Albrecht

ALBRECHT, Count (Markgraf) of Brandenburg-Ansbach, Duke of Prussia. b. Ansbach, 17 May 1490; d. Tapiau (now Gvardeysk, Russia), 20 March 1568. Born into a branch of the Hohenzollern family, he was appointed Grand Master (‘Hofmeister’) of the Teutonic Knights (‘Deutschen Ordens’) in 1511, in the hope that he would restore the Order from Polish domination. He led the Prussian forces against Poland in an unsuccessful war of 1519-1521, followed by a four-year truce, at the end of which, at the Treaty of Krakow, Prussia became a duchy of the kingdom of Poland. Albrecht was the first Duke. During the truce, he visited Nürnberg (1522-23), where he was introduced to Luther’s ideas. He later sought...