John George, Elector of Brandenburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John George |
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John George, Elector of Brandenburg (Oil on canvas by Lucas Cranach the Younger, 1564)
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| Elector of Brandenburg | |
| Reign | 3 January 1571 – 8 January 1598 |
| Predecessor | Joachim II Hector |
| Successor | Joachim Frederick |
| Born | 11 September 1525 Cölln, Margraviate of Brandenburg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 8 January 1598 (aged 72) Cölln, Margraviate of Brandenburg, Holy Roman Empire |
| Burial | Berlin Cathedral |
| Spouse |
Sophie of Legnica
(m. 1545; died 1546)Sabina of Brandenburg-Ansbach
(m. 1548; died 1575)Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst
(m. 1577) |
| Issue among others… |
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| House | Hohenzollern |
| Father | Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg |
| Mother | Magdalena of Saxony |
| Religion | Lutheran |
John George of Brandenburg (born September 11, 1525 – died January 8, 1598) was an important ruler called a prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. He ruled from 1571 to 1598.
Early Life
John George was born into the House of Hohenzollern, a powerful family. His father was Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg, and his mother was Princess Magdalena of Saxony.
His Time as Elector
When John George became Elector, Brandenburg had a lot of debt. To help fix this, he introduced a special tax on grain. This tax made things harder for many farmers.
Even though John George was a strong Lutheran and didn't agree with Calvinism, he allowed people who followed Calvinism to find safety in Brandenburg. These people were escaping wars in places like the Spanish Netherlands and France.
In 1574, he started the Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster. This was the first school in Berlin that focused on a broad education, like history and languages.
After he passed away, his son Joachim Frederick took over as Elector.
Brandenburg and Prussia
In 1568, a relative named Albert I, Duke of Prussia died. His young son, Albert Frederick, inherited the Duchy of Prussia. John George's father had a claim to this land too. Later, in 1577, the Electors of Brandenburg became co-rulers with Duke Albert Frederick in Prussia. This meant they shared power in the Duchy.
Family and Children
John George was married three times during his life.
His first wife was Princess Sophie of Legnica. They married in 1545 and had one child:
- Joachim Frederick (born 1546 – died 1608)
His second wife was Margravine Sabina of Brandenburg-Ansbach. They married in 1548 and had many children together, including:
- Erdmuthe (born 1561 – died 1623)
- Anna Maria (born 1567 – died 1618)
- Sophie (born 1568 – died 1622)
His third wife was Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst. They married in 1577 and also had many children, such as:
- Christian (born 1581 – died 1655)
- Magdalena (born 1582 – died 1616)
- Joachim Ernest (born 1583 – died 1625)
- Agnes (born 1584 – died 1629)
- Elisabeth Sophia (born 1589 – died 1629)
- George Albert (born 1591 – died 1615)
