Principality of Ansbach

Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach/Principality of Ansbach
Markgrafschaft Brandenburg-Ansbach/Fürstentum Ansbach (German)
1398–1791
The Principality of Brandenburg-Ansbach as of 1791, superimposed over modern borders.
The Principality of Brandenburg-Ansbach as of 1791, superimposed over modern borders.
StatusPrincipality
CapitalAnsbach
Common languagesEast Franconian
Religion
Roman Catholic
GovernmentPrincipality
Historical eraEarly modern period

1219
• Partition of
burgraviate

21 January 1398

1415–40
• Reunion with
Bayreuth

11 June 1420
• Repartition
21 September 1440
• Restoration of
personal union

1470–86
• Margraviate sold
to Prussia

2 December 1791
• Formal annexation
28 January 1792
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Burgraviate of Nuremberg
Kingdom of Prussia
Today part ofGermany

The Principality or Margraviate of (Brandenburg) Ansbach (German: Fürstentum Ansbach or Markgrafschaft Brandenburg-Ansbach) was a free imperial principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Franconian city of Ansbach. The ruling Hohenzollern princes of the land were known as margraves, as their ancestors were margraves (so the principality was a margraviate but not a march).