- Christoph, Duke of Württemberg
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Christoph of Württemberg, Duke of Württemberg (12 May 1515, Bad Urach – 28 December 1568 Stuttgart) ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1550 until his death in 1568.
In November 1515, only months after his birth, his mother, Sabina of Bavaria, fled to the court of her parents in Munich. Young Christoph stayed in Stuttgart with his elder sister Anna and his father, Duke Ulrich. When the Swabian League mobilized troops against Ulrich, he brought them to Castle Hohentübingen. In 1519 Württemberg came under Austrian rule after the castle had surrendered and Duke Ulrich had been banished.
Christoph was sent to the court of Maximilian I in Innsbruck where he grew up and was able to gain political experience under Habsburg-tutelage. The successor of Maximilian I, Charles V took him on his travels through Europe.
Meanwhile his father Ulrich had regained Württemberg from the Austrians in 1534 and Christoph was sent to the French court, where he became embroiled in France's wars against Habsburg. At the end of the 1530s Christoph converted to protestantism. In 1542 the Treaty of Reichenweier installed him as the governor of the Württemberg region of Montbéliard.
In 1544 he married Anna Maria von Brandenburg-Ansbach (28 December 1526-20 May 1589), daughter of Georg, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, with whom he fathered twelve children.
- Eberhard ( 7 January 1545- 2 May 1568)
- Hedwig (15 May 1547- 4 March 1590) - married Louis IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Marburg
- Elisabeth ( 3 March 1548-28 February 1592) - married (1) Georg Ernst (1511-1583), Count von Henneberg-Schleusingen; (2) Georg Gustav (1564-1634), Count Palatine of Veldenz-Lauterecken
- Sabine ( 2 July 1549-17 August 1582) - married William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
- Emilie (19 August 1550- 4 June 1589) - married Reichard (1521-1598), Count Palatine of Simmern-Sponheim
- Eleonore (22 March 1552-12 January 1618) - married Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt; (2) George I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt
- Ludwig I ( 1 January 1554- 8 August 1593) - succeeded as Duke of Württemberg
- Maximilian (27 August 1556-17 March 1557)
- Ulrich (?? May 1558- 7 July 1558)
- Dorothea Maria ( 3 September 1559-23 March 1639) - married Otto Heinrich, Count Palatine of Sulzbach
- Anna (12 June 1561- 7 July 1616) - married (1) Duke John George of Oława; (2) Duke Frederick IV of Legnica
- Sophie (20 November 1563-21 July 1590) - married Friedrich Wilhelm I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar
On succeeding his father in 1550, Christoph was forced to make high payments to avoid charges of treason by King Ferdinand I.
In subsequent years, he re-organized the entire administration of the church and state. He also reformed and supported the educational system.
Christoph went to great efforts to boost Württemberg's profile. For example, he reconstructed the Altes Schloss in Stuttgart and hosted many celebrations.
Christoph, Duke of WürttembergHouse of WürttembergBorn: 12 May 1515 Died: 28 December 1568Regnal titles Preceded by
UlrichDuke of Württemberg
1550-1568Succeeded by
Ludwig IThe generations are numbered from the ascension of Eberhard I as Duke of Württemberg in 1495. All generations descend from Eberhard IV, Count of Württemberg.1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation Christoph, Duke of Württemberg · Frederick I, Duke of Württemberg4th generation Eberhard · Louis III, Duke of Württemberg · Maximilian · Ulrich · John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg · Georg Frederick · Ludwig Frederick · Joachim Frederick · Julius Frederick · Philipp Frederick · Frederick Achilles, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt · Magnus · August5th generation Frederick · Eberhard III, Duke of Württemberg · Frederick, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt · Ulrich · Eberthal6th generation John Frederick · Louis Frederick · Christian Eberhard · Eberhard · William Louis, Duke of Württemberg · Karl Christof · Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental · Karl Maximilian · George Frederick · Albrecht Christian · Louis · Joachim Ernst · Philipp Siegmund · Karl Ferdinand · John Frederick · Eberhard · Emanuel Eberhard · Frederick Augustus, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt · Ulrich · Eberhard · Albrecht · Ferdinand Willem, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt · Anton Ulrich · Christoph · Carl Rudolf, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt7th generation Eberhard Louis, Duke of Württemberg · Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg · Frederick Charles · Henry Frederick · Maximilian Emanuel · Frederick Louis · Friedrich Kasimir · Ludwig Frederick · Frederick Samuel · Augustus Frederick · Karl · Adam · Frederick8th generation Frederick Louis, Hereditary Prince of Württemberg · Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg · Louis Eugene, Duke of Württemberg · Eugen Johann · Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg · Alexander Eugen9th generation Eberhard Friedrich · Frederick I, King of Württemberg · Louis · Eugen · William Frederick Philip · Ferdinand · Charles Frederick · Alexander · Charles Henry10th generation Adam · Alexander · Eugen · Georg Ferdinand · Heinrich · Paul Wilhelm · Paul · Alexander · Ernest · Friedrich Wilhelm11th generation 12th generation 13th generation 14th generation 15th generation 16th generation Wilhelm · Carl TheodorCategories:- 1515 births
- 1568 deaths
- People from Bad Urach
- Converts to Protestantism from Roman Catholicism
- Dukes of Württemberg
- House of Württemberg
- German royalty stubs
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