Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albert Frederick |
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| Duke of Prussia | |
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| Duke of Prussia | |
| Reign | 20 March 1568 – 28 August 1618 |
| Predecessor | Albert |
| Successor | John Sigismund |
| Born | 7 May 1553 Königsberg, Duchy of Prussia |
| Died | 28 August 1618 (aged 65) Fischhausen |
| Spouse | Marie Eleonore of Cleves |
| Issue | Anna, Duchess of Prussia Marie, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Prince Albert Frederick Sophie, Duchess of Courland Eleonore, Electress of Brandenburg Prince Wilhelm Frederick Magdalene Sibylle, Electress of Saxony |
| House | Hohenzollern |
| Father | Albert of Prussia |
| Mother | Anna Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
Albert Frederick (born May 7, 1553 – died August 28, 1618) was the Duke of Prussia. He ruled from 1568 until he passed away. He was the son of Albert of Prussia and Anna Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Albert Frederick was the second and last duke from the Ansbach branch of the famous Hohenzollern family in Prussia.
Becoming Duke of Prussia
Albert Frederick became the Duke of Prussia in 1568. To do this, he had to show loyalty to his cousin, King Zygmunt August of Poland. This act of loyalty was called "feudal homage." It happened on July 19, 1569, in a city called Lublin. A Polish writer named Jan Kochanowski wrote about this important event.
In 1573, Albert Frederick tried to join the Polish senate. This was a powerful group that helped make laws. However, a very strong leader named Jan Zamoyski did not want him to join. Zamoyski was worried about the influence of Protestants in the Polish government.
Albert Frederick first did not agree with the choice of Stefan Bathory as the new Polish king. He supported another person, Maximilian of Habsburg. But later, in October 1576, Albert Frederick decided to support the new king, Stefan Bathory.
Because Albert Frederick was a great-grandson of the Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon, he was considered a possible candidate for the Polish throne. He could speak Polish very well. Many Polish Lutherans especially wanted him to become king.
Health and Regents
In 1572, Albert Frederick started showing signs of a mental illness. Because of this, he could not rule on his own. In early 1578, his cousin, George Frederick of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, took over as regent. A regent is someone who rules for a king or duke when they cannot.
After George Frederick died in 1603, the Polish king Sigismund III Vasa chose a new regent. This was Joachim Frederick, who became regent in 1605. In 1611, the king allowed Joachim Frederick's son, John Sigismund, to take over as regent. John Sigismund later became the Duke of Prussia after Albert Frederick died in 1618.
Family Life
Albert Frederick married Marie Eleonore of Cleves in 1573. Marie Eleonore was the daughter of Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg and Archduchess Maria of Austria. Her mother, Maria, was the daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
Albert Frederick and Marie Eleonore had seven children together:
- Anna of Prussia (born 1576 – died 1625). She married John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg.
- Marie of Prussia (born 1579 – died 1649). She married Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth.
- Albert Frederick of Prussia (born 1580 – died 1580).
- Sophie of Prussia (born 1582 – died 1610). She married Wilhelm Kettler of Courland.
- Eleanor of Prussia (born 1583 – died 1607). She married Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg.
- Wilhelm Frederick of Prussia (born 1585 – died 1586).
- Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia (born 1586 – died 1659). She married John George I, Elector of Saxony.
When Albert Frederick died, his son-in-law, John Sigismund, Margrave of Brandenburg, became the new Duke. This joined the lands of Brandenburg and Prussia under one ruling family. This new combined territory became known as Brandenburg-Prussia.
See also
In Spanish: Alberto Federico de Prusia para niños
