Julius Frederick, Duke of Württemberg-Weiltingen


Duke Julius Frederick of Württemberg-Weiltingen, was the first duke of Württemberg-Weiltingen.

Life

Julius Frederick was the third son of the Duke Frederick I of Württemberg and his wife Sibylla of Anhalt. He grew up with his parents and siblings in Montbéliard. After his father took up government of Württemberg in 1593, Julius Frederick lived in Stuttgart. He participated in military operations in the Alsace and in the War of the Jülich Succession. He travelled extensively, including journeys to Asia Minor, Malta, and Ephesus, and, in 1615, to Lapland.
On 28 May 1617, he was awarded the Lordships of Weiltingen and Brenz an der Brenz and a share of Heidenheim plus an annual allowance of. He chose Weiltingen as his residence. On 24 November 1617, he was engaged to Anna Sabina von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg. He married her on 11 December 1618 in Sønderborg. After the marriage, they lived in Brenz for a while, then moved to Weiltingen.
In 1631, he led the regency for his nephew Eberhard III. That same year, he joined the League of Leipzig. After the bloodless Cherry War later that year, he had to leave the League under the terms of the Peace of Tübingen. When King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden advanced into southern Germany, he raised troops again and joined Gustavus Adolphus. This led to a dispute with the Government, the Estates, and his co-regent.
In 1633, he renounced the regency in Württemberg. After the Battle of Nördlingen, the whole ducal family, including Julius Frederick, fled to Strasbourg, where he died the following year.

Children

The children from his marriage to Anna Sabina were: