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Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach/Principality of Ansbach Markgrafschaft Brandenburg-Ansbach/Fürstentum Ansbach (German) | |||||||||
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| 1398–1791 | |||||||||
 The Principality of Brandenburg-Ansbach as of 1791, superimposed over modern borders. | |||||||||
| Status | Principality | ||||||||
| Capital | Ansbach | ||||||||
| Common languages | East Franconian | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||
| Historical era | Early modern period | ||||||||
1219 | |||||||||
• Partition of burgraviate | 21 January 1398 | ||||||||
1415–40 | |||||||||
• Reunion with Bayreuth | 11 June 1420 | ||||||||
• Repartition | 21 September 1440 | ||||||||
• Restoration of personal union | 1470–86 | ||||||||
• Margraviate sold toPrussia | 2 December 1791 | ||||||||
• Formal annexation | 28 January 1792 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Germany | ||||||||
ThePrincipality orMargraviate of (Brandenburg) Ansbach (German:Fürstentum Ansbach orMarkgrafschaft Brandenburg-Ansbach) was afree imperialprincipality in theHoly Roman Empire centered on theFranconian city ofAnsbach. The rulingHohenzollern princes of the land were known asmargraves, as their ancestors were margraves (so the principality was a margraviate but not amarch).
The principality was established following the death ofFrederick V, Burgrave of Nuremberg, on 21 January 1398. By agreement, his lands were partitioned between his two sons, a process that took more than two years. The younger son,Frederick VI, received Ansbach and the elder,John III, receivedBayreuth. After John III's death on 11 June 1420, the two principalities were reunited under Frederick VI, who had becomeElector Frederick I ofBrandenburg in 1415.
On 21 September 1440, almost three years after Frederick's death his territories were divided between his sons;John received theprincipality of Bayreuth (Brandenburg-Kulmbach),Frederick received Brandenburg, andAlbert received Ansbach. Thereafter Ansbach was held bycadet branches of theHouse of Hohenzollern, and its rulers were commonly called Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
On 2 December 1791, the reigning Prince and Margrave of Ansbach,Charles Alexander, who had also succeeded to Bayreuth, sold the sovereignty of his principalities to KingFrederick William II of Prussia. The Margrave was middle-aged and childless, and Frederick William was his kinsman as the head of the House of Hohenzollern. The Margrave moved to England with his English second wife. Ansbach was formally annexed on 28 January 1792.
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Circles est. 1500:Bavarian,Swabian,Upper Rhenish,Lower Rhenish–Westphalian,Franconian,(Lower) Saxon Circles est. 1512:Austrian,Burgundian,Upper Saxon,Electoral Rhenish · Unencircled territories | ||
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