The Hohenzollerns come to Brandenburg

Burgrave Frederick VI of Nuremberg becomes Elector of Brandenburg

The landed nobility of Brandenburg took advantage of the power vacuum resulting from the extinction of the dynasty ruling the Margraviate of Brandenburg at the beginning of the 14th century. Competing with each other to exercise appropriated margravial rights such as the collection of customs revenues, the barons entered into intense and often violent conflict, which ended with the breakdown of all law and order. This harmed the economy and depressed living standards. Seeking to remedy this situation, a deputation of predominantly town burghers appealed to the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to intervene.

Sigismund recognized an opportunity to solve a problem whilst rewarding a loyal supporter and appointed Burgrave Frederick VI of Nuremberg to rule the territory. Forging an alliance with the urban populace of Brandenburg and neighbouring princes, Frederick took determined action against his unruly subjects and conquered a number of castles during the course of what became known as the “robber barons’ war”. Having thus proven himself to Sigismund, the Emperor granted Frederick the hereditary title of Margrave and Elector of Brandenburg at the Council of Constance on 30 April 1415. The Hohenzollern family remained at the helm of what later evolved into Brandenburg–Prussia and then just Prussia until 1918. The restoration of law and order in Brandenburg laid the foundations for the eventual rise to leadership in Germany of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns.