List of margraves and electors of Brandenburg

Rulers of Brandenburg in 1157 1806

This article lists the Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg during the period of time that Brandenburg was a constituent state of the Holy Roman Empire. The Mark, or March, of Brandenburg was one of the primary constituent states of the Holy Roman Empire. It was created in 1157 as the Margraviate of Brandenburg by Albert the Bear, Margrave of the Northern March. In 1356, by the terms of the Golden Bull of Charles IV, the Margrave of Brandenburg was given the permanent right to participate in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor with the title of Elector (Kurfürst). The early rulers came from several different dynasties, but from 1415 Brandenburg and its successor states were ruled by the House of Hohenzollern for over 500 years. From 1618 onward, Brandenburg was ruled in personal union with the Duchy of Prussia. The Hohenzollerns raised Prussia to a kingdom as the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701, and from then on Brandenburg was de facto treated as part of the kingdom even though it was legally still part of the Holy Roman Empire. The titles of Margrave of Brandenburg and Elector of Brandenburg were abolished along with the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and Brandenburg was formally integrated into Prussia. Despite this, the Prussian kings still included the title "Margrave of Brandenburg" in their royal style. From 1871 to 1918 the Hohenzollerns were also German Emperors.

RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotesLouis I the BrandenburgerMay 13151323–135118 September 1361 Margraviate of BrandenburgMargaret of Denmark1324no childrenMargaret, Countess of Tyrol10 February 1342Meranfour children In 1351 his brothers Louis and Otto gave up their inheritance in Bavaria, in exchange for the Electoral dignity in Brandenburg. Louis II the Roman7 May 13281351–136517 May 1365 Margraviate of BrandenburgCunigunde of Polandbefore 1349no childrenIngeborg of Mecklenburg Schwerin1360no childrenElevated in 1356 by the Holy Roman Emperor as First Elector of Brandenburg. Otto the Lazy1340/421365–137315 November 1379 Electorate of BrandenburgCatherine of Bohemia19 March 1366no childrenCo ruler of Brandenburg with his brother from 1351, but as a minor (b. 1346) took no part in administration until his brother's death. Abdicated 1373 but retained Electoral title. Died 1379.

Image Name Began Ended Comments WenceslausWenzel 2 October 1373 29 November 1378 Emperor Charles IV forced the last Wittelsbach Elector to abdicate, and then installed his own son, Wenceslaus. As Wenceslaus was still a minor (b. 1361), the Emperor administered the margraviate for him. Sigismund 29 November 1378 1388 Younger brother of Wenceslaus; took control of Brandenburg on his brother's ascension as King of Germany and Bohemia. Gave up Brandenburg to his cousin Jobst as security for a substantial loan. Jobst 1388 16 January 1411 Sigismund's first cousin, nephew of Charles IV. Elected as German King in 1410 in opposition to Sigismund, but died very shortly afterwards. Sigismund 16 January 1411 30 April 1415 Following Jobst's death, Sigismund regained control of Brandenburg and was elected undisputed King of Germany.

