List of margraves and electors of Brandenburg explained

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 (German: 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.

Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg

House of Ascania

Partitions of Brandenburg under Ascanian rule

Margraviate of Brandenburg
(1157-1266/67)
Krossen
(1266–1308)
Stendal
(1266–1318)
Neumark
(1266–1318)
Salzwedel
(1267–1317)
Stargard
(1267–1316)
      <---Stendal--->
Margraviate of Brandenburg
(Neumark then Stendal lines)
(1318–1320)
Annexed to the
Duchy of Mecklenburg

Table of rulers

RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
c.11001157–117018 November 1170Margraviate of BrandenburgSophie of Winzenburg
1124
thirteen children
First Margrave who founded a dynasty in Brandenburg. Ruler of the Northern March from 1134.
11281170–11848 July 1184Margraviate of BrandenburgJudith of Poland
1148
two children

Ada of Holland
1175
one child
Ruled together with his father since 1144.
c.11501184–12054 July 1205Margraviate of BrandenburgUnmarriedLeft no descendants, and the Margraviate went to his brother.
11771205–122025 February 1220Margraviate of BrandenburgMatilda of Lusatia
(1185–1225)
1205
four children
Brother of the previous.
Regencies of Henry I, Count of Anhalt (1220–25), Albert I, Archbishop of Magdeburg (1220–21), Matilda of Lusatia (1221–25)Children of Albert II, ruled jointly, but their children divided the margraviate.
12131220–12664 April 1266Margraviate of BrandenburgSophie of Denmark
(1217–1247)
1230
six children

Brigitte Jutta of Saxony
(d. 4 April 1266)
1230
six children
12151220–12679 October 1267Margraviate of BrandenburgBeatrice of Bohemia
1243
six children
12371267–128110 September 1281Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Krossen)
Hedwig of Werle
(1243–1287)
c.1260
two children
Children of John I. Despite co-rulership between them, they received different parts in the Margraviate to rule (alone or in co-rulership):
  • John II received seat at Krossen;
  • Otto IV received seat at Stendal;
  • Conrad received seat at Neumark, and associated his eldest son in 1286 (who predeceased him).
12381267–130827 November 1308Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Stendal)
Heilwig of Holstein-Kiel
(d.1305)
1279
no children

Judith of Henneberg
(d.1315)
1308
no children
12401267–13041304Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Neumark)
Constance of Greater Poland
1260
Santok
three children
Otto VIIc.12601286–12971297Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Neumark)
Unmarried
12131267–12684 April 1266Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Salzwedel)
UnmarriedChildren of Otto III. Despite co-rulership between them, they received different parts in the Margraviate to rule (alone or in co-rulership):
  • John III (and then Otto V with Otto VI) received the seat at Salzwedel, from which Otto VI abdicated in 1286;
  • Albert III received a seat in Stargard (which he ruled alone at least from 1284.
12461267–12981298Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Salzwedel)
Judith of Henneberg-Coburg
(1252–1327)
22 October 1268
four children
3/17 November 12641267–12866 July 1303Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Salzwedel)
Hedwig of Habsburg
February 1279
Vienna
no children
c.12501267–1300Between
19 Sept. and 4 Dec. 1300
Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Stargard)
Matilda of Denmark(d.1300)
1268
four children
Conrad II12611281–13081308Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Krossen)
UnmarriedWith his childless death his land reverted to Stendal.
12751298–13081 February 1308Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Salzwedel)
Anne of Austria
1295
Graz
four children
Children of Otto V, divided the land. Beatrice's part was then annexed to the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor.
12701298–13161316Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Upper Lusatia)
Bolko I, Duke of Świdnica
4 October 1284
Berlin
ten children

Władysław, Duke of Bytom
21 September 1308
two children
c.12701300–131422 September 1314Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Stargard)
Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg
1292
Stargard Castle
four children
Daughter and heiress of Albert III. Her marriage transferred the Stargard region into the Duchy of Mecklenburg.
John IV12611304–13051305Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Neumark)
UnmarriedCo-ruler of his father since 1291. His childless death reverted his lands to Stendal.
21 March 12561308–131814 February 1318Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Delitzsch since 1297; at Stendal since 1308)
Agnes of Bavaria
1303
three children
Younger brother of John II, Otto IV and Conrad I. Started his co-rulership in 1297, receiving seat at Delitzsch; he ended up as successor of his childless elder brother Otto IV.
Regency of Waldemar, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal (1308–1316) Children of Herman, divided the land:
  • John V received the core of Salzwedel;
  • Matilda received a seat at Lower Lusatia;
  • Agnes received a seat at Altmark;
  • Jutta received a seat at Coburg.

