William IV of Eberstein
| Wilhelm IV of Eberstein | |
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Tombstone for Wilhelm IV of Eberstein and Johanna of Hanau-Lichtenberg in the St. Jakob church in Gernsbach
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| Spouse(s) | Johanna of Hanau-Lichtenberg |
| Noble family | Eberstein |
| Father | Bernhard III of Eberstein |
| Mother | Kunigunde of Sonnenberg |
| Born | 3 May 1497 |
| Died | 1 July 1562 (aged 65) |
| Buried | St. Jakob church in Gernsbach |
Count Wilhelm IV of Eberstein (3 May 1497 – 1 July 1562) was a member of the Swabian noble Eberstein family. His father, Bernhard III (1459–1526) was president of the Reichskammergericht from 1510 to 1520. His mother was Countess Kunigunde of Sonnenberg (1472–1538).
Like his father, Wilhelm IV served as president of the Reichskammergericht; he presided from 1546 to 1555. He and his wife are mentioned several times in the Zimmern Chronicle, which was written by their son-in-law, Count Froben Christoph of Zimmern.
In 1561, Wilhelm officially converted the County of Eberstein to Protestantism. He had been unofficially promoting the Evangelical faith for some time. He expanded his Neu-Eberstein Castle significantly. A tombstone depicting Wilhelm and his wife, has been preserved in the St. Jakob church in Gernsbach.
On 6 November 1522, he married Countess Johanna of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1507–1572), the eldest daughter of Philipp III, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1482–1538) and Margravine Sibylle of Baden (1485–1518). They had the following children:
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