Georg (20 February 1518 – 17 May 1569) was the Count Palatine of Simmern-Sponheim from 1559 until his death in 1569.
Biography
Georg was born in 1518 to Johann II, Count Palatine of Simmern, and his first wife, Beatrix of Baden. In 1559, his elder brother Frederick inherited the Electorate of the Palatinate (becoming Elector Palatine Frederick III) and granted Georg the territories of Simmern and Sponheim, which Frederick had inherited from their father in 1557. This transfer created the short-lived territory of Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim.
Georg married Elisabeth of Hesse, daughter of Landgrave Wilhelm I of Hesse, on 9 January 1541. He died on 17 May 1569 and was succeeded in Simmern by his younger brother Reichard (Richard).
Children
With his wife Elisabeth of Hesse (4 March 1503 – 4 January 1563), Georg had one legitimate son:
- John (c. 7 October 1541 – 28 January 1562), who predeceased his father.
Georg also had a mistress, Elisabeth von Rosenfeld, with whom he fathered two illegitimate children:
- Adam Rauenspurg (c. 1565–1598)
- George Rauenspurg (c. 1566–1598)
