Wilhelm IV of Eberstein

Who was Wilhelm IV of Eberstein?

Count Wilhelm IV of Eberstein was a member of the Swabian noble Eberstein family. His father, Bernhard III was president of the Reichskammergericht from 1510 to 1520. His mother was Countess Kunigunde of Sonnenberg.

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.