Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern
| Edward of the Palatinate | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Spouse | Anna Gonzaga |
| Issue | |
| Louisa Maria, Princess of Salm Anne Henriette, Princess of Condé Benedicta Henrietta, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
|
| House | House of Palatinate-Simmern |
| Father | Frederick V, Elector Palatine |
| Mother | Elizabeth Stuart |
| Born | 5 October 1625 The Hague, Netherlands |
| Died | 6 March 1663 (aged 37) |
| Religion | Protestant, converted to catholicism on instigation of his wife |
Sir Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern KG (5 October 1625 – 10 March 1663) was the sixth son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, of the House of Wittelsbach, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and Elizabeth Stuart.
Edward was born in The Hague, where his parents were in exile after being defeated at the Battle of White Mountain. His father, a Calvinist, died on November 29, 1632, when Edward was seven years old.
On April 24, 1645, Edward married Anna Gonzaga (1616–1684). She was a daughter of Carlo I, Duke of Mantua and Catherine of Lorraine. Under her influence he converted to Catholicism, despite his mother's threats that she would disown any of her children who became Catholic. (Elizabeth forgave her son surprisingly quickly.)
Edward and Anna Gonzaga were parents of three daughters:
- Louisa Maria (23 July 1647 – 11 March 1679). Married Charles Theodore, Prince of Salm;
- Anne Henriette Julie, Princess of Condé (23 July 1648 – 23 February 1723). Married Henri Jules, Prince of Condé, had issue;
- Benedicta Henrietta (14 March 1652 – 12 August 1730). Married John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
Edward died in Paris aged 37.
Forty years after Edward's death, his younger sister Sophia of the Palatinate, commonly referred to as Sophia of Hanover after her marriage, was declared the heiress presumptive to their first cousin once removed, Queen Anne of England and Ireland (later Queen of Great Britain and Ireland). Sophia was never declared heiress presumptive to Scotland. She would have acceded to Anne's crown, had she not died a few weeks before Anne did. Upon Sophia's death, her son George Louis, Elector of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, became heir presumptive. Upon Queen Anne's death, he became George I, the first of the Hanoverian line of kings.
If Sophia's elder brother Edward had not converted to Catholicism, it is possible that the English throne would have been held by his descendants.
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