Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Frederick was Burgrave of Nuremberg
as Frederick VI and Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. He was a son of Burgrave Frederick V
of Nuremberg
and Elisabeth of Meissen
, and was the first member of the House of Hohenzollern
to rule the Margraviate of Brandenburg
.
and fought on the side of King Sigismund
of Hungary
. After he returned to Nuremberg, he divided the inheritance from his father with his brother John
, who received Bayreuth
, while Frederick kept Ansbach
. At first he tried to mediate in the imperial confusion between King Wenceslaus
and the party of Rupert of the Palatinate
, but he fought on the side of Rupert in September 1399 nonetheless.
Frederick resumed his rule of Ansbach in 1409 and after heavy feuding, entered into the service of King Sigismund. In 1410, the death of Rupert, King of the Germans, left the throne of the Holy Roman Empire
vacant. Sigismund enlisted Frederick's help in obtaining the throne. At the time, Jobst of Moravia
ruled Brandenburg and thus was one of the prince-electors who had the right to vote for the new emperor. However, Sigismund disputed Jobst's claim to Brandenburg and his right to vote in the imperial election. Sigismund claimed these rights for himself and designated Frederick to represent him as elector of Brandenburg in the imperial election
of 20 September 1410. While Sigismund won this initial vote, Jobst of Moravia won the support of a majority of electors in an election in October 1410 and himself claimed the imperial throne. Jobst's death under suspicious circumstances in January 1411 cleared the way for Sigismund's recovery of Brandenburg and his undisputed election as king of the empire later that year. In gratitude for Frederick's services, King Sigismund made him Oberster Hauptmann and Verwalter der Marken (1411). With an iron hand Frederick fought against the rebellious nobility of the March
of Brandenburg (in particular, the Quitzow family) and, in the end, restored security. Frederick also became a member of the Parakeet Society
and of the League of Constance.
At the Council of Constance
(30 April 1415) Sigismund granted Frederick the titles of Margrave
and Prince-elector
of Brandenburg. On 21 October 1415 the Brandenburg states meeting in a Landtag
asked him to rule in Berlin
. The king awarded him the formal enfeoffment of the margravate on 18 April 1417. As Frederick did not agree with the forcible action of Sigismund against the Hussites, relations between them cooled.
Constant feuding with the nobility of Brandenburg led Frederick to withdraw to his castle at Cadolzburg
in 1425 and transfer the regency of the margravate to his son John
in 1426 (Frederick, however, remained elector). After 1427 he organized the imperial war against the Hussites and provided substantial assistance in the mediation of the Prager Kompaktaten at the Council of Basel (30 November 1433).
Upon his death in 1440, Frederick was succeeded as elector by his second-eldest son, Frederick II
.
and Maddalena Visconti
. Their children were:
Burgrave of Nuremberg
- Further reading :* Sigmund Benker, Andreas Kraus : Geschichte Frankens bis zum Ausgang des 18. Jahrhunderts . 3rd edition. Beck, Munich 1997. ISBN 3-406-39451-5...
as Frederick VI and Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. He was a son of Burgrave Frederick V
Frederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg
Frederick V of Nuremberg was a Burgrave of Nuremberg, of the House of Hohenzollern.-Life:He was the elder son of John II of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Henneberg...
of Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
and Elisabeth of Meissen
Elisabeth of Meissen
Elisabeth of Meissen, Burgravine of Nuremberg was the daughter of Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen and Mathilde of Bavaria and a member of the House of Wettin.-Marriage and children:...
, and was the first member of the House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
to rule the Margraviate of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
.
Biography
Frederick entered early into the service of AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and fought on the side of King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. After he returned to Nuremberg, he divided the inheritance from his father with his brother John
John III, Burgrave of Nuremberg
John III of Nuremberg , Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach from the House of Hohenzollern. He was elder son of Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen.-Family and children:...
, who received Bayreuth
Principality of Bayreuth
The Principality of Bayreuth or Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a reichsfrei principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Bavarian city of Bayreuth. Until 1604 its capital city was Kulmbach; then the margraves used their palaces in Bayreuth as their residence...
, while Frederick kept Ansbach
Principality of Ansbach
The Principality of Ansbach or Brandenburg-Ansbach was a reichsfrei principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Bavarian city of Ansbach...
. At first he tried to mediate in the imperial confusion between King Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
and the party of Rupert of the Palatinate
Rupert of Germany
Rupert of Germany from the House of Wittelsbach was Elector Palatine from 1398 and German King from 1400 until his death...
, but he fought on the side of Rupert in September 1399 nonetheless.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
vacant. Sigismund enlisted Frederick's help in obtaining the throne. At the time, Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
ruled Brandenburg and thus was one of the prince-electors who had the right to vote for the new emperor. However, Sigismund disputed Jobst's claim to Brandenburg and his right to vote in the imperial election. Sigismund claimed these rights for himself and designated Frederick to represent him as elector of Brandenburg in the imperial election
Imperial election
The election of a Holy Roman Emperor or King of Germany was, from at least the 13th century, accomplished by a small body of the greatest princes of the Empire, the Prince-electors. Appointment as Emperor was normally for life...
of 20 September 1410. While Sigismund won this initial vote, Jobst of Moravia won the support of a majority of electors in an election in October 1410 and himself claimed the imperial throne. Jobst's death under suspicious circumstances in January 1411 cleared the way for Sigismund's recovery of Brandenburg and his undisputed election as king of the empire later that year. In gratitude for Frederick's services, King Sigismund made him Oberster Hauptmann and Verwalter der Marken (1411). With an iron hand Frederick fought against the rebellious nobility of the March
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
of Brandenburg (in particular, the Quitzow family) and, in the end, restored security. Frederick also became a member of the Parakeet Society
Parakeet Society
The Parakeet Society was a union of the enemies of Louis VII the Bearded, duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt. It was founded on April 17, 1414 by his cousin, duke Henry XVI of Bavaria-Landshut...
and of the League of Constance.
At the Council of Constance
Council of Constance
The Council of Constance is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418. The council ended the Three-Popes Controversy, by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V.The Council also condemned and...
(30 April 1415) Sigismund granted Frederick the titles of Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
and Prince-elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
of Brandenburg. On 21 October 1415 the Brandenburg states meeting in a Landtag
Landtag
A Landtag is a representative assembly or parliament in German-speaking countries with some legislative authority.- Name :...
asked him to rule in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The king awarded him the formal enfeoffment of the margravate on 18 April 1417. As Frederick did not agree with the forcible action of Sigismund against the Hussites, relations between them cooled.
Constant feuding with the nobility of Brandenburg led Frederick to withdraw to his castle at Cadolzburg
Cadolzburg
Cadolzburg is a municipality in the district of Fürth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 11 km west of Fürth.In the year 2007 Cadolzburg celebrated its 850th anniversary.- Notable persons :* Albert III, Elector of Brandenburg...
in 1425 and transfer the regency of the margravate to his son John
John, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
John, nicknamed the Alchemist was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and served as the peace-loving Margrave of Brandenburg after the abdication of his father, Frederick I, the first member of the House of Hohenzollern to rule Brandenburg.-Biography:John was the eldest son of Frederick I,...
in 1426 (Frederick, however, remained elector). After 1427 he organized the imperial war against the Hussites and provided substantial assistance in the mediation of the Prager Kompaktaten at the Council of Basel (30 November 1433).
Upon his death in 1440, Frederick was succeeded as elector by his second-eldest son, Frederick II
Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick II of Brandenburg , nicknamed "the Iron" and sometimes "Irontooth" , was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1440 until his abdication in 1470, and was a member of the House of Hohenzollern.-Biography:Frederick II was born in Tangermünde to Frederick I, Brandenburg's...
.
Ancestry
Family and children
He married Elisabeth of Bavaria-Landshut (1383–13 November 1442, Ansbach), daughter of Duke Frederick of Bavaria-LandshutFrederick, Duke of Bavaria
Frederick was Duke of Bavaria from 1375. He was the second son of Stephen II and Elizabeth of Sicily.-Family:His maternal grandparents were Frederick III of Sicily and Eleanor of Anjou...
and Maddalena Visconti
Maddalena Visconti
Maddalena Visconti was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala. Maddalena was Duchess of Bavaria-Landshut by her marriage to Frederick, Duke of Bavaria.- Family :...
. Their children were:
- Elisabeth (1403–31 October 1449, LiegnitzLegnicaLegnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
), married:- in KonstanzKonstanzKonstanz is a university city with approximately 80,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany, bordering Switzerland. The city houses the University of Konstanz.-Location:...
1418 Duke Louis II of BriegLouis II of BriegLouis II of Brieg; , was a Duke of Brzeg from 1399 and Duke of Legnica from 1413....
and LegnicaLegnicaLegnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
(1380/5–1436); - in 1438 Duke Wenzel I of Teschen (1413/18–1474).
- in Konstanz
- John "the Alchemist"John, Margrave of Brandenburg-KulmbachJohn, nicknamed the Alchemist was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and served as the peace-loving Margrave of Brandenburg after the abdication of his father, Frederick I, the first member of the House of Hohenzollern to rule Brandenburg.-Biography:John was the eldest son of Frederick I,...
(1405–1465), Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.- married in 1416 Princess Barbara of Saxe-Wittenberg (1405–1465)
- CeciliaCecilia of BrandenburgCecilia of Brandenburg was a princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marriage a Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.- Life :Cecilia was the daughter of Elector Frederick I of Brandenburg from his marriage to Elizabeth , daughter of Duke Frederick of Bavaria-Landshut...
(c. 1405–4 January 1449), married:- in BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
30 May 1423 Duke William III of Brunswick-LüneburgWilliam the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgWilliam KG , called the Victorious, was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He is counted either as William III or William IV....
(1392–1482).
- in Berlin
- MargaretMargaret of Brandenburg (1410–1465)Margaret of Brandenburg was a Princess of Brandenburg by birth and through successive marriages Duchess of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Bavaria-Ingolstadt and Countess of Waldenfels....
(1410–27 July 1465, LandshutLandshutLandshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
), married:- in 1423 to Duke Albert V, Duke of MecklenburgAlbert V, Duke of MecklenburgAlbert V, Duke of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1412 until his death.Albert V was the son of Albert III and Agnes, daughter of Duke Magnus of Brunswick. Albert III died in 1412 and, in accordance with an agreement with John IV, Agnes acted as guardian and regent for Albert V. In 1415...
(1397–1423); - in IngolstadtIngolstadtIngolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
20 July 1441 to Louis VIII, Duke of BavariaLouis VIII, Duke of BavariaLouis VIII of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt from 1443 until his death. He was born in Paris, a son of Louis VII and his first wife Anne de Bourbon-La Marche, a daughter of John I, Count of La Marche...
(1403–1445); - in 1446 to Count Martin of Waldenfels (d. 1471).
- in 1423 to Duke Albert V, Duke of Mecklenburg
- MagdaleneMagdalene of Brandenburg (1412–1454)Magdalene of Brandenburg was a princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg.- Life :...
(c. 1412 –27 October 1454, ScharnebeckScharnebeckScharnebeck is a municipality in the district of Lüneburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately northeast of Lüneburg. Scharnebeck is known for its twin ship lift, in the Elbe-Seitenkanal....
), married:- in Tangermünde 3 July 1429 to Duke Frederick of Brunswick-LüneburgFrederick II, Duke of Brunswick-LüneburgFrederick II , also known as Frederick the Pious was the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1434 to 1457 and from 1472 to 1478.- Life :...
(1418–1478).
- in Tangermünde 3 July 1429 to Duke Frederick of Brunswick-Lüneburg
- Frederick IIFrederick II, Elector of BrandenburgFrederick II of Brandenburg , nicknamed "the Iron" and sometimes "Irontooth" , was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1440 until his abdication in 1470, and was a member of the House of Hohenzollern.-Biography:Frederick II was born in Tangermünde to Frederick I, Brandenburg's...
(1413–1471), Elector of Brandenburg- married in 1446 Princess Catherine of SaxonyCatherine of Saxony, Electress of BrandenburgCatherine of Saxony was a princess of Saxony by birth and Electress of Brandenburg by marriage.- Life :Catherine was a daughter of the Elector Frederick I of Saxony from his marriage to Catherine of Brunswick-Lüneburg , daughter of Duke Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.On 11 June 1441...
(1421–1476)
- married in 1446 Princess Catherine of Saxony
- Albrecht Achilles, (1414–1486), Elector of Brandenburg, married:
- in 1446 Princess Margarete of Baden (1431–1457)
- in 1458 Princess Anna of Saxony (1437–1512)
- Sofie, born and died 1417.
- Dorothea (9 February 1420–19 January 1491, RehnaRehnaRehna is a town in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 26 km southeast of Lübeck, and 28 km northwest of Schwerin....
), married:- in 1432 Duke Henry IV, Duke of MecklenburgHenry IV, Duke of MecklenburgHenry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg was from 1422 to 1477 Duke of Mecklenburg.- Life :Henry IV of Mecklenburg, because of his obesity and lavish lifestyle also called the "Henry the Fat", was the son of the Duke John IV of Mecklenburg and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg.He inherited Mecklenburg when his...
(1417–1477)
- in 1432 Duke Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg
- Frederick "the Fat"Frederick of AltmarkFrederick III of Brandenburg, nicknamed the Fat, also the Younger was Margrave of the Brandenburg and Lord of the Altmark.- Life :...
(c. 1424–6 October 1463, TangermündeTangermündeTangermünde is a town in the district of Stendal, in the northeastern part of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the Elbe river in the Altmark region.-History:Tangermünde can look back at an 1000-year history...
), Lord of Altmark, married:- in 1449 Princess Agnes of Pomerania (1436–1512)
Sources
- Mast, Peter: Die Hohenzollern - Von Friedrich III. bis Wilhelm II., Graz, Wien, Köln 1994.