George William of Brandenburg
Elector of Brandenburg and duke of Prussia from 1619. Brandenburg suffered severely during the Thirty Years’ War under his rule, occupied by Swedish and imperial forces.
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 3 November 1595 Documented
Death: 1 December 1640 Documented
Role: Elector / Duke
Dynasty: Hohenzollern · ES
Territories: Brandenburg (ES) · Prussia (ES) · Cleves (ES) · Mark (ES) · Ravensberg (ES)
Recorded relationships
Their titles over time
Follow the changing territories and offices of George William of Brandenburg. Each title retains its own status.
Governments in 1619
- Brandenburg-Prussia5 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Brandenburg · ESElector · Effective rule1619–1640
- Prussia · ESDuke · Effective rule1619–1640
- Cleves · ESDuke · Effective rule1619–1640
- Mark · ESCount · Effective rule1619–1640
- Ravensberg · ESCount · Effective rule1619–1640
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.
Sources for this profile
- Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Georg Wilhelm, Brandenburg, Kurfürst
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.
Evidence for this profile
10 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
- BirthDocumented
3 November 1595
The authority record gives the birth as 1595-11-03. - DeathDocumented
1 December 1640
The authority record gives the death as 1640-12-01.
Family and relationships (3/3 with a precise source)
- FatherDocumented
John Sigismund of Brandenburg
The authority record identifies John Sigismund of Brandenburg (GND 117677337) as father. - MotherDocumented
Anne of Prussia
The authority record identifies Anne of Prussia (GND 104182601) as mother. - Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
The authority record identifies Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate (GND 120100320) as spouse.
Governments (3/5 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
Elector · Brandenburg · 1619–1640
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
Duke · Prussia · 1619–1640
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentInferred
Duke · Cleves · 1619–1640
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. - GovernmentInferred
Count · Mark · 1619–1640
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. - GovernmentInferred
Count · Ravensberg · 1619–1640
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.
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.