While on today it may have seemed that the rise of Prussia and Germany was linked forever linked with the House of von Hohenzollern. But the rise of the von Hohenzollern house was by no means certain in fact the house of Hapsburg in Austria seemed certain would be the ones who would unify Germany. While the Hohenzollern in the 15th century ruled a backwater landlock land with poor soil on the edges of the Holy Roman Empire known as the Margrave of Brandenburg. To make things worse Brandenburg was effectively surrounded by hostile states on nearly all sides, to control or remove one asset Brandenburg have; its electoral vote. Thus, leaders of Brandenburg always required careful maneuvering especially when electorate was granted.
While the case could put forward of the Rise of the von Hohenzollern when they were given the Margrave of Brandenburg, but most experts attributed to the rise of Brandenburg under the leadership of Friedrich II “the Iron” von Hohenzollern.
On the 12th of November 1444, Friedrich managed to secure both alliance with Austria and royal marriage with high ranking noble with Poland which lead to defensive alliance with the kingdom of Poland. With alliances secured with the two regional powers offered a measure of security through deterrence as Friedrich dangled his electoral vote. Friedrich later accepted alliance with the Dutchy of Saxony further securing his southern border.
Thus, with external threats to his realm largely dissuaded, Friedrich II started to focus with internal matters of the realm. Among the first task was hand selecting a promising young noble from Altmark by the name of Georg Wilhelm von Preußen as the ranking General of the Brandenburg Army. And by the 2nd of January 1445, Friedrich II issued a New Chancellery decree that aims to curtail the clergy who were aiming to work against the Margrave. While this new decree offered a bit more centralization of his authority it wasn’t well received among even the populace of Brandenburg, though no remarkable revolts occurred due to the decree.
However, by the end of April 1446 Friedrich II was forced to abolish a proposed tax to the merchant and artisans with Brandenburg. While many of his advisors argued to execute the troublemakers, instead Friedrich opted not only to abolish the tax, but to go as far to refund a few of the tax at great expense to the realm.
Some historians have historians have attributed the abolishment of the tax as largely detrimental, especially with the War of the Fallen Tree. The War of the Fallen had its roots echoed in age old rivalry between Duchy of Pomerania and the Margrave. In the provincial county in Uckermark near the border of Starlsund was chopped down by villager in Starlsund. Using this pretext on 1st of June 1446 Friedrich II to declare war on Pomerania against the advice of advisors and even his general.
Despite his objection of the war, General Georg Wilhelm von Preußen was given surprisingly much leeway into the war. General Preußen first act in the war was to quickly march his troops into Mecklenburg in the county of Rostock from Uckermark to engage in one of the Pomeranian allies, in hopes that the recently allied county of Luneburg would prevent reinforcement by Pomeranian other allies in the west and Pomerania would deploy its troop defense of Pomerania. The resulting battle caused the gathering and disorganized Mecklenburg army to quickly route with minimal causalities to Brandenburg.
While the resulting battle was great moral boost for Brandenburg Army, a small division of scouting party was detached sent to Wismar in favor of a prolonged siege in Rostock. Meanwhile the majority of the head south back into Brandenburg in response of rumors that armies were crossing into the duchy of Brunswick. Nevertheless, once reports that Pomeranian had crossed into Brandenburg and threaten Berlin itself, General Preußen quickly redeployed his troops to defend Berlin itself. While Pomeranian engaged in garrison forces in the county of Berlin, General Preußen managed to catch the enemy forces in their flank resulting massive route. But the celebration of the battle was short lived as reinforcement from Verdun was attempting to reinforce the Pomeranian forces and outflank was Brandenburg forces, unaware that Pomeranian forces were forced to retreat.
After the completion of the Battle of Berlin 1446, General Preußen marched his troops into Uckermark to reengaged the Pomeranian army remnants on 29 of August causing mass surrender of the army who were promptly disarmed. But further celebration was delayed as General Preußen marched the weary troops back into Wismar to engage the forces of Dithmarschen who were attempting liberate the town from Brandenburg forces as they gathered newly recruited forces of Mecklenburg and Pomerania. The battle seemed to be street to street as Brandenburg suffered its largest casualties in the war, as they nearly lost half its forces. While it was the last major battle of the war, it forced Brandenburg to consolidate its forces and hire mercenaries to deal with remaining skirmishes and force the surrender of the remaining forces.
With the war largely over, the Pomeranian alliance continued to remain defiant as they continued to attempt gather forces and with Brandenburg attempting forcing minor skirmishes before a signiant force could be assembled. This cat and mouse gain remain in place as Brandenburg lacked the manpower or finances to maintain multiple sieges at once. Eventually Brandenburg was forced to divide its forces to harass recruitment extending the war significantly once more. It wasn’t until Brandenburg forced different counties to sign separate peace and pay forces for the war that any measurable progress was made. Finally, on the 17 of May 1452, Pomerania was forced to sign peace treaty ending the war claiming full responsibility for the war, to return the lumber taken from the tree (although few historians claim it was the actual lumber from the tree taken) l and restrict their troop size. To this day the Lumber is in display in Berlin Museum.
While the war was successful it did create significant finical difficulty for Brandenburg, as forcing to rely on mercenary army was drained on their coffers. As well there was accusations of Brandenburg purposely debased their currency to pay for the war despite forcing other nations to pay war reparations. Nevertheless, the war created a perception of strength then a nation of its was normally capable of. Thus, by May of 1455 Diplomats of Teutonic Order was sent to negotiate their geographically isolated territory in Neumark to Brandenburg rather than risk losing it to a siege by either Poland or Brandenburg. With treaty in Colln on 16 November 1455, agreed for Brandenburg to purchase Nuemark for hefty fund of gold coins, forcing additional loans on the taxed state.