John's childless death left the main core of Salzwedel to be reunited by his regent Valdemar. The remaining possessions were annexed by the respective marriages.

13021308–131726 March 1317Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Salzwedel)
Unmarried
Matilda12961308–132931 March 1329Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Lower Lusatia)
Henry IV, Duke of Żagań
5 January 1310
four children
Agnes12971308–133427 November 1334Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Altmark)
Waldemar, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal
1309
no children

Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
1319
no children
Judith13011308–13531353Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Coburg)
Henry IX, Count of Henneberg-Schleusingen
1 January 1317 or 1 February 1319
five children
12801305–131814 August 1319Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Neumark)
Agnes of Brandenburg-Salzwedel
(1297-27 November 1334)
1309
no children
Son of Conrad, co-ruled with his uncles since 1308. Left no descendants, and the margraviate went to his underage cousin.
1318–1319Margraviate of Brandenburg
Regency of Wartislaw IV, Duke of Pomerania (1319–1320) Son of Henry I. Died as a minor. After the extinction of the Ascanian dynasty in 1320, Brandenburg came under the control of the Emperor Louis IV of the House of Wittelsbach, who granted Brandenburg to his eldest son, Louis V of Bavaria.
13021319–132026 March 1317Margraviate of BrandenburgUnmarried
13001320–13561356Margraviate of Brandenburg
(at Landsberg)
Magnus I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
1327
eight children
After her death, the Margraviate of Landsberg was annexed to the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

House of Wittelsbach

RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
Louis I the BrandenburgerMay 13151323–135118 September 1361Margraviate of BrandenburgMargaret of Denmark
1324
no children

Margaret, Countess of Tyrol
10 February 1342
Meran
four 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 1365Margraviate of BrandenburgCunigunde of Poland
before 1349
no children

Ingeborg of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
1360
no children
Elevated in 1356 by the Holy Roman Emperor as First Elector of Brandenburg.
Otto the Lazy1340/421365–137315 November 1379Electorate of BrandenburgCatherine of Bohemia
19 March 1366
no children
Co-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.

Luxemburg Dynasty

ImageNameBeganEndedComments
Wenceslaus
Wenzel
2 October 137329 November 1378Emperor 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.
Sigismund29 November 13781388Younger 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.
Jobst138816 January 1411Sigismund's first cousin, nephew of Charles IV. Elected as German King in 1410 in opposition to Sigismund, but died very shortly afterwards.
Sigismund16 January 141130 April 1415Following Jobst's death, Sigismund regained control of Brandenburg and was elected undisputed King of Germany.

House of Hohenzollern

Partitions of Brandenburg under Hohenzollern rule

Electorate of Brandenburg
(1415–1440)
Margraviate of Brandenburg
(under Luxemburg rule)
      <---Electorate--->
      <---Electorate---> Margraviate of Brandenburg
(1417–1440)
Electorate of Brandenburg and Margraviate of Brandenburg-Brandenburg
(1440–1618)
Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach
(1440–1791)
Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
(1st creation)
(1440–1457)
      <---Ansbach--->
      <---Ansbach--->Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
(2nd creation)
(1486–1495)
      <---Ansbach--->
      <---Ansbach--->Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
(3rd creation)
(1515–1557)
      <---Electorate---> Margraviate of Brandenburg-Küstrin
(1535–1571)
      <---Ansbach--->
      <---Electorate--->
      <---Ansbach--->Margraviate of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
(changed seat from Kulmbach to Bayreuth)
(1603–1769)
Electorate of Brandenburg, Duchy of Prussia and Margraviate of Brandenburg-Brandenburg
(1618–1701)
      <---Electorate---> Margraviate of Brandenburg-Schwedt
(1692–1788)
Electorate of Brandenburg and Kingdom of Prussia
(1701–1806)
      <---Ansbach--->
      <---Electorate--->
      <---Electorate--->
Kingdom of Prussia
(1806–1918)

Table of rulers

(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 partConsortNotes
Frederick I
Friedrich I
21 September 137130 April 1415 – 20 September 144020 September 1440Electorate of BrandenburgElisabeth of Bavaria-Landshut
18 September 1401
ten children
Originally Burgrave of Nuremberg as Frederick VI. Appointed by King Sigismund in 1415 and enfeoffed in 1417.
1417–1426Margraviate 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 1464Margraviate of BrandenburgBarbara of Saxe-Wittenberg
1416
four children
Received the Margraviate of Brandenburg from his father. However, after the latter's death, Brandenburg was redivided, and from then on retained Kulmbach. Abdicated 1457.
1440–1457Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Frederick II Irontooth
Friedrich II Eisenzahn
19 November 141320 September 1440 – 10 February 147110 February 1471Margraviate and Electorate of BrandenburgCatherine of Saxony
11 June 1441
Wittenberg
three 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 Achilles
Albrecht Achilles
9 November 14141440–148611 March 1486Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachMargaret of Baden
1446
four children

