Gerhard von Mark

From childhood, it was intended for a spiritual career. Since 1403 probst in Xanten, since 1414 canon of the Cologne chapter. In 1417 he put down the priesthood.

Since 1409, claimed to be part of his father's inheritance. The brother of Gerhard, Count Cleve and Mark Adolph II / IV, first transferred the province of Limers to him, in 1413 - part of the southern Mark, as well as Kaiserswerth, Zinzig and Remagen.

In 1418, Adolf II / IV , elevated to the ducal dignity, introduced uniform inheritance for his lands. Gerhard considered himself infringed on his rights and appealed for support to the emperor Sigismund , who transferred him the rights of the Foghism in the imperial city of Duisburg.

Gerhard also secured the support of the Cologne archbishop Dietrich II von Moers - at the cost of a concession to Kaiserswerth, Zinzig and Remagen.

In 1430, the brothers entered into a peace treaty (confirmed in 1437), according to which Gerhard received Hamm, Unna / Kamen, Iserlohn, Schwerte, Lunen, Hörde, Bochum, Altena, Breckerfeld and Neustadt with the title Graf zur Mark (Count in Mark), but Adolf II / IV retained the title of Graf von der Mark and the possessions of Wetter, Blankenstein, Wolmarstein, Bilstein, Fredeburg, as well as the wealth in Essen and Verdun.

The county of Bilstein and the lord of Fredeburg Gerhard in 1449 ceded to the archbishops of Cologne.

He died in 1461.

According to the agreement of 1430, his nephew, Duke Cleve Johann, became his heir. Cleve and Mark united on the basis of a personal union .

• http://www.histoireeurope.fr/RechercheLocution.php?Locutions=G%E9rard+de+La+Marck

• Henny Grüneisen: Adolf I .. W: Neue Deutsche Biographie. T. 1. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 1953, s. 81-82.
• Jürgen Kloosterhuis: Mark, Grafen von der. W: Neue Deutsche Biographie. T. 16. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 1990, s. 219-222.