Biography George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 territories , influence
1.3 conversion
1.4 reformation in franconia
1.5 influence beyond territories

biography
early life

he born in ansbach, third of 8 sons of margrave frederick elder , wife sophia of poland, daughter of casimir iv of poland , elisabeth of habsburg. through mother, related royal court in buda. entered service of uncle, king vladislaus ii of bohemia , hungary, living @ court 1506. king received him adopted son, entrusted him in 1515 duchy of oppeln, , in 1516 made him member of tutelary government instituted hungary, , tutor of son louis ii of hungary , bohemia. in 1521 made arrangement petar keglević , pulled hungary , croatia; arrangement, accepted louis ii in 1526, not accepted holy roman emperor ferdinand until 1559.

territories , influence

at court of hungary there 2 parties arrayed against each other: magyar party under leadership of zápolyas , german party under leadership of george of brandenburg, authority increased acquisition of duchies of ratibor , oppeln hereditary treaties respective dukes , of territories of oderberg, beuthen, , tarnowitz pledges king of bohemia, not redeem debts.

by further appropriation of duchy of jägerndorf, george came possession of upper silesia. owner , mortgagee of these territories prepared way introduction of protestant reformation, here in native franconia. earlier other german prince or other member of hohenzollern line including younger brother albert, grand master of teutonic order, turned eyes , heart new faith proceeding wittenberg.

conversion

the first reformatory writings began work of winning him on evangelical cause. martin luther s powerful testimony of faith @ diet of worms in 1521 made indelible impression upon mind, , vigorous sermons of evangelical preachers in pulpits of st. lawrence , st. sebald in nuremberg, during diet there in 1522, deepened impression. study of luther s translation of new testament, appeared in 1522, established faith on personal conviction. moreover, entered correspondence luther, discussing him important problems of faith, , in 1524 met him during negotiations concerning brother albert s secularization of teutonic order s state of prussia secular duchy of prussia.

after accession of king louis ii, george aided in reforming efforts queen maria, sister of charles v , ferdinand i, favorably inclined toward new doctrine. adviser of young king, george firmly advocated cause of new gospel against influences , intrigues of clerical opponents , prevented violent measures. relationship duke frederick ii of liegnitz, brieg, , wohlau, , duke charles of münsterberg-oels, had both admitted reformation territories, contributed not little expansion of gospel in own lands. own personal influence, energy, , practical spirit introduced new doctrine , founded new evangelical , churchly life. made efforts secure preachers of new gospel hungary, silesia, , franconia, , tried introduce church order of brandenburg-nuremberg, had found acceptance in franconian territories.

reformation in franconia

in hereditary lands brandenburg-ansbach in franconia, older brother casimir of brandenburg-kulmbach had assumed regency in place of father, encountered greater difficulties, although popular spirit inclined toward reformation. owing marriage bavarian princess , military command in imperial service, brother allied more closely old church , resisted new reforming efforts. pressure of estates of land compelled him allow preaching according luther s doctrine, although ensured retention of old church ceremonies, of contrary new faith.

george protested against such half-measures , showed dissatisfaction half-hearted resolutions of state assembly of october 1526. after death of brother sole ruler undertake , carry out reformation in franconian territories, assistance of councillors such johann von schwarzenberg , through new resolutions of state assembly of brandenburg-ansbach (1528). @ same time george maintained correspondence luther , philipp melanchthon, discussing such questions evangelization of monasteries, use of monastic property evangelical purposes, , foundation of lower schools people , of higher schools education of talented young men service of church , state. tried gain, continued correspondence luther , other reformers such urbanus rhegius, efficient men preaching of gospel , organization of evangelical church. hand in hand council of nuremberg worked institution of church visitation on model of of electorate of saxony, after repeated revisions , emendations excellent church order of brandenburg-nuremberg of 1533 developed. after introduction in nuremberg , territories in franconia, introduced in dominions in upper silesia.

influence beyond territories

george s influence manifested in development of german reformation whole. when union of evangelicals in upper , lower germany contemplated means of improved defense against retaliatory measures of roman catholic church, george had meeting elector john of saxony @ schleitz in 1529, agreed on articles of faith , confession drawn luther; commission executed in seventeen articles of schwabach on basis of fifteen theses of marburg colloquy.

but neither @ convention of schwabach nor @ of schmalkalden did george approve armed resistance against emperor , party, in self-defense. opposed emperor energetically @ diet of augsburg in 1530, when emperor demanded prohibition of evangelical preaching. king ferdinand made george alluring offers of silesian possessions if support emperor, rejected them. next elector of saxony, stands foremost among princes defended reformed faith. after death of cousin, joachim i, strict romanist, assisted sons in introduction of reformation in territories of electorate of brandenburg. took part in religious colloquy of regensburg in 1541 elector joachim ii made last attempt bridge differences between romanists , evangelicals , nephew requested luther s cooperation. diet of regensburg last religious meeting attended.

he 1 of figures on prussian homage painting jan matejko.