Editing Frederick V of the Palatinate (section)

==Controversy over guardianship, 1610–1614==
[[Image:Der junge Friedrich V. C-B 011.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Portrait of Frederick by [[Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt]], 1613]]
On 19 September 1610, Frederick's father, Frederick IV, died from "extravagant living"; his son being 14 years old at the time. Under the terms of the [[Golden Bull of 1356]], Frederick's closest male relative would serve as his [[Legal guardian|guardian]] and as [[regent]] of the Palatinate until Frederick reached the age of majority. However, his nearest male relative, [[Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg]], was a Catholic, so, shortly before his death, Frederick IV had named another Wittelsbach, [[John II, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken]], as his son's guardian. Frederick V welcomed John to Heidelberg, whereas Wolfgang William was denied entry. This led to a heated dispute among the princes of the Holy Roman Empire. 

In 1613, [[Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor]] intervened in the dispute, with the result being that Frederick V was able to begin his personal rule in the Palatinate even though he was still underage. The dispute ended in 1614, when Frederick attained his eighteenth birthday. However, much bad blood among the houses was caused by this dispute.