Brandenburg (Ascanian) Margravate of

The Margraviate of Brandenburg is a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806.

Also known as the March of Brandenburg, it plays a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe.Brandenburg develops out of the Northern March founded in the territory of the Slavic Wends.

Its ruling margraves are established as prestigious prince-electors in the Golden Bull of 1356, allowing them to vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.

The state thus becomes additionally known as Electoral Brandenburg or the Electorate of Brandenburg (Kurfürstentum Brandenburg or Kurbrandenburg).The House of Hohenzollern comes to the throne of Brandenburg in 1415.

Under Hohenzollern leadership, Brandenburg grows rapidly in power during the 17th century and inherits the Duchy of Prussia.

The resulting Brandenburg-Prussia is the predecessor of the Kingdom of Prussia, which becomes a leading German state during the 18th century.

Although the electors' highest title is "King in/of Prussia", their power base remains in Brandenburg and its capital Berlin.Although the Margraviate of Brandenburg ends with the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, it is replaced with the Prussian Province of Brandenburg in 1815.

Despite its meager beginnings in the Holy Roman Empire, the Hohenzollern Kingdom of Prussia achieves the unification of Germany and the creation of the German Empire in 1871.

The "Mark Brandenburg" is still used informally today to refer to the federal state of Brandenburg in the Federal Republic of Germany.