Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine

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Image:Kurfürst Johann Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg.jpg Johann Wilhelm II, Elector Palatine, also known as Johann Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg, (April 19, 1658 – June 8, 1716) was Elector Palatine (1690-1716), Duke Palatine of Neuburg/Danube (1690-1716), Duke of Jülich and Berg (1679-1716), and Duke of Upper Palatinate and Cham (1707-1714).

He was the son of Philipp Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg and Elisabeth Amalie von Hessen-Darmstadt and was born in Düsseldorf, where he resided, rather than in Heidelberg, which had been largely destroyed.

He married in 1678 to Maria Anna Josepha, Archduchess of Austria. She was a daughter of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor and his third wife Eleonore Gonzaga.

After her death, he married Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, the daughter of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

In the Peace of Rijswijk (1697), he was restored to many of the possessions which had been taken by the French, with the provision that the Palatine not revert to Protestantism. This provision did not make him popular in the Palatine and with Protestants.

He was more popular in Jülich-Berg, where he erected impressive buildings such as the Castle of Bensberg and led a lavish court which gave work to many artists and artisans, like Jan Weenix, Eglon van der Neer, Rachel Ruysch and Adriaen van der Werff.

In Düsseldorf, the Jan-Wellem Platz is named after him. He died in Düsseldorf and was buried in the St. Andreas Church there.