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| John Sigismund | |
|---|---|
 Portrait (unknown artist, c. 1610) | |
| Elector of Brandenburg | |
| Reign | 18 July 1608 – 23 December 1619 |
| Predecessor | Joachim Frederick |
| Successor | George William |
| Duke of Prussia | |
| Reign | 28 August 1618 – 23 December 1619 |
| Predecessor | Albert Frederick |
| Successor | George William |
| Duke of Cleves Count of Mark Count of Ravensburg | |
| Reign | 11 November 1614 – 23 December 1619 |
| Predecessor | John William |
| Successor | Incorporated into Brandenburg |
| Born | (1572-11-08)8 November 1572 Halle,Archbishopric of Magdeburg,Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 23 December 1619(1619-12-23) (aged 47) Berlin,Electorate of Brandenburg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Burial | |
| Spouse | |
| Issue more... | |
| House | Hohenzollern |
| Father | Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg |
| Mother | Catherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin |
| Religion | Lutheran (until 1613) Calvinist (from 1613) |
| Signature |  |
John Sigismund (German:Johann Sigismund; 8 November 1572 – 23 December 1619) was aPrince-elector of theMargraviate of Brandenburg from theHouse of Hohenzollern. He became theDuke of Prussia through his marriage toDuchess Anna, the eldest daughter ofDuke Albert Frederick of Prussia who died without sons. Their marriage resulted in the potential creation ofBrandenburg-Prussia, which became a reality after Poland's leader appointed John Sigismund in charge of Prussia in regency and, shortly thereafter, Albert Frederick died without an able, direct male heir.
John Sigismund was born inHalle an der Saale toJoachim III Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg, and his first wifeCatherine of Brandenburg-Küstrin. He succeeded his father asMargrave of Brandenburg in 1608. In 1611, John Sigismund traveled fromKönigsberg toWarsaw, where on 16 November 1611 he gavefeudal homage toSigismund III Vasa,King of Poland (the Duchy of Prussia was a Polish fief at the time). He officially became Duke of Prussia in 1618, although he had served as regent on behalf of the mentally-disturbedAlbert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, for several years prior. He suffered a stroke in 1616 from which he didn't recover and died in 1619.
John Sigismund gave the ReichshofCastrop to his teacher and educator Carl Friedrich von Bordelius. Through his wife, he became a major claimant in theWar of the Julich Succession. He received the territories ofCleves,Mark, andRavensberg in theTreaty of Xanten in 1614.
John Sigismund's most significant action was his conversion fromLutheranism toCalvinism, after he had earlier equalized the rights of Catholics and Protestants in the Duchy of Prussia under pressure from the King of Poland. He probably became Calvinist during a visit toHeidelberg in 1606, but it was not until 25 December 1613 that he publicly tookcommunion according to the Calvinist rite. The vast majority of his subjects in Brandenburg, including his wifeAnna of Prussia, remained deeply Lutheran, however. After the Elector and his Calvinist court officials drew up plans for mass conversion of the population to the new faith in February 1614, as provided for by the rule ofCuius regio, eius religio within theHoly Roman Empire, there were serious protests, with his wife backing the Lutherans. Resistance was so strong that in 1615, John Sigismund backed down and relinquished all attempts at forcible conversion. Instead, he allowed his subjects to be either Lutheran or Calvinist according to the dictates of their own consciences. Henceforward, Brandenburg-Prussia would be a bi-confessional state.[1]
On 30 October 1594, John Sigismund marriedAnna of Prussia, daughter ofAlbert Frederick, Duke of Prussia (1553–1618). She was the elder sister of his stepmother. They were parents to eight children:
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John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg Born: 8 November 1572 Died: 23 December 1619 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Elector of Brandenburg 1608–1619 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Duke of Prussia 1618–1619 | |
| Vacant Title last held by John William | Duke of Cleves, Count of Mark, Count of Ravensburg 1614–1619 | Incorporated into Brandenburg |
| Duchy of Prussia (1525–1701) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of Prussia (1701–1918) | ||
1alsoElector of Brandenburg;2alsoGerman Emperor | ||
