Background
So, when her brother, Duke John William, died in 1609 without a male heir of his own, both her and William"s daughters could play a vital role in the question of who would inherit the important North West German territory.
So, when her brother, Duke John William, died in 1609 without a male heir of his own, both her and William"s daughters could play a vital role in the question of who would inherit the important North West German territory.
Emperor Charles V had in 1546 granted the Duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg the right of female succession. The third claimant was Count Palatine Philip Louis of Neuburg, the husband of Magdalen"s other sister Anna. Finally, the Duchy of Saxony claimed Jülich-Cleves-Berg, based on an agreement to that effect with the Emperor.
However, after King Henry IV of France died, the conflict could be settled provisionally be the Treaty of Xanten.
The duchy was divided between Brandenburg and Palatinate-Neuburg. Margareta"s daughter Elisabeth (1581–1637) married Georg Gustav, Count Palatine of Pfalz-Veldenz.
She had two younger sons: Frederick Casimir (1585–1645) and John Casimir (1589–1652). She died in 1633 and was buried in the Reformed Church of Meisenheim.
Since all claimants were members of comprehensive European coalitions and so the Habsburgs and France were indirectly involved, and international conflict threatened: the War of the Jülich succession.
