BRANDENBURG

prov. of republic of Pru ia, Germany (52° 30’ N., 13° 45” E.); sandy plain (‘sandbox of the Holy Roman Empire’), with fertile. districts; fruit, flax, barley, rye, hemp, tobacco; iron, chalk, alum; eap. Berlin. History.— Ger. margraviate and electorate, nucleus of later kingdom of Pru ia. Brennibor (later Brandenburg) was captured by Henry I. of Germany (923); mark of E. Saxony divided, northern pertion becoming later margraviate of Brandenburg (965); Albert the Bear was made margrave of N. mark (1134), and on death of Duke of Brandenburg (1140) took title of Margrave of Brandenburg; a colonizer and civilizer; territory extended under the three Ottos 1130-67); ruled by imperial house of it tels bach directly or indirectly, 1323 onwards; Louis IV. granted margraviate to his son Louis (1323), who after a reign of anarchy enfeoffed his step-brothers, of whom Louis was recognized as one of seven electors by Golden Bull (1356). They bequeathed the remainder of the margraviate to Wenceslaus, son of Charles IV., who (1373-78) ruled in his name, restoring law and order, and causing Domesday survey to be made; Wenceslaus (1410) granted electoral vote to Frederick VI. of Hohenzollern, who was made governor (1411), and in 1415 purchased the electorate, margraviate, and office of chamberlain, ever since held by members of his house. Frederick I. 1415-40) put down nobles; Frederick I. (1440-71), called ‘Iron,’ reduced rebellious towns and purchased new mark of Brandenburg; Albert Achilles (1471-86) extended territory, and entailed (1472) margraviate and electorate; Joachim I. (1499-1535) restored law and order and encouraged trade; Joachim II. lished national Church, obtained (1569) half duchy of Pru ia and remainder of other haif; John George (1571-98), caremund (1608-19) started claim to Cleves, Jiilich, and Berg, and became ° Gera. Duke of Pru ia; George William (1619— 40) brought disaster on Brandenburg through slothful policy in Thirty Years’ War; lrederick William, the ‘Great Elector,’ put down nobles, created a wonderful army, started a navy, expelled Swedes, extended territory, and became leader of Reformation; Frederick III. continued his father’s policy, and in 1701 was crowned King of Pru ia. For subsequent history, see Pru ia.