Born – 10th November 1490
Died – 6th February 1539
Father – John II Duke of Cleves (1458 – 1521)
Mother – Mathilde of Hesse (1473 – 1505)
Spouse – Maria of Julich-Berg (1491 – 1543)
Children – Sybille (1512 – 1554), Anne of Cleves (1515 – 1557), William (1516 – 1592), Amalia (1517 – 1586)
Known to History – Duke of Cleves and father of Anne of Cleves, fourth wife of King Henry VIII
1490 (10th November)
John III Duke of Cleves was born to John II Duke of Cleves and Mathilde of Hesse.
1495 (during)
John’s sister, Anna, was born to John II Duke of Cleves and Mathilde of Hesse.
1498 (during)
John’s brother, Adolf, was born to John II Duke of Cleves and Mathilde of Hesse.
1505 (19th February)
John’s mother died aged 31 years.
1509 (during)
John married Maria of Julich-Berg, daughter of William IV Duke of Julich-Berg.
1511 (6th September)
John’s father-in-law, Wiliam IV Duke of Julich-Berg died. His wife, Maria became heiress to Julich, Berg and Ravensberg.
1512 (17th January)
A daughter, Sybille, was born to John Duke of Cleves and Marie of Julich-Berg in Dusseldorf, Cleves, Germany.
1515 (22nd September)
A daughter, Anne, was born to John Duke of Cleves and Marie of Julich-Berg in Dusseldorf, Cleves, Germany.
1516 (28th July)
A son, William, was born to John Duke of Cleves and Marie of Julich-Berg in Dusseldorf, Cleves, Germany.
1517 (17th October)
A daughter, Amalia, was born to John Duke of Cleves and Marie of Julich-Berg in Dusseldorf, Cleves, Germany.
1518 (during)
John’s sister, Anna, married Count Philip III of Waldeck-Eisenberg.
1521 (15th March)
John became Duke of Cleves after his father died. He amalgamated Cleves and his wife’s territories of Julich, Berg and Ravensberg and was styled regent of the United Duchies of Julich-Cleves-Berg.
1525 (during)
John’s brother, Adolf, died.
1526 (during)
John III Duke of Cleves’ daughter, Sybille, married John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany.
1527 (during)
John’s daughter, Anne was betrothed to Francis, son of the Duke of Lorraine.
1528 (during)
John III Duke of Cleves became Lord of Ravensberg.
1535 (during)
Anne’s betrothal to Frances, son of the Duke of Lorraine was cancelled.
1537 (24th October)
King Henry VIII of England’s third wife, Jane Seymour, died.
1538 (May)
A Protestant deputation from Germany was in England and during talks the English statesman, Cromwell, realised that it would be good for the country to make an alliance with a Protestant country. The ambassadors mentioned that the Duke of Cleves had two daughters of marriageable age.
1539 (6th February)
John, died. His son, William succeeded him as Duke of Cleves.
Published Aug 7, 2019 @ 9:45 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2019 – 2020). John III Duke of Cleves 1490 – 1539. Available: http://www.thetimelinegeekhttps://www.thetimelinegeek.com/john-iii-duke-of-cleves-1490-1539 Last accessed [date]