Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld

Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (German)
1569–1731
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital	Birkenfeld
Common languages	German
Religion	Lutheranism (1569–1588) Calvinism (1588–1731)
Government	Imperial Estate
Count
• 1569–1600 (first)	Charles I
• 1717–1731 (last)	Christian III
History
• Partition of Palatine Zweibrücken	1569
• Separation of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler	1600
• Incorporation into Palatine Zweibrücken	1731
Preceded by Succeeded by Palatine Zweibrücken Palatine Zweibrücken Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
Today part of	Germany

Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld was a state of the Holy Roman Empire based around Birkenfeld within the Upper Rhenish Circle. It was formed in 1569, after the partition of Palatine Zweibrücken and was reincorporated into that state in 1731.

History

Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld was created in 1569 in the partition of the County Palatine of Zweibrücken after the death of Wolfgang for his youngest son Charles I. After Charles' death in 1600 his state was partitioned into itself and Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler by his sons, with George William succeeding him in Birkenfeld. In 1635 the state was invaded and devastated during the Thirty Years' War, and in the same year decimated by an outbreak of the Plague. George William died in 1669 and was succeeded by his son Charles II Otto. Two years later he died, and with him the male line of the branch, so the state passed to Christian II of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler. Christian II died in 1717 and was succeeded by his son Christian III. In 1731 Christian inherited the Duchy of Zweibrücken and its seat in the Imperial Diet, and renamed his territories to Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken.

List of rulers

Name	Reign	Notes
Charles I	1569–1600
George William	1600–1669
Charles II Otto	1669–1671
Christian II	1671–1717	Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
Christian III	1717–1731	Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken