The seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty was thus moved to Berlin. The core of the German Empire was built around that city in the 19th century.
On this day in 1415 Burgrave Frederick I Hohenzollern became the prince-elector of Brandenburg. This was an exceptionally important event in the history of Germany and Europe since it elevated the Hohenzollern dynasty from local aristocrats to an important power in Germany. The Hohenzollerns continued to rule over Brandenburg, and later Prussia and many other lands, until 1918. Their territories formed the backbone of the German Empire, formed in 1871.
Frederick I Hohenzollern was born in a family that held the title Burgrave of Nuremberg for generations. The title of burgrave (German: Burggraf) signifies a count who ruled a burg (fortress or walled town) and its surrounding area. Nuremberg was an extremely important city in medieval Germany since it functioned as a sort of imperial capital (the sessions of the Reichstag – Imperial Council – were held there).
The huge new territory of Brandenburg in northern Germany as well as the title of Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire was acquired by Burgrave Frederick I Hohenzollern thanks to his connections with Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg. That emperor was the previous owner of Brandenburg and gave it to Frederick as recognition for his support assistance, especially when he was elected emperor.
The seat of the Hohenzollern dynasty was thus moved to Berlin. The core of the German Empire was built around that city in the 19th century. This is why Berlin became the capital of a united Germany.
