John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

John Frederick

Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Prince of Calenberg

John Frederick, c. 1675, by Johann Hulsman
Spouse(s) Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate
Noble family Hanover
Father George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Mother Anne Eleonore of Hesse-Darmstadt
Born (1625-04-25)25 April 1625
Herzberg am Harz
Died 18 December 1679(1679-12-18) (aged 54)
Augsburg
Funeral thaler for John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1679)
Funeral thaler for John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1679)

John Frederick (German: Johann Friedrich; 25 April 1625 in Herzberg am Harz – 18 December 1679 in Augsburg) was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Principality of Calenberg, a subdivision of the duchy, from 1665 until his death.

The third son of George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, John converted to the Roman Catholic Church as the only member of his family in 1651. He received Calenberg when his elder brother George William inherited the Principality of Lüneburg. In 1666, he had a palace built in Herrenhausen near Hanover that was inspired by the Palace of Versailles and is famous for its gardens, the Herrenhausen Gardens.

In 1676, John Frederick employed Leibniz as Privy Councillor and librarian of the important ducal library. Thus began Leibniz's 40-year association with the House of Hanover, which resulted in three generations of Hanovers being patrons to one of the most eminent philosophers and mathematicians of Europe.

He employed the Venetian architect Girolamo Sartorio as his master builder in 1667, who designed many buildings in the town including the Neustädter Kirche and was instrumental in the expansion of the Herrenhausen Gardens.

Children

His middle daughter, Charlotte Felicitas
John Frederick, ca. 1670, after Jean Michelin

John Frederick married Benedicta Henrietta of the Palatinate (14 March 1652 – 12 August 1730), daughter of Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern and Anna Gonzaga, on 30 November 1668. They had four daughters:

Ancestry

References

John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 25 April 1625 Died: 18 December 1679
German nobility
Preceded by
George William
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Prince of Calenberg

1665–1679
Succeeded by
Ernest Augustus


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