John Of Brandenburg
JOHN OF BRANDENBURG, or HANS (1513-1571), margrave of Brandenburg Custrin, was the younger son of Joachim I., elector of Brandenburg, and was born at Tangermunde on the 3rd of August 1513 In spite of the dispositio Achillea which decreed the indivisi bility of the electorate, John inherited the new mark of Branden burg on his father's death in July 1535. He had been brought up as a strict Catholic, but soon wavered in his allegiance, and in 1538 ranged himself definitely on the side of the Reformers About the same time he joined the league of Schmalkalden but before the war broke out between the league and the em peror Charles V. the promises of the emperor had won him ove to the imperial side. After the conclusion of the war, the rela tions between John and Charles became somewhat strained ?he margrave opposed the Interim, issued from Augsburg in tfay 1548; and he was the leader of the princes who formed a eague for the defence of the Lutheran doctrines in February 550. The alliance of these princes, however, with Henry II., ting of France, does not appear to have commended itself to lim and after some differences of opinion with Maurice, elector f Saxony, he returned to the emperor's side. His remaining ears were mainly spent in the new mark, which he ruled care- ully and economically. He added to its extent by the purchase )f Beeskow and Storkow, and fortified the towns of Custrin and 'eitz. He died at Custrin on the 13th of January 1571. His wife Catherine was a daughter of Henry II., duke of Brunswick, ,nd as he left no sons the new mark passed on his death to his nephew John George, elector of Brandenburg.
See Berg, Beitrage zur Geschichte des Markgrafen Johann von Kustrin (Landsberg, 1903).
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
