John, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John "the Alchemist" |
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|---|---|
| Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach | |
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| Spouse(s) | Barbara of Saxe-Wittenberg |
| Issue | |
| Rudolf of Brandenburg Barbara Gonzaga, Marchioness of Mantua Elisabeth, Duchess of Pomerania Dorothea, Queen of Denmark |
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| Noble family | House of Hohenzollern |
| Father | Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Bavaria-Landshut |
| Born | 1406 |
| Died | 16 November 1464 (aged 57–58) Baiersdorf |
John, also known as John the Alchemist, lived from 1406 to 1464. He was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. He also ruled Brandenburg for a time. His father, Frederick I, was the first ruler from the House of Hohenzollern in Brandenburg. John took over from his father when he stepped down.
Contents
John's Early Life
John was the oldest son of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg. His mother was Elisabeth of Bavaria-Landshut.
He married Barbara of Saxe-Wittenberg. She was the daughter of Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg. John hoped to become the ruler of Saxe-Wittenberg one day. This would happen if the family line of its dukes ended.
When the dukes' family line did end in 1422, things changed. The Emperor, Sigismund, was not friendly with John's family. So, John only received money instead of the land he hoped for.
Ruling Brandenburg
John started helping with government matters in Brandenburg in 1424. His father, Frederick I, was tired of fighting with the nobles. So, Frederick I decided to retire in 1425. He gave the job of ruling Brandenburg to John. This happened at a meeting called a Landtag in Rathenow. Frederick I still kept his important title as an elector.
However, John was not very good at governing. People in Brandenburg did not like his rule. His leadership was not strong, and there was unrest in the countryside.
The Alchemist's Hobby
Instead of focusing on ruling, John was more interested in alchemy. He tried to create gold artificially. This hobby earned him the nickname "the Alchemist." In 1433, a special book about alchemy was made for him. It was a new version of the Buch der heiligen Dreifaltigkeit.
His father, Frederick I, saw that Brandenburg was in trouble. So, in 1437, he gave John lands in Franconia. These lands were in Brandenburg-Kulmbach. This area had many mines, which provided materials for John's alchemy hobby. The job of ruling Brandenburg then went to John's younger brother, Frederick II.
Later Years and Legacy
After his father died in 1440, John inherited all of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. This included the castle of Plassenburg in Kulmbach. Later in his life, he let Christopher of Bavaria manage his lands in the Upper Palatinate. Christopher managed them until he died in 1448.
John ruled as Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach until 1457. He then gave up his rule. This allowed him to spend all his time studying alchemy. He also explored the areas around Franconia. John died in 1464 at Castle Scharfeneck, near Baiersdorf.
John's Family
John of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Barbara of Saxe-Wittenberg had four children:
- Rudolf of Brandenburg (born and died in 1424)
- Barbara of Brandenburg (1423 – 1481). She married Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua in 1433.
- Elisabeth of Brandenburg (1425 – after 1465). She married Joachim, Duke of Pomerania in 1440. She later married Wartislaw X, Duke of Pomerania in 1454.
- Dorothea of Brandenburg (1431 – 1495). She married King Christopher III of Denmark in 1445. She later married King Christian I of Denmark in 1449.
