Duchy of Jülich

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Map of Duchy of Julich.

The Duchy of Jülich (Dutch: Gulik) was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in present Germany (part of North Rhine-Westphalia) and the Netherlands (part of Limburg). Its territory was situated on both sides of the river Rur, around its capital Jülich.

The county of Jülich was first mentioned in the 11th century. In the 14th century, the county became a duchy. Its history is closely related to that of its neighbours: the duchies of Cleves, Berg and Guelders and the county of Mark. In 1423, Jülich and Berg were united. In 1521 Jülich, Berg, Cleves and Mark formed the united duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.

When the last duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg died issueless in 1609, a war broke out for the succession. The duchies were divided between Palatinate-Neuburg (Jülich and Berg) and Brandenburg (Cleves and Mark). When the last duke of Palatinate-Neuburg (after 1685 also Palatine Elector) died issueless in 1742, Jülich and Berg were inherited by the duke of Palatinate-Sulzbach (after 1777 also duke of Bavaria).

In 1794 the duchy of Jülich was occupied by France, and it became part of the French département of the Roer. In 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon, the duchy became part of the Prussian province Jülich-Cleves-Berg (after 1822 the Prussian Rhine Province), except for the cities Sittard and Tegelen, which became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.