Christian IV Pfalz-Zweibrücken ( German IV. Von Pfalz-Zweibrücken ; September 16, 1722 , Bishwiller - January 5, 1775 , Pettersheim Castle) - Prince Palatinate-Zweibrücken in 1735-1775.
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Biography
Christian IV was born to Christian III , Prince of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, and his wife Caroline , Countess of Nassau-Saarbrücken , and belonged to the Birkenfeld-Bishweiler line of the Wittelsbach family. Having inherited the throne after the death of his father in 1735, 13-year-old Christian transferred control of the country up to his majority (November 22, 1740) to his mother. In 1737–1739 Christian, along with his younger brother Friedrich Michael, studied at Leiden University . Then until July 1740 the brothers consisted in the French royal court. Returning home on July 20 and taking control of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken, Christian IV primarily arranged the marriage of Henriette Carolina ’s sister with the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt Ludwig IX .
At the insistence of his patron French King Louis XV, in 1758 Christian IV converted to Catholicism. In foreign policy, the prince also focused on France. Thus, during the American Revolution and the American Revolutionary War, Christian IV formed and sent a regiment under the command of his son, Christian Zweibrücken , to help the Americans. This regiment played an important role in the defeat of the British troops under Yorktown . In economic terms, the reign of Christian IV was not successful, the country's budget was burdened with huge debts. At the same time, the Duke built the so-called “ducal suburb” in Zweibrücken with funds raised from the lottery held. In 1755, the Duke opened a stud farm in Zweibrücken.
Christian IV was engaged in patronage , patronized the sciences and art. He created an art gallery, which kept a valuable collection of paintings mainly French masters. For architectural projects, the prince also invited French architects. One of the discoveries of Christian IV was the artist Johann Christian von Manlich and the artist and playwright Friedrich Muller . The duke was seriously keen on alchemy . He invested heavily in the creation of a porcelain manufactory in Zweibrücken.
Christian IV died in a hunting accident.
Family
In 1751, Christian IV entered into a morganatic marriage with 17-year-old French dancer Marianne Camas (1734-1807), whom she met a year earlier at the Mannheim Theater. Later, Marianne received the title of Countess von Forbach. The legality of this marriage was doubted by many, therefore, on September 3, 1757, the princely couple “got married” again. Christian and Marianna had six children:
- Christian (1752–1817); married to Adelaide-Francoise de Bethune-Pollon (1761–1823; Bethune house )
- Philip (1754-1807), later re-baptized into Wilhelm; married to Adelaide de Polastron (1760-1795)
- Maria Anna Carolina (1755–1806), Baroness Zweibrücken
- Karl Ludwig (1759-1763)
- Elizabeth Augustus Friderik (1766–1836), Baroness Tsveibryukken
- Julius Augustus Maximilian (1771-1773)