With the treaty signed Brandenburg quickly gained territory that greatly extended the size of their country and more importantly their taxable income. Which some historians at the time remarked this was the growing ambition of Friedrich II to receive the title of Duke, which may be the initial causes of future wars.
While the case could put forward of the Rise of the von Hohenzollern when they were given the Margrave of Brandenburg, but most experts attributed to the rise of Brandenburg under the leadership of Friedrich II “the Iron” von Hohenzollern.
On the 12th of November 1444, Friedrich managed to secure both alliance with Austria and royal marriage with high ranking noble with Poland which lead to defensive alliance with the kingdom of Poland. With alliances secured with the two regional powers offered a measure of security through deterrence as Friedrich dangled his electoral vote. Friedrich later accepted alliance with the Dutchy of Saxony further securing his southern border.
Thus, with external threats to his realm largely dissuaded, Friedrich II started to focus with internal matters of the realm. Among the first task was hand selecting a promising young noble from Altmark by the name of Georg Wilhelm von Preußen as the ranking General of the Brandenburg Army. And by the 2nd of January 1445, Friedrich II issued a New Chancellery decree that aims to curtail the clergy who were aiming to work against the Margrave. While this new decree offered a bit more centralization of his authority it wasn’t well received among even the populace of Brandenburg, though no remarkable revolts occurred due to the decree.
However, by the end of April 1446 Friedrich II was forced to abolish a proposed tax to the merchant and artisans with Brandenburg. While many of his advisors argued to execute the troublemakers, instead Friedrich opted not only to abolish the tax, but to go as far to refund a few of the tax at great expense to the realm.
Some historians have historians have attributed the abolishment of the tax as largely detrimental, especially with the War of the Fallen Tree. The War of the Fallen had its roots echoed in age old rivalry between Duchy of Pomerania and the Margrave. In the provincial county in Uckermark near the border of Starlsund was chopped down by villager in Starlsund. Using this pretext on 1st of June 1446 Friedrich II to declare war on Pomerania against the advice of advisors and even his general.
Despite his objection of the war, General Georg Wilhelm von Preußen was given surprisingly much leeway into the war. General Preußen first act in the war was to quickly march his troops into Mecklenburg in the county of Rostock from Uckermark to engage in one of the Pomeranian allies, in hopes that the recently allied county of Luneburg would prevent reinforcement by Pomeranian other allies in the west and Pomerania would deploy its troop defense of Pomerania. The resulting battle caused the gathering and disorganized Mecklenburg army to quickly route with minimal causalities to Brandenburg.
While the resulting battle was great moral boost for Brandenburg Army, a small division of scouting party was detached sent to Wismar in favor of a prolonged siege in Rostock. Meanwhile the majority of the head south back into Brandenburg in response of rumors that armies were crossing into the duchy of Brunswick. Nevertheless, once reports that Pomeranian had crossed into Brandenburg and threaten Berlin itself, General Preußen quickly redeployed his troops to defend Berlin itself. While Pomeranian engaged in garrison forces in the county of Berlin, General Preußen managed to catch the enemy forces in their flank resulting massive route. But the celebration of the battle was short lived as reinforcement from Verdun was attempting to reinforce the Pomeranian forces and outflank was Brandenburg forces, unaware that Pomeranian forces were forced to retreat.
After the completion of the Battle of Berlin 1446, General Preußen marched his troops into Uckermark to reengaged the Pomeranian army remnants on 29 of August causing mass surrender of the army who were promptly disarmed. But further celebration was delayed as General Preußen marched the weary troops back into Wismar to engage the forces of Dithmarschen who were attempting liberate the town from Brandenburg forces as they gathered newly recruited forces of Mecklenburg and Pomerania. The battle seemed to be street to street as Brandenburg suffered its largest casualties in the war, as they nearly lost half its forces. While it was the last major battle of the war, it forced Brandenburg to consolidate its forces and hire mercenaries to deal with remaining skirmishes and force the surrender of the remaining forces.
With the war largely over, the Pomeranian alliance continued to remain defiant as they continued to attempt gather forces and with Brandenburg attempting forcing minor skirmishes before a signiant force could be assembled. This cat and mouse gain remain in place as Brandenburg lacked the manpower or finances to maintain multiple sieges at once. Eventually Brandenburg was forced to divide its forces to harass recruitment extending the war significantly once more. It wasn’t until Brandenburg forced different counties to sign separate peace and pay forces for the war that any measurable progress was made. Finally, on the 17 of May 1452, Pomerania was forced to sign peace treaty ending the war claiming full responsibility for the war, to return the lumber taken from the tree (although few historians claim it was the actual lumber from the tree taken) l and restrict their troop size. To this day the Lumber is in display in Berlin Museum.
While the war was successful it did create significant finical difficulty for Brandenburg, as forcing to rely on mercenary army was drained on their coffers. As well there was accusations of Brandenburg purposely debased their currency to pay for the war despite forcing other nations to pay war reparations. Nevertheless, the war created a perception of strength then a nation of its was normally capable of. Thus, by May of 1455 Diplomats of Teutonic Order was sent to negotiate their geographically isolated territory in Neumark to Brandenburg rather than risk losing it to a siege by either Poland or Brandenburg. With treaty in Colln on 16 November 1455, agreed for Brandenburg to purchase Nuemark for hefty fund of gold coins, forcing additional loans on the taxed state.
With the treaty signed Brandenburg quickly gained territory that greatly extended the size of their country and more importantly their taxable income. Which some historians at the time remarked this was the growing ambition of Friedrich II to receive the title of Duke, which may be the initial causes of future wars.
