Jump to content

Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (German)
1569–1731
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalBirkenfeld
Common languagesGerman
Religion
Lutheranism (1569–1588)
Calvinism (1588–1731)
GovernmentImperial Estate
Count 
• 1569–1600 (first)
Charles I
• 1717–1731 (last)
Christian III
History 
• Partition of Palatine Zweibrücken
1569
1600
• Incorporation into Palatine Zweibrücken
1731
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Palatine Zweibrücken
Palatine Zweibrücken
Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
Today part ofGermany

Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld[a] was a state of the Holy Roman Empire based around Birkenfeld within the Upper Rhenish Circle. It was formed in 1569, after the partition of Palatine Zweibrücken and was reincorporated into that state in 1731.

History

[edit]

Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld was created in 1569 in the partition of the County Palatine of Zweibrücken after the death of Wolfgang for his youngest son Charles I. After Charles' death in 1600 his state was partitioned into itself and Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler by his sons, with George William succeeding him in Birkenfeld. In 1635 the state was invaded and devastated during the Thirty Years' War, and in the same year decimated by an outbreak of the Plague. George William died in 1669 and was succeeded by his son Charles II Otto. Two years later he died, and with him the male line of the branch, so the state passed to Christian II of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler. Christian II died in 1717 and was succeeded by his son Christian III. In 1731 Christian inherited the Duchy of Zweibrücken and its seat in the Imperial Diet, and renamed his territories to Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken.

List of rulers

[edit]

Name

Reign

Notes
Charles I 1569–1600
George William 1600–1669
Charles II Otto 1669–1671
Christian II 1671–1717 Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
Christian III 1717–1731 Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ German: Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld