House Treaty of Regensburg
Encyclopedia
The House Treaty of Regensburg was a treaty concluded on 23 July 1541 between two branches of the House of Hohenzollern
, defining the boundaries between the newly created principalities of Ansbach
and Kulmbach
. These two territories had been created when in 1486 the Burgraviate of Nuremberg (the Hohenzollern's Franconian possessions) had been divided according to the Dispositio Achillea
.
The Burgraviate of Nuremberg consisted of a lower part around Ansbach and an upper part around Bayreuth and Kulmbach, separated by the Muggendorfer Mountains — the term used back then for the mountain range now called Little Switzerland.
At the 1486 division, the lower part of the Burgraviate was awarded to Frederick I
and the upper part to his brother Siegmund
. This division too the geographical conditions into account, but not the economic possibilities of the two new principalities. The soil in the lower part of the Burgraviate was more fertile and this led to Frederick receiving significantly more revenue than his brother. The House Treaty of Regensburg eliminated the imbalance by re-dividing the burgraviate into two economically equivalent territories. To this end, some towns in the lower part (Erlangen
and Neustadt an der Aisch
) were assigned to Brandenburg-Kulmbach. To determine the economic power of the areas, the average revenue from 1533 to 1539 was used.
Another clause of the treaty stipulated that the Electorate of Brandenburg was indivisible. This principle had already been formulated in the Dispositio Achillea
, and was made part of the Hohenzollern house law
by this treaty.
The immediate cause for the treaty was that Albert Alcibiades
took up government in Kulmbach. He had inhertited Kulmbach after the untimely death of his father, Casimir
and had been raised by his uncle and guardian Margrave George
in Ansbach. When Albert Alcibiades came of age, he and George agreed to realign their borders and concluded the Treaty of Regensburg.
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...
, defining the boundaries between the newly created principalities of 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...
and Kulmbach
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...
. These two territories had been created when in 1486 the Burgraviate of Nuremberg (the Hohenzollern's Franconian possessions) had been divided according to the Dispositio Achillea
Dispositio Achillea
The Dispositio Achillea , was the disposition of the territories of Elector Albert III Achilles of Brandenburg as regulated in his last will and testament of 1473....
.
The Burgraviate of Nuremberg consisted of a lower part around Ansbach and an upper part around Bayreuth and Kulmbach, separated by the Muggendorfer Mountains — the term used back then for the mountain range now called Little Switzerland.
At the 1486 division, the lower part of the Burgraviate was awarded to Frederick I
Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Frederick I of Ansbach and Bayreuth was born at Ansbach as the eldest son of the Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg by his second wife Anna, daughter of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. His elder half-brother was the Elector Johann Cicero of Brandenburg...
and the upper part to his brother Siegmund
Siegmund, Margrave of Bayreuth
Siegmund of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was the sixth but third surviving son of Albrecht III, Margrave of Brandenburg, Ansbach and Bayreuth. On the death of his father on 11 March 1486, his elder brothers Johann Cicero and Friedrich succeeded to Brandenburg and Ansbach respectively, and Siegmund...
. This division too the geographical conditions into account, but not the economic possibilities of the two new principalities. The soil in the lower part of the Burgraviate was more fertile and this led to Frederick receiving significantly more revenue than his brother. The House Treaty of Regensburg eliminated the imbalance by re-dividing the burgraviate into two economically equivalent territories. To this end, some towns in the lower part (Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
and Neustadt an der Aisch
Neustadt an der Aisch
Neustadt an der Aisch is a small town in the northern part of Bavaria , within the Franconian administrative region Middle Franconia,...
) were assigned to Brandenburg-Kulmbach. To determine the economic power of the areas, the average revenue from 1533 to 1539 was used.
Another clause of the treaty stipulated that the Electorate of Brandenburg was indivisible. This principle had already been formulated in the Dispositio Achillea
Dispositio Achillea
The Dispositio Achillea , was the disposition of the territories of Elector Albert III Achilles of Brandenburg as regulated in his last will and testament of 1473....
, and was made part of the Hohenzollern house law
House law
House law or House laws are rules that govern a royal family or dynasty in matters of eligibility for succession to a throne, membership in a dynasty, exercise of a regency, or entitlement to dynastic rank, titles and styles...
by this treaty.
The immediate cause for the treaty was that Albert Alcibiades
Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Albert Alcibiades was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, also known as Brandenburg-Bayreuth.Because of his bellicose nature Albert received the cognomen Alcibiades after his death; during his lifetime Albert was known as Bellator .He was a member of the Franconian branch of the House of...
took up government in Kulmbach. He had inhertited Kulmbach after the untimely death of his father, Casimir
Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Casimir of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was Margrave of Bayreuth from 1515 to 1527.- Family background :...
and had been raised by his uncle and guardian Margrave George
George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George of Brandenburg-Ansbach was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach from the House of Hohenzollern.- Early life :...
in Ansbach. When Albert Alcibiades came of age, he and George agreed to realign their borders and concluded the Treaty of Regensburg.