William IV of Eberstein

Count William IV of Eberstein (* May 3, 1497; † July 1, 1562 ) comes from the Swabian noble family Eberstein. His father Bernhard III. (1459-1526) was from 1510 to 1520 President of the Imperial Chamber; his mother was Countess of Cunegonde Sonnenberg ( 1472-1538 ).

He married on November 6, 1522 Countess Johanna of Hanau- Lichtenberg ( * 1507, † 1572), the eldest daughter of Count Philipp III. of Hanau- Lichtenberg ( * 1482, † 1538) and Margravine Sibylle von Baden (* 1485, † 1518). From this marriage emerged:

Was also William IV - like his father - 1546-1555 President of the Imperial Supreme Court. Several times he and his wife in the Zimmerischen Chronicle mentioned, whose author, Count Froben Christoph von rooms, his son was.

Wilhelm led in the county Eberstein in 1556 officially the Reformation. Unofficially, he had the evangelical doctrine previously promoted a long time. As lord of the castle, he was responsible for the significant expansion of Castle Neu - Eberstein. An Epitaph for William and Johanna, it represents common is preserved in the St. James Church in Gernsbach.