Electorate of Brandenburg: Map & History
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806.
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The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Though initially an underdeveloped and economically modest territory, Brandenburg held electoral status within the Empire. Facing land division with Küstrin as recent as middle in the 16th century, it then quickly reunited and grew rapidly in importance after inheriting the Duchy of Prussia in 1618. Brandenburg came to play a pivotal role in both German and European history as the core of the Prussian kingdom.
Modern Countries Once Part of Electorate of Brandenburg
At its mapped extent, Electorate of Brandenburg covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Electorate of Brandenburg's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Electorate of Brandenburg in Depth
History
By the eighth century, Slavic Wends, such as the Sprewane and Hevelli (Havolane or Stodorans), started to move into the Brandenburg area. They intermarried with Saxons and Bohemians.
The Bishoprics of Brandenburg and Havelberg were established at the beginning of the tenth century (in 928 and 948, respectively). They were suffragan to the Archbishopric of Mainz; the Bishopric of Brandenburg reached to the Baltic Sea.
King Henry the Fowler started governing in the region in 928–929, allowing Emperor Otto I to establish the Northern March under Margrave Gero in 936 during the German Ostsiedlung.
Geography
The territory of the former margraviate, commonly known as the Mark Brandenburg, lies in present-day eastern Germany and western Poland. Geographically it encompassed the majority of the present-day German states of Brandenburg and Berlin, the Altmark (the northern third of Saxony-Anhalt), and the Neumark (now divided between Poland's Lubusz and West Pomeranian Voivodeships). Parts of the present-day federal state Brandenburg, such as Lower Lusatia and territory which had been Saxon until 1815, were not parts of the Mark. Colloquially but not accurately, the federal state Brandenburg is sometimes identified as the Mark or Mark Brandenburg.
The region was formed during the ice age, and characterized by moraines, glacial valleys, and numerous lakes.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Margraviate of Brandenburg (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Electorate of Brandenburg: Key Facts
| Capitals | Brandenburg an der Havel, Berlin |
|---|---|
| Official language | Low German |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 11 June 1157 |
| Dissolved | 1806 |
Succeeded by
- Province of Brandenburg
Facts from Wikidata Q148499 (CC0).
Electorate of Brandenburg Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Electorate of Brandenburg appears, with the other states of the time.
Electorate of Brandenburg Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 44,307 km² in 1583 CE.
Electorate of Brandenburg: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Electorate of Brandenburg exist?
Electorate of Brandenburg is dated to 1422 CE – 1618 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Electorate of Brandenburg?
The capital of Electorate of Brandenburg was Brandenburg an der Havel (1157–1417), Berlin (1417–1806).
How large was Electorate of Brandenburg at its peak?
At its peak in 1583 Electorate of Brandenburg covered about 44,307 km².
How did the map of Electorate of Brandenburg change over time?
Electorate of Brandenburg appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1500 CE to 1600 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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