The Meeting of Friedrichsbuhel occurred during a hunting excursion in mid-August 1609. There, Elector Palatine Frederick IV, Johann Frederick of Wurttemberg, and George Frederick of Baden, three of the most powerful princes in the Protestant Union, met to discuss the Julich succession crisis. The princes agreed that the possessionary princes (Protestant claimants of Julich-Cleves-Berg), Wolfgang Wilhelm of Neuburg, and Johann Sigismund of Brandenburg, both needed immediate aid, as the Catholic Archduke Leopold V had recently occupied the fortified city of Julich, despite the possessionary princes having claimed the territories for themselves in a previous treaty.[1]
The three princes suggested that they should lend 25,000 guilders, while it would still be useful. Even though the Julich Succession was not necessarily an affair that involved the Protestant Union, the princes agreed that it deserved the full support of the Union. One reason for this was that the Rhine River was very important both economically and strategically to the Protestant cause, and if a Habsburg Catholic sympathizer took control of Julich, it would likely weaken the Protestant position.
The reputation of the Union was also considered. If the Union refused to help the possessionary princes, it would harm the reputation of the Union. If it did show support for the possessionary princes, it was possible that it would encourage powers like France and the Dutch Republic to provide aid as well. Lastly, the three believed that if the Julich affair ended in the Protestants favor, it could potentially have an impact on other affairs.