Brandenburg, Province

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

THE MARQVISHIP and Electorship of BRANDENBVRG. (Book Brandenburg) THe Marquiship of Brandenburg, which is represented in this Table, was heretofore inhabited by the Vardals, who spread themselves from the River Albis Eastward, through the Countries of Mechelburg, Brandenburg, Pomerania, Bohemia, and Polonia. It was so called from the Metropolis, which at first was called Brenneburg: as George Sabine saith:

Italiam quando digressus ab urbe petebam,

A Duce quae Brenno condita nomen habet. Going to Italie, that Cittie I did leave

Which from Duke Brennus doth her name receive.

Charles the Great did beseige them a long time, and Henry Auceps overthrew them neere Brenna, and put a Garrison in the Cittie, with a Colonie of Saxons. This Marquiship is 60 Germaine miles long. On the West it is boundered with Saxonie, Misnia, and the Megalope•sians Country; on the North it hath the Stetinians, Pomeranians, and Cassubians; and on the East it hath Polonia, and Silesia: and on the South Bohemia, Lusatia, and Moravia. The Countrie is very fruitefull, especially for corne: it hath also Vineyards, out of which they make great store of wine. Moreover this Country doth produce Corall, and many pretious stones. Moreover the Marquesse of Brandenburg is one of the Electors of the Empire, and is counted one of the richest, and most potent Princes of Germanie. Who besides his Marquiship, hath also many Citties, in the Countie of Lusatia and in Silesia. There was a divers and various succession of Princes, for the line of the Marquesses being extinct, Ludovicke Bavarus in the yeare 1119, gave this Principalitie to his sonne Ludovicke: the Bavarians in the yeare 1363, solde it to the Emperour Charles King of Bohemia: and so from Iohn the sonne of Charles, the Marquiship passed to the Princes of Moravia, Iudocus, and Procopius: Iudocus being much endebted did morgage it to William Marquesse of Misnia: at length in the yeare 1417, in the Councell at Constantia, King Sigismund gave it to Fredericke Burgrave of Noriburg. The whole Marquiship is divided into three parts, namely into the Old, the Middle, and the New. The Old Marquiship beginneth at the Desart or Forrest of Luneburg, and stretcheth even to the River Albis. It confineth also on the Dioecesses of Magdeburg, Halberstadt, and Megalopolis. The inhabitants hereof were formerly the Senonians and Suevians, and also the Angrivarians, and Teutons. In this tract there are seaven great Citties, namely Tangeramond neere the River Albis, and situated there where Angra or Tonagr• doth emptie it selfe into it; it was heretofore the seate of the Emperour Charles the fourth. Also Stendalium, which is the chiefe Cittie of this Marquiship. There is also Soltwedelum which is divided into two Citties, the Old and the New: also Gardelen with the Castell Eischnippia. Also Osterburg, Werbum, Senohousum, which was so called from the Senons. The lesser Townes are Arnburg situate by the River Albis, with a Castell adjoyning to it. Also Bis•marchum, Bostera, and Bucka, not farre from Albis; also Kalba, and Mestinga, which they call Letzolinga. And moreover here are 465 Villages. The middle Marquiship doth begin at another part of Albis, and doth reach to the Rivers Odera, and Su•vum commonly called Spre. It was formerly inhabited by the Su•vians. The Metropolis of this Marquiship is Brandenburg, which is a famous Cittie situated by the River Havila, which some thinke, was builded and named by Duke Brennus: some suppose that it was built by Brandon Prince of France, sonne to Marcomir, who about the yeare of Christ 140 did subdue this Countrie. Here was the Vandals Pantheon, whose gods were Zarneb•cke, and Swandewitz, besides others, as it is related in the Chronicles of Mersburg. Here the high Court is kept for all the Countrie. This Cittie hath many priviledges and immunities, which were heretofore granted by Emperours, Kings, and Princes: which appeareth by a statue which standeth in the New part of the Cittie, holding in his right hand a drawne sword, which they call Roland. The next to Brandenburg is Rathenavium seated by the River Su•vus: and also the two Townes Colonia and Berlinum, which are separated by the River Suevius. There is also Franckford a chiefe Cittie, very pleasantly seated by the River Viadrus (which they call Odera) which hath great store of fish: this River runneth on the Eastside; the other parts of the Citty are encompassed with pleasant hills, and choise Vineyards, out of which they make wine, which they carry downe the River unto Pomerania, Denmarke, Borussia, and other places. This Cittie was first built in the yeare 1253 by Gedine of Hertsperg, by the command of Iohn the first Marquesse of Brandenburg. It is a famous Mart Towne, and hath three Faires kept there every yeare. It hath an Academie for Arts, Languages, and Sciences, which was built in the yeare 1506, by Marquesse Ioachim, and endowed with revenewes. In which there have beene from the first institution thereof most excellent professors of Arts and Sciences, some of which Sebastian Munster reckoneth. There are also other Townes as Breitza, surnamed Fid•. also Belitza, Bernavium, Cellinum, Mittemwaldum, Monachobergum, Bisenthalum, Blumoberga, Botzavium: also Fryenwaldum and Oderebergum. Here Marquesse Albert the second built a Castell by the River, which commanded those that sayled by it to pay custome. There are also Frisachum, Gereswaldum, Grimmitzum, Grunchyda, Grunewaldum, and Koppenicum. Also the little Towne Lichenum, and Parstainumum with a Castell: also the little Towne Mulrosa; Bornavicum, and the little Towne Lossa, with a Castell, also the small Townes Wruzonum, and Selowium, and many other Townes and Villages. The new Marquiship is disjoyned from the middle Marquiship by the River Odera, where the River Warta doth discharge it selfe into Odera neere Costrinum. The chiefe Cittie in this Marquiship is Gostrinum, which was reedified by Marquesse Iohn the sonne of Ioachim the first, and well fortified, and chosen to be the Princes seate. There are other Citties as L•nsberg by the River Warta, also Regiomons, B•rnwaldum, and the little Towne Bers•cinum with a Castell, also Bernaw•cum and Berlinicum, or the Towne new Berlins Moreover there is the Cittie Arnswaldum, the little Towne Thamum, and Soldinum, which was heretofore the prime Cittie of this Marquiship. There is also the little Towne Purstenfeld: and Bramburg, Dri•senum, and the Cittie Falkeburg with a Castell, which is situated on the consines of Pomera•i•. Also Kartaw, Lepena, Morinum Schiffelbenum, Osemundum, Sco••flies: Woldenberg, Zedon, Zandocum. Some divide the whole Marquiship into seaven or eight Provinces, which are these, Alde Marck, or old Marchia; Meddel Marck, or the middle Marquiship, new Marck, or the new Marquiship, the Dukedomes of Vber Marck, Pregnitz, and Croffen; the Lordships of Sterneberg and Cotbus, and also a part of L•sat•a. There are also lesser Countries in these Provinces, as Rapin, and Vterrad•n, and Kustren, which are Marquiships. The whole Marquiship of Brandenburg, with the territories belonging thereunto doth containe 55 great Citties, 64 Townes, 16 little Townes, which they commonly call Marctflecken, 38 Castells, or noblemens houses, and 17 Monasteries. It is watered with the Rivers Odera; or Viadrus, Suevus, Albis, Havela, Warta, and others. Neere the Monasterie of Carthusians at Franckford, there is a little Rivulet, which riseth out of a hill of Vines, which as it hath beene proved, doth harden everything that is cast into it, and turnes it into a stone. And so much concerning the Marquiship of Brandenburg; it remaineth that wee speake something concerning Pomerania which is contayned in this Table.

Pomerania was called by the first inhabitants in the Vandall speech Pamortza, now it is a Dukedome which lyeth by the Balthick sea, and it is stretched in a long tract of ground, from the borders of Holsatia, to the consines of Livonia. The Countrie is every where very fruitfull, having pleasant Medowes, and greene pastures. It hath such abundance of Corne, Butter, Honey, Wax, Flax, Hempe, and other such like commodities, that the inhabitants make a great benefit of them by transporting them to other Countries. The inhabitants also doe gather up Amber by the Sea side, but in lesser quantitie than the Borussians. There are divers kindes of tame cattell, and heards of wilde beasts, which runne up and downe in the woods. This Countrie had always Lord, and inhabitants of its owne, which were never conquered, nor driven out of their Countrie. Heere are many faire Citties. The chiefe is Stetimum, by the river Viadrus, which was heretofore a long fisher Towne, seated on the bancke of the River, and after it had received the Christian faith, the Mart being translated thither it began to encrease, so that it is now the Metropolis of Pomerania. Gripswald•n is a famous towne, for learning and good Arts, there was an Vniversitie built there in the yeare 1546. Iulinum accounted heretofore the greatest towne in all Europe, was a Mart towne of the Vandalls. Stralsundia is a faire Towne on the shore of the Balthick sea, having heretofore a Duke thereof. Wineta is a very rich sea-faring Towne, but it was ruinated by Conradus King of Denmarke. There are also other Citties, as Neugardia, Lemburga, Stargardia, Bergradum, C•menez, Publina, Grifenburga: and by the shoare side there are Colberga, Caminum, Collinum, Sunda, Pucka, Revecol, Lovensburg, and Hechel. And so much briefely concerning Pomerania. Also Mecklenburg or the Dukedome of Magnopolis is contained in this Table. There are also in the same Table these Ecclesiastickes; the Bishop of Magdeburg Primate of Germanie, under whom are the Bishops of Brandenburg, in the Marquiship of Brandenburg, and the Bishop of Havelburg in Mecklenburg; also the Bishop of Swerinium under the Bishop of Bremes; in Pomerania there is the Bishop of Camin.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Brandenbourg, a Country of Germany, with the Title of Marquisate, and Electorate of the Empire, betwixt Prussia, Pomerania, Meklebourg, Upper and Lower Saxony, the Duchy of Brunswick, and Lusatia. It is divided into three Parts, or Marches: e. i. Marquisates, Old Marche, or Altemark on the West of the Elb; the Middle or Mittelmark betwixt the Elb and the Oder; and the New Marche, or New Mark on the East of the Oder. The Elb discharges it self into the Ocean, and the Oder into the Baltick Sea; and of late there has been a great Channel made for the joyning of these two Rivers together by the Havel: So the Commerce has been facilitated, and People endeavoured to free themselves from the Payment of the Duties of the Sound. Berlin is the Capital City of the Country, upon the Sprehe, as well as Brandenbourg, which is also a City. The others are Frankfort upon the Oder, Tangermund upon the Elbe, Seunemberg, Landspreg, Havelberg, Verben, &c. with the Fortress of Kustrin, Spandau and Peits. This Country is good and fertile, and the Inhabitants are almost all Lutherans, though the Elector of Brandenbourg is a Calvinist. The Electoral Dignity is annex'd to the Marquisate; but besides that, it has the Duchies of Prussia and Cleves, with those of Crossen and Jargendorf in Silesia, the Principalities of Alberstad and Minden; the Reversion of the Duchy of Magdebourg, Lower Pomerania, with the Administration of the •ishoprick of Camin. The five last were yielded to him by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, with the Fort of Wiltzbourg, for part of Pomerania, which he yielded to the Suedes. There are besides in the Family of Brandenbourg, the Marquisates of Culembach, Anspach, or Onspach, the County of Ravensbourg, &c. The Fortress of Rustrin, Pillau, Memel, Colberg in Pomerania, Driessen, The Possessions of the Elector of Brandenbourg are considerable, extending from the Duchy of Cleves unto Prussia, distant from one another the space of 200 German Miles; but his States are not united. The Family of Brandenbourg is divided into three Branches. In the Order of the Assemblies, he is the last save one of the Electors, since the Eighth Electorate hath been created. He has his Seat and Voice as Prince of Halberstad and Minden. As Duke of the farthermost Pomerania, he takes his Turn with the Duke of hithermost Pomerania, for the Suffrage which belongs to them in common; and as Duke of Magdebourg, he does the like with the Duke of Bremen in the Direction of the inferior Circle of Saxony, whereof he is a Member. His younger Brothers are called to the States, and give in their Opinion each apart; but they cannot definitively judge their Subjects, if the Sum exceeds 400 Florins, of the Rhine, which are about 60 l. Sterling. The Elector of Brandenbourg is Grand Chamberlain of the Empire: He has his Place on the Right-hand of the Duke of Saxony, and carries the Scepter before the Emperor. In discharging at Solemnities the Duty of Great Chamberlain, he rides on Horseback from the Hall-Door to the Cupboard, where he takes the Bason, the Ewer, and the Napkin, and then he returns af-after the same manner, and alighting, he pours out Water for the Emperor to wash his Hands. The Country of Brandenbourg has been in times past possessed by the Teutons, the Suevians, and afterwards by the Semnons or Sennonois, the Vandals, and the Saxons. The latter were subdued by Charlemaign. Brandenbourg was then possessed partly by the Henetians. The Emperor Henry the Fowler defeated them about the Year 927, and made Sigefroy, Count of Rifugelheim, Brother to the Empress, Marquis, that is, Governor of that Marche or Frontier. In the Marquisate of Brandenbourg, with its Dependencies, are 55 large Cities, 64 great Towns, 16 lesser Towns, 38 Castles, 17 Abbeys, and 10 large Deer-Parks. The Country produces Coral, Eagle-Stone, Plume-Allum, and other rare Stones. Authors speak differently of the Original of the Noble and Powerful Family of Brandenbourg; for some are of Opinion that the Marquis of Baden, the Arck-Duke of Austria, and Marquis of Brandenbourg, are descended of the ancient Family of Alsace; but it's more probable that the Counts of Zolern, or Hohen Zolern in Suevia, from whom the present Elector is Lineally descended, were the Off-spring of Peter Colomne, banished out of Italy by Pope Paschal II. as being a Guelph, and endowed with large Possessions by the Emperor Henry V. in Suabia. We will begin at Conrad, Count of Zolren, who having Married Ann, Heiress to the Burgrave of Nurinberg, was invested in the Burgraviate by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa: Frederick I. his Successor, dy'd in 1218, whose eldest Son Conrad dying without Issue, his Brother Frederick II. succeeded, who left two Sons. Conrad III. who gave all his Possessions to pious Uses, and made his three Sons Clergy-men; and Frederick III. who was succeeded by John I. and this by John II. who left Frederick V. Father of John III. Burgrave of Nurimberg, and of Frederick VI. First Elector of Brandenburg, of the Family of Zollern, who sold a great part of the Burgraviate to the City of Nurinberg; made War against Pomerania and the Hussites, and against Bernard, Duke of Saxe Lawenburg. Frederick II. Sirnamed Ironteeth, succeeded him, refused the Crowns of Poland and Bohemia, which was offered him, was chosen Protector of the Council of Basil in 1434; made War against Bohemia for Lusatia in 1461, and against the Duke of Pomerania, about the Succession; and in 1470, resigned his Electoral Dignity to his Brother Albert, to go into the Holy Land. This Albert, Sirnamed the Ulysses and Achilles of Germany, was so Powerful, that the Emperor did nothing without his Advice, which gave People occasion to say, that Albert administred the Empire by the Emperor Frederick. He made a Compact of Mutual Succession with the House of Saxony and Hesse. His Son John, called the