Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld

Christian II (22 June 1637 – 26 April 1717) was the Duke of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler from 1654, the Duke of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld from 1671, and the Count of Rappoltstein from 1673 until 1699.

Early life and ancestry Christian was born in Bischwiller in 1637, as the eldest surviving son of Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler by his first wife, Countess Palatine Magdalene Catherine of Zweibrücken, both members of the House of Wittelsbach.

Reign After his father's death in 1654 he succeeded him to his territories around Bischweiler. In 1671 he inherited Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld from his cousin Charles II Otto. Through the inheritance of his wife, he was also the Count of Rappolstein from 1673 until he granted that title to his son Christian III.

Marriage and issue Christian II married Countess Catherine Agatha of Rappoltstein (15 June 1648 – 16 July 1683) on 5 September 1667.

Together, they had seven children: Magdalena Claudia (16 September 1668 – 9 December 1704), married to Philipp Reinhard, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg Louis (26 December 1669 – 2 April 1670) Elizabeth Sophie Augusta (2 August 1671 – 18 October 1672) Christina Catherine (2 August 1671 – 15 May 1673) Charlotte Wilhelmina (18 October 1672 – 29 May 1673) Christian (7 November 1674 – 3 February 1735) Louise (28 October 1678 – 3 May 1753), married to Friedrich Anton Ulrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont

Death Christian II died on 26 April 1717, in Birkenfeld, aged 79. He was interred in the family vault in Birkenfeld, until 1776, when his body was, along with that of his wife, transferred and buried in the Schlosskirche Meisenheim, Bad Kreuznach.

Ancestry