Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg

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.

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

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

Ancestors 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