Background
Count Palatine John Casimir was born in Simmern as the third son of Frederick III, Elector Palatine, and Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, of the Simmern middle electoral line of the House of Wittelsbach.
Count Palatine John Casimir was born in Simmern as the third son of Frederick III, Elector Palatine, and Marie of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, of the Simmern middle electoral line of the House of Wittelsbach.
A firm Calvinist, he was a leader of mercenary troops in the religious wars of the time, including the Dutch Revolt. In 1564 John Casimir suggested himself as a bridegroom for Elizabeth I of England and sent her his portrait via the Scottish courtier Sir James Melville. Elizabeth, however, showed no interest in him.
The wedding took place in Heidelberg on June 6, 1570.
Their marriage turned out to be unhappy, and not only because of religious differences. Elisabeth gave birth to six children, three of whom were stillborn.
The other three were daughters. She died in prison on April 2, 1590.
From March, 1571 Johann Casimir resided in Kaiserslautern for a decade.
When his father died in 1576, he ordered in his will that the Palatinate was to remain Calvinist. Many professors of theology, including Zacharias Ursinus, left the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and were welcomed to Lautern by Johann Casimir who built the Collegium Casimirianum as a substitute university for them in 1578. In 1576, John Casimir entered France leading four thousand troops.
As a result of this campaign, he was made duc d’Étampes by Henry III of France for a few months, in 1576–1577.
This was a theoretical position, as he never actually visited his French duchy. He visited England in 1579 to seek the Queen"s financial support for his campaigns on behalf of the United Provinces.
In February 1579 the Earl of Leicester took him to Oxford and he was entertained for three weeks at the English court. Marie (b July 26, 1576 – d February 22, 1577).
Elisabeth (b May 5, 1578 – d October 27, 1580).
Dorothea (b January 6, 1581 – d September 18, 1631). Married John George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau in 1595.
