Maurice of the Palatinate

Moritz ( born 6 January 1621 in Kuestrin, † probably at sea between 13 and 16 September 1652) of the Palatinate Palatinate was a prince from the line - Palatinate simmering.

Life

Moritz was the fifth child and fourth son of Elector Frederick V of the Palatinate (1596-1632) from his marriage to Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662), daughter of King James I of England.

In the English Civil War he transferred his brother Rupert, which he, loyal, on all his campaigns to country and accompanied by water, a military command. He was in English, then in Swedish and finally back in the English marine services.

Moritz fought among others, in the battles of Edgehill and Marston Moor. In the former he was wounded in the latter costly battle he came unharmed with his brother Ruprecht it. After the execution of his uncle King Charles I, he was appointed Vice- Admiral with his brother a small fleet that would disrupt trade between England and the continent. The fleet was destroyed in 1651 by Admiral Blake. Then the brothers went on to open piracy.

In late autumn 1652 Moritz's ship sank in a stormy night in the West Indies. The Prince remained missing. The legend has it that he was with huge treasures from Peru and Mexico in the direction of a French harbor on the road, but shortly before fallen into the hands of pirates, be deported to Algeria and disappeared inside Africa.