Principality of Bayreuth
Encyclopedia
The Principality of Bayreuth or Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a reichsfrei principality
in the Holy Roman Empire
centered on the Bavaria
n city of Bayreuth. Until 1604 its capital city was Kulmbach
; then the margraves used their palaces in Bayreuth as their residence. Until the end of the empire in 1806, the margravate was called Principality of Kulmbach ) or Brandenburg-Kulmbach. The incorrect 'Principality of Bayreuth' was used in unofficial writing and publications. The ruling Hohenzollern
princes of the land were known as margrave
s, as the principality was a margravate (but not a march
).
Frederick V
of Nuremberg
on 21 January 1398, when his lands were partitioned between his two sons. The elder son, John III
, received Bayreuth and the younger, Frederick VI
, received Ansbach.
The two principalities were reunited under the younger son, Frederick, after John's death on 11 June 1420. Frederick had become Elector
of Brandenburg as Frederick I
in 1415, and on his death, on 21 September 1440, his territories were divided between his sons: Kulmbach (Bayreuth) went to the eldest, John "the Alchemist", while the second, Frederick
, received Brandenburg and Ansbach passed to the third son Albert Achilles
.
John the Alchemist renounced his rights in 1457, whereupon Kulmbach (Bayreuth) passed to his brother, Albert Achilles, the Margrave of Brandenburg. Thereafter the Principality of Bayreuth was held by cadet branches of the house of the Margraves of Brandenburg, the rulers being commonly known as the Margraves of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (though Bayreuth is nowhere near Brandenburg). The principality became part of the Franconian Circle
in 1500.
The last line of Brandenburg-Bayreuth died out on 20 January 1769 with the death of Margrave Frederick Christian
, and Bayreuth passed to Christian Frederick. On 2 December 1791, Christian Frederick sold the sovereignty of his principalities to King Frederick William II of Prussia
, and from 28 January 1792 Bayreuth was ruled by Prussian-appointed governors.
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
in the Holy Roman Empire
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...
centered on the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n city of Bayreuth. Until 1604 its capital city was Kulmbach
Kulmbach
Kulmbach is the capital of the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany. The town is famous for Plassenburg Castle, which houses the largest tin soldier museum in the world, and for its famous sausages, or Bratwürste.-Location:...
; then the margraves used their palaces in Bayreuth as their residence. Until the end of the empire in 1806, the margravate was called Principality of Kulmbach ) or Brandenburg-Kulmbach. The incorrect 'Principality of Bayreuth' was used in unofficial writing and publications. The ruling 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...
princes of the land were known as 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...
s, as the principality was a margravate (but not a 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....
).
History
The principality was established after the death of BurgraveBurgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
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...
on 21 January 1398, when his lands were partitioned between his two sons. The elder son, John III
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:...
, received Bayreuth and the younger, Frederick VI
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
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.- Biography :Frederick entered...
, received Ansbach.
The two principalities were reunited under the younger son, Frederick, after John's death on 11 June 1420. Frederick had become 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 as Frederick I
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
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.- Biography :Frederick entered...
in 1415, and on his death, on 21 September 1440, his territories were divided between his sons: Kulmbach (Bayreuth) went to the eldest, John "the Alchemist", while the second, Frederick
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...
, received Brandenburg and Ansbach passed to the third son Albert Achilles
Albert III, Elector of Brandenburg
Albert III , often known simply as Albert Achilles , was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. He received the nickname Achilles because of his knightly qualities. He also ruled the Principality of Ansbach.-Early life:Albert was born the third son of Elector Frederick I in Tangermünde...
.
John the Alchemist renounced his rights in 1457, whereupon Kulmbach (Bayreuth) passed to his brother, Albert Achilles, the Margrave of Brandenburg. Thereafter the Principality of Bayreuth was held by cadet branches of the house of the Margraves of Brandenburg, the rulers being commonly known as the Margraves of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (though Bayreuth is nowhere near Brandenburg). The principality became part of the Franconian Circle
Franconian Circle
The Franconian Circle was an Imperial Circle established in 1500 in the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised the eastern part of the former Franconian stem duchy — roughly corresponding with the present-day Bavarian Regierungsbezirke of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia — while western...
in 1500.
The last line of Brandenburg-Bayreuth died out on 20 January 1769 with the death of Margrave Frederick Christian
Frederick Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Frederick Christian of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.-Family:...
, and Bayreuth passed to Christian Frederick. On 2 December 1791, Christian Frederick sold the sovereignty of his principalities to King Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, and from 28 January 1792 Bayreuth was ruled by Prussian-appointed governors.
Margraves of Kulmbach and Bayreuth
- 1398: John III of NurembergJohn III, Burgrave of NurembergJohn 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:...
- 1420: Frederick I of Brandenburg
- 1440: John IV the AlchemistJohn, 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,...
- 1457: Albert I Achilles (also Margrave of Brandenburg from 1470)
- 1486: SiegmundSiegmund, Margrave of BayreuthSiegmund 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...
- 1495: Frederick IIIFrederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachFrederick 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...
(also Margrave of Ansbach as Friedrich I) - 1515: CasimirCasimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthCasimir of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was Margrave of Bayreuth from 1515 to 1527.- Family background :...
- 1527: Albert AlcibiadesAlbert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-KulmbachAlbert 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...
- 1553: George FrederickGeorge Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachGeorge Frederick of Brandenburg-Ansbach was Margrave of Ansbach and Bayreuth, as well as Regent of Prussia. He was the son of George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and a member of the House of Hohenzollern...
(also Margrave of Ansbach) - 1603: ChristianChristian, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthChristian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach ....
- 1655: Christian ErnstChristian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthChristian Ernst of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth....
- 1712: George WilliamGeorge William, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthGeorge William of Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.-Family:...
- 1726: George Frederick CharlesGeorge Frederick Charles, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthGeorge Frederick Charles , Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a German prince, member of the House of Hohenzollern, nominal Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth-Kulmbach and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth .-Family:He was the eldest of the fourteen children born...
(previously Margrave of Kulmbach from 1708) - 1735: FrederickFrederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthFrederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth....
- 1763: Frederick ChristianFrederick Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-BayreuthFrederick Christian of Brandenburg-Bayreuth , was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.-Family:...
- 1769: Christian Frederick (to 1791; also Margrave of Ansbach)
External links
- German States to 1918, A–E on WorldStatesmen.org
- House of Hohenzollern (1 of 2) on Genealogy.eu
- House of Hohenzollern (2 of 2) on Genealogy.eu
- Ansbach and Bayreuth on Tacitus Historical Atlas