Adolph John I, Count Palatine of Kleeburg

Adolph John I (; ; 11 October 1629 – 14 October 1689) was Count Palatine of Kleeburg from 1654 until 1689 and was considered Prince of Sweden until 1660. He was the younger brother of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden.

Life Adolph John was born in Stegeborg Castle, Sweden (now in Söderköping Municipality) in 1629 as the youngest son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Kleeburg and Princess Catherine of Sweden. after his elder brother Carl Gustav became the King of Sweden. At that time, he also obtained the County Palatine of Kleeburg.

In early 1659, he was a part of the Swedish offensive into Ducal Prussia, which led to initial Swedish gains but were lost after an allied counteroffensive in March.

Marriage Adolph John married Countess Elizabeth Beatrice Brahe (31 August 1629 – 7 September 1653) on 19 June 1649 and had the following son: Gustavus Adolph (9 March 1652 – 1 August 1652)

Adolph John married Countess Elsa Elizabeth Brahe (29 January 1632 – 24 February 1689), daughter of Count Nicholas Brahe af Wisingsborg in 1661. They had the following children: Catherine (10 December 1661 – 27 May 1720), married to count Kristofer Gyllenstierna, no issue; Maria Elizabeth Louise (16 April 1663 – 23 January 1748), married to count Christian Gottlob von Gersdorff auf Oppach, no issue; Charles John (15 September 1664 – 10 December 1664); John Casimir (4 September 1665 – 29 May 1666); Adolph John (21 August 1666 – 27 April 1701), never married; Gustavus Casimir (29 June 1667 – 21 August 1669); Christina Magdalena (4 April 1669 – 21 June 1670); Gustavus Samuel Leopold (12 April 1670 – 17 September 1731), no issue; unnamed infant (12 December 1671).

Although he was the father of 10 children, Adolph John I had no grandchildren at all. If he had had progeny, they would have had a strong claim upon the throne of Sweden after the line of his brother, Charles X Gustav of Sweden, ended with Ulrika Eleonora. Since he had no progeny, the throne was claimed by the heirs of his eldest sister Christina Magdalena of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken.

Ancestry