Italian War of 1542–1546#Initial moves and the Treaty of Venlo

The Treaty of Venlo on September 7, 1543 marked the end of the duchy of Geldern. According to the agreement, Duke Wilhelm V of Jülich- Kleve -Berg favor of Emperor Charles V had to renounce his claim to the duchy of Guelders and Zutphen to the county. In addition, the emperor forced the Duke to again become a Catholic and to combat the Reformation.

Prehistory

1528, Emperor Charles V to the Treaty of Gorinchem. He enfeoffed Duke Charles of Egmond with the duchy of Guelders, but with the condition that this would fall back to the imperial house, if the Duke should die childless. The duke at this time was quite old and had no descendants, he was initially reluctant to sign the contract. After further discussion, this passage was deleted from the contract.

1537 urged the parliament convened for an in Nijmegen influential stalls Duke Charles of Egmond, to renounce money and Zutphen and to explain to the young Prince Wilhelm V of Jülich -Cleves -Berg as his successor; this took office on 27 January 1538.

The innovations of the Reformation facing Wilhelm had secured through marriage in 1541 with the three -year-old Jeanne d' Albret, a niece of the French king Francis I, the French support and was able to hold funds in first. At the Diet of Regensburg in 1541, the territories, however, were awarded the Emperor Charles V.. Since Duke William, however, did not want to do without this, it came to money Rischen succession dispute. While the hoped-for French help for Wilhelm failed to materialize, pulled Emperor Charles from 17th to August 20th, 1543 at the archbishop's residence city of Bonn 40,000 imperial soldiers together. On August 23, invaded parts of the troops in the fortified Düren to loot it and brandzuschatzen. The city of Jülich was surrendered without a fight the enemy troops. Due to the military superiority of other fortresses Geldern were conquered and destroyed so that Duke Wilhelm got into a hopeless situation. He then appeared on September 6 in the camp of the Emperor at Venlo and Karl threw humbly at your feet. On September 7, the Treaty of Venlo was signed.