Great for his Stature, and the Cicero of Germany for his Eloquence, was succeeded by Joachim I. called Nestor Germanicus, a very Learned Prince, who excelled particularly in the Knowledge of Languages, Mathematicks, Astrology and History, founded the University of Frankfort upon the Order, and was so zealous a Papist, that he design'd to have imprison'd Elizabeth his Wife, Daughter of John, King of Denmark, for embracing Luther's Doctrine; punished 38 Jews, and one Christian; the last for selling an Hostie to the other, and them for running their Knives into it. His Son Joachim II. made open Profession of Lutheranism, was declar'd General of the Imperial Army in 1542, broke the Power of the Turks, and was poyson'd by a Jewish Doctor in 1571. John George, his Son, reveng'd his Death, banish'd the Jews out of his Dominions, renew'd the Agreement of Mutual Succession with the House of Saxony and Hesse, and dy'd in 1598. Joachim Frederick, Arch-Bishop of Magdeburg, succeeded his Father, and dy'd of an Apoplexy in 1608. His Son John Sigismond succeeded, and in 1614 embrac'd Calvin's Doctrine, Married Ann, Eldest Daughter of Albert Frederick Duke of Prussia, and of Mary Eleanor of Cleves, by whom he had a Right to the Dukedoms of Prussia and Cleves; he dy'd in 1619. His Son George William succeeded, and at first sided with Gustavus Adolphus, but afterwards turn'd his Arms against the Suedes,, who had possessed themselves of several Places in Pomerania: He dy'd in 1640, and was succeeded by Frederick William the Great, who for his Power in the Empire, and incredible Experience of Things, was esteem'd the common Father of Germany. In a word, He was a Pious, Victorious, Just, and Merciful Prince, one of the Heros of the Age, and a zealous Asserter of the Protestant Religion. His Sister Lovisa Charlotte was Married to James Duke of Curland in 1645, and Hedwidge Sophia Married in 1649 to William Langrave of Hesse Cassel. Frederick William took to his first Wife, in 1646, Lovisa Henrietta of Nassau, Daughter to Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, and Amelia Counters of Solm. This Electoress dying in 1667, he took to his second Wife, in 1668, Dorothy of Holsace, Daughter to Philip, Duke of Holsace Glucksbourg, and Widow of Christian, Duke of Lunebourg Zell: He had 13 Children by both; by the first, 1. William Henry, Born in 1648, who dy'd in 1649. 2. Charles Aemilius, born in 1655, and dy'd in 1674. 3. Frederick III. born in 1657. 4, 5. Henry and Amalia, Twins, born in 1664, but both dead. 6. Lewis, born in 1668, who Married Lovisa Charlotte Ratzivilia, dy'd Issuless in 1687. 7. Philip William, born in 1669, gave several Proofs of Valour against the French in this present War. By the second Wife, he had 8. Maria Amilia, born in 1670, Married in 1687 to Charles, Hereditary Prince of Gustrave, who dying in 1688, she married Maurice William, Duke of Saxony, and Administrator of Naumburg. 9. Albert Frederick; born in January 1672. 10. Charles Philip, born in 1673. 11. Elizabeth Sophia, born in 1674. 12. Dorothy, born in 1675; and 13. Christianus Lodovicus, born in 1677. Frederick William dying in 1688, his Son Frederick, the present Elector, in 1679, Married Elizabeth Henrietta, Daughter of William, Landtgrave of Hesse Cassel; and she dying in 1683, he took to his second Wife, in 1684, Sophia Charlotta, Daughter of Ernest August, Bishop of Osnaburg, and Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg. By the first he had Lovisa Dorothea Sophia, born in 1680. By the Second, Frederick August, born in 1685, who dy'd the next Year; and Frederick William, born in 1688. This Elector takes the Title of Marquis of Brandenbourg, Great Chamberlain, and Elector of the Roman Empire, Duke of Magdebourg, Prussia, Juliers, Cleves, Mons or Berg, Stetin, Pomerania, Cesubia, Vandalia, Silesia, Crossen, and Jargendorff: Burgrave of Nuremburg, Duke of Rugia, Prince of Alberstad and Minden, Earl of Marche and Ravensperg, Lord of Roslein. The Collateral Branches of this Family will be mentioned in their proper Places. Crants. Leti.