Electorate of Brandenburg

The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire, existing from 1157 to 1806. Initially an underdeveloped territory, it held electoral status within the Empire, allowing its ruling margraves to vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor. The state became known as Electoral Brandenburg or the Electorate of Brandenburg. The House of Hohenzollern came to the throne in 1415, and in 1417, the capital moved to Berlin. Brandenburg grew rapidly in importance after inheriting the Duchy of Prussia in 1618, becoming the core of the Prussian kingdom and playing a pivotal role in German and Central European history. The Margraviate ended with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.