Electorate of Brandenburg
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| Electorate of Brandenburg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conventional long name | Electorate of Brandenburg |
| Native name | Kurfürstentum Brandenburg |
| Common name | Brandenburg |
| Status | Electorate |
| Empire | Holy Roman Empire |
| Year start | 1356 |
| Year end | 1806 |
| Event start | Golden Bull of 1356 |
| Event end | Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire |
| P1 | Margraviate of Brandenburg |
| S1 | Kingdom of Prussia |
| Flag type | Flag (c. 1660–1750) |
| Symbol type | Coat of arms |
| Capital | Brandenburg an der Havel (to 1417), Berlin (from 1417) |
| Common languages | Low German, East Central German |
| Religion | Roman Catholic (until 1539), Lutheran (1539–1613), Calvinist (Electors, 1613–1806), Lutheran (majority population) |
| Government type | Feudal monarchy |
| Title leader | Elector |
| Leader1 | Louis II (first) |
| Year leader1 | 1356–1365 |
| Leader2 | Frederick William |
| Year leader2 | 1640–1688 |
| Leader3 | Frederick III |
| Year leader3 | 1688–1713 |
| Leader4 | Frederick William III (last) |
| Year leader4 | 1797–1806 |
| Demonym | Brandenburger |
| Today | Germany, Poland |
Electorate of Brandenburg. The Electorate of Brandenburg was a major principality within the Holy Roman Empire, elevated to electoral status by the Golden Bull of 1356. Ruled by the House of Hohenzollern from 1415, its capital moved to Berlin under Frederick I, becoming the core territory from which the Kingdom of Prussia emerged. The electorate played a pivotal role in European history, especially under the "Great Elector" Frederick William, who centralized power and laid the foundations for a formidable military state.
History
The territory originated from the Northern March and the later Margraviate of Brandenburg, founded by Albert the Bear. Its electoral dignity was formally confirmed by Emperor Charles IV in the Golden Bull of 1356. In 1415, Emperor Sigismund granted Brandenburg to Frederick of Hohenzollern, beginning the dynasty's long rule. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 awarded it Farther Pomerania and secularized bishoprics like Magdeburg. The reign of Frederick William saw recovery from the Thirty Years' War and victory at the Battle of Fehrbellin. In 1701, Elector Frederick III crowned himself King in Prussia in Königsberg, initiating a personal union; the electorate was formally dissolved upon the Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, its lands fully integrated into the Kingdom of Prussia.
Government and administration
The elector held supreme authority, advised by a privy council, the Geheimer Rat. The Estates of Brandenburg, dominated by the Junker nobility, saw their power curtailed after the Thirty Years' War by the centralizing policies of Frederick William. Key administrative reforms included the creation of the War Commissariat, which evolved into a general state administration. The 1704 Edikt von Potsdam established a centralized cabinet government. Territories like the Duchy of Cleves and County of Mark were administered separately through the Klevish Chamber in Cleves.
Military
Brandenburg's military, initially reliant on noble levies, was transformed into a standing professional force by Frederick William after 1640. The core was the Brandenburg-Prussian Army, which proved its mettle during the Second Northern War at Warsaw and the Scanian War. The Brandenburg Navy, briefly established for colonial ventures, supported African outposts like Fort Groß Friedrichsburg. The army's organization and doctrine, heavily influenced by Gustavus Adolphus, became the model for the later Prussian Army, with key leadership from figures like Georg von Derfflinger.
Religion
The electorate officially adopted Lutheranism in 1539 under Joachim II Hector. In 1613, John Sigismund converted to Calvinism, creating a situation where the court was Reformed but the populace remained largely Lutheran, governed by the 1662 Recess of Gera. The 1685 Edict of Potsdam invited exiled Huguenots from France, significantly boosting the economy and culture. While Roman Catholic communities persisted, especially in newly acquired regions, the Jews of Berlin received limited protections under the 1671 Edict concerning Jewish settlement.
Economy and society
The economy was primarily agrarian, dominated by the Junker nobility's manorial estates east of the Elbe. The Thirty Years' War caused severe depopulation, countered by state-sponsored colonization attracting Dutch, Salzburg Protestants, and Huguenots. Frederick William promoted mercantilist policies, improving infrastructure like the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal linking the Oder and Spree rivers. Major exports included wool, grain, and linens from cities like Berlin and Brandenburg an der Havel. The African Company briefly engaged in the transatlantic slave trade from possessions like Arguin.
Culture and legacy
The court in Berlin became a significant cultural center, particularly under Queen Sophie Charlotte at Charlottenburg Palace. The 1696 founding of the Academy of Arts and the 1700 founding of the Prussian Academy of Sciences by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz marked intellectual advancement. Architectural projects like the Berlin Cathedral and the Zeughaus reshaped the capital. The electorate's legal and administrative frameworks, its militaristic ethos, and the rise of the Prussian Army directly paved the way for the expansion of the Kingdom of Prussia and its profound impact on German unification and modern European history.
Category:Former states and territories of Germany Category:History of Brandenburg Category:Electorates of the Holy Roman Empire