Anna of Saxony
12 November 1458
Ansbach
thirteen 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.
1457–1486Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
10 February 1471 – 11 March 1486Electorate of Brandenburg
John Cicero
Johann Cicero
2 August 145511 March 1486 – 9 January 14999 January 1499Electorate of BrandenburgMargaret of Thuringia
15 August 1476
Berlin
six 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 1536Sophia of Poland
14 February 1479
Frankfurt (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.
1495–1515Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
Joachim I Nestor21 February 14849 January 1499 – 11 July 153511 July 1535Electorate of BrandenburgElizabeth of Denmark
10 April 1502
Berlin
five children
Casimir27 December 14811515–152721 September 1527Margraviate of Brandenburg-KulmbachSusanna of Bavaria
25 August 1518
Augsburg
five children
Eldest 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 1557Margraviate of Brandenburg-KulmbachUnmarried
Joachim II Hector13 January 150511 July 1535 – 3 January 15713 January 1571Electorate of BrandenburgMagdalena of Saxony
6 November 1524
Dresden
six children

Hedwig of Poland
29 August/1 September 1535
Kraków
six children
First Protestant Elector of Brandenburg.
John3 August 15131535–157113 January 1571Margraviate of Brandenburg-KüstrinCatherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
11 November 1537
Wolfenbüttel
two 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 1543Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachBeatrice de Frangepan
21 January 1509
Gyula
no children

Hedwig of Münsterberg-Oels
9 January 1525
Oleśnica
two children

Emilie of Saxony
25 August 1533
four 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 1603Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachElisabeth of Brandenburg-Küstrin
26 December 1558
Küstrin
no children

Sophie of Brunswick-Lüneburg
3 May 1579
Dresden
no children
1557–1603Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
John George
Johann Georg
11 September 15253 January 1571 – 8 January 15988 January 1598Electorate of BrandenburgSophie of Legnica
15 February 1545
one child

Sabina of Brandenburg-Ansbach
12 February 1548
Ansbach
eleven children

Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst
6 October 1577
Letzlingen
eleven children
Joachim Frederick
Joachim Friedrich
27 January 15468 January 1598 – 18 July 160818 July 1608Electorate of BrandenburgCatherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin
8 January 1570
Küstrin
eleven children

Eleanor of Prussia
2 November 1603
Berlin
one child
Joachim Ernest22 June 15831603–16257 March 1625Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachSophie of Solms-Laubach
1612
Ansbach
three children
Son of Elector John George. Received Ansbach
Christian30 January 15811603–165530 May 1655Margraviate of Brandenburg-BayreuthMaria of Prussia
29 April 1604
Kulmbach
nine 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 Sigismund
Johann Sigismund
8 November 157218 July 1608 – 3 November 161923 December 1619Electorate of BrandenburgAnna of Prussia
30 October 1594
Königsberg
eight children
Duke of Prussia from 1618.
George William I
Georg Wilhelm
13 November 15953 November 1619 – 1 December 16401 December 1640Electorate of BrandenburgElizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
24 July 1616
Heidelberg
four children
His reign was marked by ineffective governance during the Thirty Years' War. Also Duke of Prussia.
Frederick III1 May 16161625–16346 September 1634Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachUnmarriedLeft no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Albert II18 September 16201634–166722 October 1667Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachHenriette Louise of Württemberg-Mömpelgard
31 August 1642
Stuttgart
three children

Sophie Margarete of Oettingen-Oettingen
15 October 1651
Oettingen
five children

Christine of Baden-Durlach
6 August 1665
Durlach
no children
Frederick William I the Great Elector
Friedrich Wilhelm
16 February 16201 December 1640 – 29 April 168829 April 1688Electorate of BrandenburgLouise Henriette of Nassau
7 December 1646
The Hague
six children

Sophia Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
13 July 1668
Gröningen
seven children
Also Duke of Prussia.
Christian Ernest6 August 16441655–171220 May 1712Margraviate of Brandenburg-BayreuthErdmuthe Sophie of Saxony
29 October 1662
Dresden
no children

Sofie Louise of Württemberg
8 February 1671
Stuttgart
six children

Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg
30 March 1703
Potsdam
nine children
Son of Erdmann August, son of Christian I.
John Frederick18 October 16541667–168622 March 1686Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachJohanna Elisabeth of Baden-Durlach
26 January 1673
Durlach
five children

Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach
4 November 1681
Eisenach
three 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-AnsbachUnmarried
Frederick III
Friedrich I
11 July 165729 April 1688 – 25 February 171325 February 1713Electorate of BrandenburgElisabeth Henriette of Hesse-Kassel
13 August 1679
Potsdam
one child

Sophia Charlotte of Hanover
8 October 1684
Herrenhausen
two children

Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
28 November 1708
Berlin
no children
Also Duke of Prussia. In 1701 became the first King in Prussia, as Frederick I.
Electorate and Margraviate of Brandenburg annexed to Prussia
George Frederick II3 May 16781692–170329 March 1703Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachUnmarriedDied without descendants; he was succeeded by his brother.
Philip William19 May 16691692–171119 December 1711Margraviate of Brandenburg-SchwedtJohanna Charlotte of Anhalt-Dessau
25 January 1699
Oranienbaum
six children
Son of Elector Frederick William I. The Margraviate of Schwedt was created for him.
William Frederick8 January 16861703–17237 January 1723Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachChristiane Charlotte of Württemberg-Winnental
28 August 1709
Stuttgart
three children
Frederick William17 November 17001711–17714 March 1771Margraviate of Brandenburg-SchwedtSophia Dorothea of Prussia
10 November 1734
Potsdam
five children
Left no male descendants. The title passed to his brother, Frederick Henry.
George William26 November 16781712–172618 December 1726Margraviate of Brandenburg-BayreuthSophie of Saxe-Weissenfels
16 October 1699
Leipzig
five children
Regency of Christiane Charlotte of Württemberg-Winnental (1723–1729)
Charles William Frederick the Wild Margrave12 May 17121723–17573 August 1757Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachFriederike Luise of Prussia
30 May 1729
Berlin
two children
George Frederick Charles30 June 16881726–173517 May 1735Margraviate of Brandenburg-BayreuthPrincess Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck
17 April 1709
Reinfeld
five children
Frederick10 May 17111735–176326 February 1763Margraviate of Brandenburg-BayreuthWilhelmine of Prussia
17 April 1709
Berlin
one child

Sophie Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
20 September 1759
Brunswick
no children
Left no male descendants; the title passed to Frederick Christian, from a collateral Bayreuth line.
Frederick Christian17 July 17081763–176920 January 1769Margraviate of Brandenburg-BayreuthVictoria Charlotte of Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym
26 April 1732
Schaumburg
two children
Great-grandson of Christian I and cousin of his predecessors. Left no male descendants; Bayreuth was reunited to Ansbach.
Bayreuth definitively annexed to Ansbach
Charles Alexander24 February 17361757–17915 January 1806Margraviate of Brandenburg-AnsbachFrederica Caroline of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
22 November 1754
Coburg
no children

Elizabeth Craven
13/30 October 1791
Lisbon
morganatic
no 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 1788Margraviate of Brandenburg-SchwedtLeopoldine Marie of Anhalt-Dessau
13 February 1739
two children
Left no male descendants. Schwedt went back to the Electorate.
Schwedt definitively annexed to Prussia

Titular Margraves of Brandenburg after 1806

This includes Kings of Prussia with the title of Margrave of Brandenburg (1806–1918) and pretenders to the throne of Prussia (1918–present)

width=22% Margrave !width=105px Portrait !Lifespan width=25% Reign start !width=25% Reign end
Frederick William V
Friedrich Wilhelm III
3 August 1770 – 7 June 18406 August 18067 June 1840
Frederick William VI
Friedrich Wilhelm IV
15 October 1795 – 2 January 18617 June 18402 January 1861
William I
Wilhelm I
22 March 1797 – 9 March 18882 January 18619 March 1888
Frederick VIII
Friedrich III
18 October 1831 – 15 June 18889 March 188815 June 1888
William II
Wilhelm II
27 January 1859 – 4 June 194115 June 1888Prussian monarchy abolished on 28 November 1918
4 June 1941
William III
Wilhelm III
6 May 1882 – 20 July 19514 June 194120 July 1951
Louis Ferdinand
Ludwig Ferdinand I
9 November 1907 – 26 September 199420 July 195126 September 1994
George Frederick III
Georg Friedrich I
10 June 1976 – present26 September 1994Incumbent

Family tree

The colours denote the Margraves and Electors of various partitions of Brandenburg:
– Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg

– Margraves of Brandenburg-Kulmbach

valign=top – Margraves of Brandenburg-Stendal

– Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach

valign=top – Margraves of Brandenburg-Salzwedel

– Margraves of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

valign=top – Margraves of Brandenburg-Küstrin

– Margraves of Brandenburg-Schwedt

See also