(Note: here, the numbering of the princes is the same for all principalities, as all were titled Margraves of Brandenburg, despite the different parts of land and its particular numbering of the rulers. The princes are numbered by the year of their succession.) RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotesFrederick IFriedrich I21 September 137130 April 1415 – 20 September 144020 September 1440Electorate of BrandenburgElisabeth of Bavaria Landshut18 September 1401ten children Originally Burgrave of Nuremberg as Frederick VI. Appointed by King Sigismund in 1415 and enfeoffed in 1417. 1417–1426 Margraviate of BrandenburgIn spite of being granted with the Electorate in 1415, the Margraviate was only given to him in 1417, which he abdicated to his son in 1426. In 1420 joined all his ancestors' Nurembergian lands with Brandenburg. John the Alchemist14061426–144016 November 1464 Margraviate of BrandenburgBarbara of Saxe Wittenberg1416four childrenReceived the Margraviate of Brandenburg from his father. However, after the latter's death, Brandenburg was redivided, and from then on retained Kulmbach. Abdicated 1457.1440–1457 Margraviate of Brandenburg KulmbachFrederick II IrontoothFriedrich II Eisenzahn19 November 141320 September 1440 – 10 February 147110 February 1471 Margraviate and Electorate of BrandenburgCatherine of Saxony11 June 1441Wittenbergthree children Reunited definitely the Margraviate and the Electorate of Brandenburg; however, his father gave to his brothers the lands of Ansbach and Kulmbach. Albert I AchillesAlbrecht Achilles9 November 14141440–148611 March 1486 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachMargaret of Baden1446four childrenAnna of Saxony 12 November 1458Ansbachthirteen children Received Ansbach after his father's death. In 1457 inherited Kulmbach from his brother John. On the death of his brother in 1471, became Elector.1457–1486 Margraviate of Brandenburg Kulmbach10 February 1471 – 11 March 1486 Electorate of BrandenburgJohn CiceroJohann Cicero2 August 145511 March 1486 – 9 January 14999 January 1499 Electorate of BrandenburgMargaret of Thuringia15 August 1476Berlinsix children Eldest son of Albert Achilles. Sigismund27 September 14681486–149526 February 1495 Margraviate of Brandenburg KulmbachUnmarriedReceived Kulmbach after his father's death. Left no descendants, and Kulmbach returned to Ansbach. Frederick I the Elder8 May 14601486–15364 April 1536 Margraviate of Brandenburg Ansbach Sophia of Poland14 February 1479Frankfurt (Oder)seventeen children Received Ansbach after his father's death. In 1495 inherited the land of his brother. In 1515 the lands were separated again.1495–1515 Margraviate of Brandenburg KulmbachJoachim I Nestor21 February 14849 January 1499 – 11 July 153511 July 1535 Electorate of BrandenburgElizabeth of Denmark10 April 1502Berlinfive children Casimir27 December 14811515–152721 September 1527 Margraviate of Brandenburg KulmbachSusanna of Bavaria25 August 1518Augsburgfive childrenEldest son of Frederick III, received Kulmbach in his father's lifetime. Regency of George, Margrave of Brandenburg Ansbach (1527–1541)Left no descendants, and Kulmbach returned to Ansbach. Albert II Alcibiades the Warlike28 March 15221527–15578 January 1557 Margraviate of Brandenburg KulmbachUnmarriedJoachim II Hector13 January 150511 July 1535 – 3 January 15713 January 1571 Electorate of BrandenburgMagdalena of Saxony6 November 1524Dresdensix childrenHedwig of Poland29 August/1 September 1535Krakówsix children First Protestant Elector of Brandenburg. John3 August 15131535–157113 January 1571 Margraviate of Brandenburg KüstrinCatherine of Brunswick Wolfenbüttel11 November 1537Wolfenbütteltwo children Son of Elector Joachim I. The Margraviate of Küstrin was created for him. After his death without male descendants, Küstrin was annexed again to the Electorate. George I the Pious4 March 14841536–154327 December 1543 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachBeatrice de Frangepan21 January 1509Gyulano childrenHedwig of Münsterberg Oels9 January 1525Oleśnicatwo childrenEmilie of Saxony25 August 1533four children Regencies of Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg and Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse (1543–1548), John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony (1543–1547) and Maurice, Elector of Saxony (1547–1548) In 1557, reunited Kulmbach to Ansbach once more. Left no descendants, and the Margraviates passed to sons of the Elector John George. George Frederick I the Elder5 April 15391543–160325 April 1603 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachElisabeth of Brandenburg Küstrin26 December 1558Küstrinno childrenSophie of Brunswick Lüneburg3 May 1579Dresdenno children1557–1603 Margraviate of Brandenburg KulmbachJohn GeorgeJohann Georg11 September 15253 January 1571 – 8 January 15988 January 1598 Electorate of BrandenburgSophie of Legnica15 February 1545one childSabina of Brandenburg Ansbach12 February 1548Ansbacheleven childrenElisabeth of Anhalt Zerbst6 October 1577Letzlingeneleven children Joachim FrederickJoachim Friedrich27 January 15468 January 1598 – 18 July 160818 July 1608 Electorate of BrandenburgCatherine of Brandenburg Küstrin8 January 1570Küstrineleven childrenEleanor of Prussia2 November 1603Berlinone child Joachim Ernest22 June 15831603–16257 March 1625 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachSophie of Solms Laubach1612Ansbachthree children Son of Elector John George. Received AnsbachChristian30 January 15811603–165530 