Eberhard IV | |
Succession: | Count of Württemberg |
Reign: | 16May 14172July 1419 |
Predecessor: | Eberhard III |
Successor: | Ludwig I and Ulrich V |
Death Place: | Waiblingen, Württemberg |
Burial Place: | Stiftskirche, Stuttgart |
Spouse: | Henriette of Montbéliard |
House: | Württemberg |
Father: | Eberhard III |
Mother: | Antonia Visconti |
Eberhard IV (2July 1419), called the Younger (German: der Jüngere), was Count of Württemberg from 1417 until his death in 1419.
Eberhard was born around 1388, the only surviving child of Count Eberhard III and his first wife Antonia Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti. On 13 November 1397 he became engaged to Henriette of Mömpelgard. Henriette was the oldest daughter and main heiress of Henry of Mömpelgard, who died in 1396 one year before his father, Count Stephan of Mömpelgard. Their marriage, which occurred in 1407 at the latest, caused the county of Mömpelgard to become part of Württemberg. Eberhard IV also had a child with Agnes von Dagersheim, (Elisabeth von Dagersheim X Conrad Lyher).
Eberhard took active part in management of the state from 1407. Starting 1409 he governed the county of Mömpelgard together with Henriette. After the death of Eberhard III on 16 May 1417, he became the ruler of all of Württemberg. At the time of his death on 2 July 1419, Eberhard's two sons, Ludwig, who would later become Count Ludwig I, and Ulrich, later Count Ulrich V, were only seven and six years old, respectively. A guardianship government of Henriette and up to 32 Württembergian councilors was instituted.
Eberhard was married to Henriette, Countess of Montbéliard and they had: