Margraviate 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 Margraviate of Brandenburg
At its mapped extent, Margraviate 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 Margraviate 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.
Margraviate 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).
Margraviate 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).
Margraviate of Brandenburg Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Margraviate of Brandenburg appears, with the other states of the time.
Margraviate of Brandenburg Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 80,542 km² in 1348 CE.
Margraviate of Brandenburg: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Margraviate of Brandenburg exist?
Margraviate of Brandenburg is dated to 1260 CE – 1414 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Margraviate of Brandenburg?
The capital of Margraviate of Brandenburg was Brandenburg an der Havel (1157–1417), Berlin (1417–1806).
How large was Margraviate of Brandenburg at its peak?
At its peak in 1348 AD Margraviate of Brandenburg covered about 80,542 km².
How did the map of Margraviate of Brandenburg change over time?
Margraviate of Brandenburg appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1300 CE to 1400 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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