern-Nürnberg

6. Henry III, Landgrave of Hesse-Marburg

26. Frederick I, Elector of Saxony

13. Anna of Saxony

27. Catherine of Brunswick

3. Matilda of Hesse

28. John IV, Count of Katzenelnbogen

14. Philip I, Count of Katzenelnbogen

29. Anna, Countess of Katzenelnbogen

7. Anna of Katzenelnbogen

30. Eberhard IV, Count of Württemberg

15. Anna of Württemberg

31. Henriette of Mömpelgard

[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 married Henry VIII, King of England, as his fourth wife.
3. William, Duke of Jülich-Berg-Ravensberg-Kleve-Mark (28 July 1516 - 5 January 1592), married Maria, Archduchess of Austria, daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
4. Amelia (1517–1586), unmarried