Editing Principality of Bayreuth (section)

===Elder line===
[[File:Plassenb.jpg|thumb|262px|Plassenburg in Kulmbach]]
While the Brandenburg electorate became the power base for the rising Hohenzollern dynasty, the Principality of Kulmbach-Bayreuth was held by Frederick's descendants, temporarily in [[personal union]] with Ansbach. The rulers were commonly known as the Margraves of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (though Bayreuth is nowhere near Brandenburg). Kulmbach-Bayreuth became part of the [[Franconian Circle]] in 1500.

After in 1541 the ambitious Margrave [[Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach|Albert Alcibiades]] assumed the rule over Kulmbach-Bayreuth, he barged onto the battlegrounds of the [[Schmalkaldic War]], several times switching sides between Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] and the Lutheran princes of the [[Schmalkaldic League]]. In 1552 he sparked the [[Second Margrave War]] against Nuremberg and the neighbouring [[Prince-bishop]]rics of [[Prince-Bishopric of Würzburg|Würzburg]] and [[Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg|Bamberg]]. His soaring plans to re-establish the medieval [[Duchy of Franconia]] under his rule ended with his utter defeat and an [[Imperial ban]] in 1554.

Albert was succeeded by his cousin Margrave [[George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach|George Frederick]] in 1557, who from 1577 als ruled in the [[Duchy of Prussia]] as regent for his incapable Hohenzollern relative Duke [[Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia]]. With George Frederick's death in 1603, the elder Bayreuth line became extinct. He left his successor, Margrave [[Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Christian]], younger son of the Brandenburg elector [[John George, Elector of Brandenburg|John George]], an orderly and functioning state.