Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg

Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg
Duke Gerhard VII of Jülich-Berg. Miniature of 1480
Spouse(s)	Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg
Noble family	House of Jülich
Father	William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg
Mother	Adelheid of Tecklenburg
Born	c.  1416
Died	19 August 1475(1475-08-19) Lülsdorf Castle, Niederkassel

Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg (c. 1416 – 19 August 1475) was the son of William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg and Adelheid of Tecklenburg. Gerhard was the second duke of the combined Duchy of Jülich-Berg but the 7th Gerhard in the House of Jülich.

Upon his father's death in 1428, Gerhard became Count of Ravensberg. In 1437, his uncle Adolf died without heirs and Gerhard inherited his title as Duke of Jülich-Berg. Gerhard continued his uncle's fight for the dukedom of Guelders, supported by King Albert II of Germany. In 1444 he won the Battle of Linnich but was unable to prevail in his fight for Guelders and ultimately sold his claim to Burgundy and acquired Blankenheim-Löwenberg and Heinsberg from Guelders. He was increasingly unable to govern his territories after 1461. His spouse Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg then wielded regency for him.

Family and children

In 1444, Gerhard married Sophie of Saxe-Lauenburg (1428 – 9 September 1473), daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg. They had the following children:

1. William (1455–1511), succeeded his father as Duke of Jülich-Berg
2. Adolf (1458–1470)
3. Gerhard (died young)
4. Anna, married John III, Count of Mörs and Saarwerden

Ancestors

Family of Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg

16. William V, Duke of Jülich               8. Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg                       17. Joanna of Hainaut               4. William VII of Jülich, 1st Duke of Berg                             18. Otto IV, Count of Ravensberg               9. Margaret of Ravensberg                       19. Margaret of Berg-Windeck               2. William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg                                   20. Adolf, Count Palatine of the Rhine               10. Rupert II, Elector Palatine                       21. Irmengard of Oettingen               5. Anna of the Palatinate                             22. Peter II of Sicily               11. Beatrice of Sicily                       23. Elisabeth of Carinthia               1. Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg                                         24. Nicholas I, Count of Tecklenburg               12. Otto VI, Count of Tecklenburg                       25. Helena of Oldenburg-Wildeshausen-Altbruchhausen               6. Nicholas II, Count of Tecklenburg                             26. Bernard V, Lord of Lippe               13. Adelaide of Lippe                       27. Richarda of the Marck               3. Adelheid of Tecklenburg                                   28. Dietrich IV of Moers               14. Frederick III, Count of Moers                       29. Elisabeth of Zuilen               7. Anna Elisabeth of Moers                             30. John II of Saarwerden               15. Walburga of Saarwerden                       31. Clara of Vinstingen

External links

• Genealogie-Mittelalter.de

Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg House of Jülich Born: c.  1416 Died: 19 August 1475
German nobility
Preceded by William II	Count of Ravensberg 1428–1475	Succeeded by William IV as William III, Count of Ravensberg William IV, Duke of Jülich-Berg
Preceded by Adolph VII	Duke of Jülich-Berg 1437–1475