Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (Strassburg, 7 November 1674 – Zweibrücken, 3 February 1735) was a German nobleman. He was a member of the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, a cadet branch of the House of Wittelsbach. He was the son of Christian II of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld and Katharina Agathe, Countess of Rappoltstein. He was Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld from 1717 to 1731. In 1731, he inherited the sovereign duchy of Palatine Zweibrücken and thus became Count Palatine and Duke of Zweibrücken. He was also Count of Rappoltstein from 1699 until his death.
| Christian III | |
|---|---|
| Count Palatine of Zweibrücken | |
Portrait in the Musée historique de Strasbourg
| |
| Born | 7 November 1674 Strassburg |
| Died | 3 February 1735 Zweibrücken |
| Burial |
Alexander Church in Zweibrücken
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| Spouse | Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken |
| Issue | See issue link |
| House | House of Wittelsbach |
| Father | Christian II of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld |
| Mother | Katharina Agathe, Countess of Rappoltstein |
Christian was born in Strasbourg in 1674. He was the only son of Christian II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld to survive into adulthood.
He began his career in the French military in 1697 and took over the Alsatian regiment. In 1699, he inherited the County of Rappoltstein from his mother. In 1702 he became Field marshal and in 1704 he was promoted to lieutenant general. He excelled militarily at the Battle of Oudenaarde in 1708.
In 1717, his father died. He left the army and took up administration of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, which was a small part of the County of Sponheim. In 1731, Count Palatine Gustavus Samuel Leopold of Zweibrücken died childless and Christian III inherited his territory. His relatives objected, but in a treaty with Elector Palatine Charles III Philip concluded in Mannheim on 24 December 1733, it was agreed that Christian would receive Palatine Zweibrücken.
He died in Zweibrücken in 1735 and is buried alongside other counts/dukes of the house's line, in the crypt of Alexander's Church (Alexanderskirche [de]) in Zweibrücken, built in 1493 by his ancestor Alexander, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken.[1]
In 1719, at Château de Lorentzen, he married Caroline of Nassau-Saarbrücken (1704–1774) and had four children.
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Henriette Christine Landgravine of Hesse-Darmstadt |
 |
9 March 1721 | 30 March 1774 | Married in 1741 Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, had issue |
| Christian IV Count Palatine of Zweibrücken |
 |
6 September 1722 | 5 November 1775 | Married morganatically in 1751 Maria Johanna Camasse, had issue |
| Frederick Michael Count Palatine of Zweibrücken |
 |
27 February 1724 | 15 August 1767 | Married in 1746 Countess Palatine Maria Franziska of Sulzbach, had issue |
| Christiane Henriette Princess of Waldeck and Pyrmont |
 |
16 November 1725 | 11 February 1816 | Married in 1741 Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, had issue |
| Ancestors of Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken |
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Christian III, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken Born: 7 November 1674 Died: 3 February 1735 | ||
| Preceded by Katharina Agathe |
Count of Rappoltstein 1699-1735 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Count at Sponheim 1717–1735 | |
| Preceded by | Duke of Zweibrücken 1731–1735 | |