Home Region:  Central Europe (Europe)

Electorate of Brandenburg

1415 CE 1618 CE
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OTHER  de_hohenzollern_1 / de_brandenburg_1
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1618 CE 1870 CE Brandenburg-Prussia (de_hohenzollern_2)    [territorial consolidation]

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  General Description  
The era from 1415 to 1618 in Brandenburg was marked by the gradual emergence of a centralized state, the strategic territorial expansion, and the foundational development of what would become one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties. The Hohenzollerns’ political strategies, combined with significant cultural and religious shifts, transformed Brandenburg from a marginal margraviate into a significant power, which would play a central role in the subsequent centuries of European history. [1]


The Hohenzollern era in Brandenburg began with Frederick I’s elevation to Elector of Brandenburg in 1415, granted by Emperor Sigismund as a reward for his support against the Hussites, changing the Margraviate of Brandenburg to the Electorate of Brandenburg. [1]

One of the pivotal figures of this era was Frederick II Elector of Brandenburg, who reigned from 1440 to 1470. Known as "Frederick the Iron," he centralized authority, reduced the power of the local nobility, and established a more cohesive state. His efforts laid the groundwork for the transformation of Brandenburg into a more centralized territorial state. [2]


Under Elector Joachim II (1535-1571), Brandenburg officially adopted Lutheranism, aligning itself with the Protestant states within the Empire. This religious shift not only reflected the broader European religious transformations but also served as a political tool to assert greater independence from imperial Catholic influences and to consolidate internal governance. [3]




John Sigismund’s accession in 1608 marked the beginning of Brandenburg’s expansion into the Duchy of Prussia. His acceptance of the Prussian dukedom in 1618 through inheritance established the personal union between Brandenburg and Prussia. [4]

[1]: Hansjoachim Wolfgang Koch, A History of Prussia (New York: Barnes & Noble, 1978). Zotero link: FS2NYAJR

[2]: Deutsche Biographie, “Friedrich II. - Deutsche Biographie,” Zotero link: 9GPFMNB8

[3]: Mathis Leibetseder, Joachim II. von Brandenburg: Kurfürst Zwischen Renaissance Und Reformation, Veröffentlichungen aus den Archiven Preussischer Kulturbesitz. Forschungen Band 15 (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2022). Zotero link: ZI9KVPJI

[4]: Heinz Immekeppel, Das Herzogtum Preussen von 1603 Bis 1618, Studien zur Geschichte Preussens Bd. 24 (Köln: G. Grote, 1975). Zotero link: XUFQZXAA

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions
Instability Events
General Variables
Identity and Location Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 33 U 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Original Name Electorate of Brandenburg 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Capital Berlin 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Alternative Name Margraviate of Brandenburg 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Alternative Name Markgrafschaft Brandenburg 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Temporal Bounds Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Political and Cultural Relations Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 1415 CE 1453 CE
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Succeeding Entity Brandenburg-Prussia 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Succeeding Entity
1618 CE 1870 CE
Brandenburg-Prussia (de_hohenzollern_2)   [territorial consolidation]  Suspected
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Degree of Centralization 1415 CE 1539 CE
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Degree of Centralization confederated state 1539 CE 1618 CE
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Language Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Language German 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Religion Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Religion Genus Christianity 1415 CE  1618 CE
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Religion Family Catholicism 1415 CE 1539 CE
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Religion Family 1539 CE 1618 CE
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Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Hierarchical Complexity Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professions Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Bureaucracy Characteristics Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Law Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Transport Infrastructure Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Money Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Military use of Metals Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Projectiles Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Handheld weapons Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Animals used in warfare Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Armor Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Naval technology Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Human Sacrifice Electorate of Brandenburg (de_hohenzollern_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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