May 1655 Margraviate of Brandenburg BayreuthMaria of Prussia29 April 1604Kulmbachnine children Son of Elector John George. Received Kulmbach. In 1604 moved the capital of the Margraviate to Bayreuth. From 1604 on, Brandenburg Kulmbach changed its name to Brandenburg Bayreuth. John SigismundJohann Sigismund 8 November 157218 July 1608 – 3 November 161923 December 1619 Electorate of BrandenburgAnna of Prussia30 October 1594Königsbergeight children Duke of Prussia from 1618. George William IGeorg Wilhelm 13 November 15953 November 1619 – 1 December 16401 December 1640 Electorate of BrandenburgElizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate24 July 1616Heidelbergfour children His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' War. Also Duke of Prussia. Frederick III1 May 16161625–16346 September 1634 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachUnmarried Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother. Albert II18 September 16201634–166722 October 1667 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachHenriette Louise of Württemberg Mömpelgard31 August 1642Stuttgartthree childrenSophie Margarete of Oettingen Oettingen15 October 1651Oettingenfive childrenChristine of Baden Durlach 6 August 1665Durlachno childrenFrederick William I the Great ElectorFriedrich Wilhelm 16 February 16201 December 1640 – 29 April 168829 April 1688 Electorate of BrandenburgLouise Henriette of Nassau7 December 1646The Haguesix childrenSophia Dorothea of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Glücksburg13 July 1668Gröningenseven children Also Duke of Prussia. Christian Ernest6 August 16441655–171220 May 1712 Margraviate of Brandenburg BayreuthErdmuthe Sophie of Saxony29 October 1662Dresdenno childrenSofie Louise of Württemberg8 February 1671Stuttgartsix childrenElisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg30 March 1703Potsdamnine children Son of Erdmann August, son of Christian I. John Frederick18 October 16541667–168622 March 1686 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachJohanna Elisabeth of Baden Durlach26 January 1673Durlachfive childrenEleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe Eisenach4 November 1681Eisenachthree children Council of Regency (1686–1692)Died as a minor; he was succeeded by his brother. Christian Albert18 September 16751686–169216 October 1692) Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachUnmarriedFrederick IIIFriedrich I 11 July 165729 April 1688 – 25 February 171325 February 1713 Electorate of BrandenburgElisabeth Henriette of Hesse Kassel13 August 1679Potsdamone childSophia Charlotte of Hanover8 October 1684Herrenhausentwo childrenSophia Louise of Mecklenburg Schwerin28 November 1708Berlinno children Also Duke of Prussia. In 1701 became the first King in Prussia, as Frederick I. Electorate and Margraviate of Brandenburg annexed to PrussiaGeorge Frederick II3 May 16781692–170329 March 1703 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachUnmarried Died without descendants; he was succeeded by his brother. Philip William19 May 16691692–171119 December 1711 Margraviate of Brandenburg SchwedtJohanna Charlotte of Anhalt Dessau25 January 1699Oranienbaumsix children Son of Elector Frederick William I. The Margraviate of Schwedt was created for him. William Frederick8 January 16861703–17237 January 1723 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachChristiane Charlotte of Württemberg Winnental28 August 1709Stuttgartthree children Frederick William17 November 17001711–17714 March 1771 Margraviate of Brandenburg SchwedtSophia Dorothea of Prussia10 November 1734Potsdamfive children Left no male descendants. The title passed to his brother, Frederick Henry. George William26 November 16781712–172618 December 1726 Margraviate of Brandenburg BayreuthSophie of Saxe Weissenfels16 October 1699Leipzigfive children Regency of Christiane Charlotte of Württemberg Winnental (1723–1729)Charles William Frederick the Wild Margrave12 May 17121723–17573 August 1757 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachFriederike Luise of Prussia30 May 1729Berlintwo childrenGeorge Frederick Charles30 June 16881726–173517 May 1735 Margraviate of Brandenburg BayreuthPrincess Dorothea of Schleswig Holstein Sonderburg Beck17 April 1709Reinfeldfive children Frederick10 May 17111735–176326 February 1763 Margraviate of Brandenburg BayreuthWilhelmine of Prussia17 April 1709Berlinone childSophie Caroline of Brunswick Wolfenbüttel20 September 1759Brunswickno children Left no male descendants; the title passed to Frederick Christian, from a collateral Bayreuth line. Frederick Christian17 July 17081763–176920 January 1769 Margraviate of Brandenburg BayreuthVictoria Charlotte of Anhalt Zeitz Hoym26 April 1732Schaumburgtwo children Great grandson of Christian I and cousin of his predecessors. Left no male descendants; Bayreuth was reunited to Ansbach. Bayreuth definitively annexed to AnsbachCharles Alexander24 February 17361757–17915 January 1806 Margraviate of Brandenburg AnsbachFrederica Caroline of Saxe Coburg Saalfeld22 November 1754Coburgno childrenElizabeth Craven13/30 October 1791Lisbonmorganaticno children In 1769 reunited both Margraviates of Ansbach and Bayreuth. In 1791 sold both Margraviates to the Kingdom of Prussia. Frederick Henry21 August 17091771–178812 December 1788 Margraviate of Brandenburg SchwedtLeopoldine Marie of Anhalt Dessau13 February 1739two children Left no male descendants. Schwedt went back to the Electorate. Schwedt definitively annexed to Prussia