Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken

Who was Stephen, Count Palatine of Simmern-Zweibrücken?

Stephen of Simmern-Zweibrücken was Count Palatine of Simmern and Zweibrücken from 1410 until his death in 1459.

He was the son of King Rupert of Germany and his wife Elisabeth of Nuremberg. After the death of Rupert the Palatinate was divided between four of his surviving sons. Louis III received the main part, John received Palatinate-Neumarkt, Stephen received Palatinate-Simmern and Otto received Palatinate-Mosbach.

In 1410, Stephen married Anna of Veldenz, who died in 1439. After the death of Anna's father in 1444, Stephen also gained control of Veldenz and of the Veldenz share of Sponheim. In the same year, he also divided the country between his sons Frederick I, who became Count Palatine of Simmern, and Louis I, who became Count Palatine of Zweibrücken. In 1448 he succeeded to one part of Palatinate-Neumarkt and sold the other to his younger brother Otto.

He was buried in the cathedral of the Teutonic Knights in Meisenheim.