Frederick Hohenzollern, by his many services as Burggraf (count) of Nuremberg, has earned the gratitude of the German king Sigismund of Luxembourg, who had rewarded in 1411 him with the office of administrator of Brandenburg, then in 1417 makes him hereditary elector of Brandenburg.

Ruling from Berlin, his primary tasks are to curb the fractious nobility, restore order, repel external foes, and recover alienated properties.

Frederick I, elector of Brandenburg from 1417 and founder of the Brandenburg line of Hohenzollern, had in 1425 handed over the control of Brandenburg to his eldest son, John the Alchemist, returned to Franconia, and devoted the rest of his life to imperial affairs, having himself spent less than six years in Brandenburg.

Active in the negotiations with the Hussites as a champion of religious moderation, he had helped bring about the pacts of Prague (1433) and Iglau (1436), and takes part in the election of Frederick III as German king in 1440.

At his death on September 20 of this year, he leaves his sons firmly in control.