The Tree of Europe · Person

Frederick William of Brandenburg

«the Great Elector»

The Great Elector of Brandenburg, 1640–1688. He rebuilt his states after the Thirty Years’ War, established a standing army and secured full sovereignty over Prussia in 1657.

1620 – 1688Elector / DukeHohenzollern · ES

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This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 16 February 1620 Documented

Death: 9 May 1688 Documented

Role: Elector / Duke

Dynasty: Hohenzollern · ES

Territories: Brandenburg (ES) · Prussia (ES) · Cleves (ES) · Mark (ES) · Ravensberg (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Elector · Brandenburg · Electorate Pending review1640–1688Effective rule

Duke · Prussia · Duchy Pending review1640–1688Effective rule

Duke · Cleves · Duchy Inferred1640–1688Effective rule

Count · Mark · County Inferred1640–1688Effective rule

Count · Ravensberg · County Inferred1640–1688Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

George William of BrandenburgDocumentedElizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate · ESDocumented

Partners

Louise Henriette of Orange-Nassau · ESPending review

Children

Frederick I of Prussia

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Frederick William of Brandenburg. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1640

Brandenburg-Prussia5 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Brandenburg · ESElector · Effective rule1640–1688
- Prussia · ESDuke · Effective rule1640–1688
- Cleves · ESDuke · Effective rule1640–1688
- Mark · ESCount · Effective rule1640–1688
- Ravensberg · ESCount · Effective rule1640–1688
From 1618 the Electors of Brandenburg were also Dukes of Prussia, and from 1614 held Cleves, Mark and Ravensberg. Each territory retained its title; Ducal Prussia was a Polish fief until 1657. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

10 recorded claims · 3 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
16 February 1620
The authority record gives the birth as 1620-02-16.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich Wilhelm, Brandenburg, Kurfürst · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
9 May 1688
The authority record gives the death as 1688-05-09.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich Wilhelm, Brandenburg, Kurfürst · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (2/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
George William of Brandenburg
The authority record identifies George William of Brandenburg (GND 102116156) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich Wilhelm, Brandenburg, Kurfürst · Relationships: father → GND 102116156
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherDocumented
Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
The authority record identifies Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (GND 120100320) as mother.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Friedrich Wilhelm, Brandenburg, Kurfürst · Relationships: mother → GND 120100320
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Louise Henriette of Orange-Nassau
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (3/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
Elector · Brandenburg · 1640–1688
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Duke · Prussia · 1640–1688
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentInferred
Duke · Cleves · 1640–1688
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Count · Mark · 1640–1688
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentInferred
Count · Ravensberg · 1640–1688
The duchies and counties retained separate institutions. Possession in 1614 was provisional and the definitive partition followed in 1666; Mark and Ravensberg have no separate geometry.
LVR · Herzogtum Kleve · Union of 1511/1521 and partition of 1614/1666.LVR · Erbfolgestreit 1609–1794 · Treaty of Xanten, 1614.
Reviewed on 2026-10-04 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (2)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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