Editing Principality of Bayreuth (section)

===Younger line===
Margrave Christian took his residence in Bayreuth; in 1655 he was succeeded by his grandson [[Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Christian Ernst]], who gained power and influence on Imperial politics in the military rank of a [[Field marshal]]. In 1705 his son Prince [[George William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|George William]] founded the ''[[Ordre de la Sincerité]]'', predecessor to the Prussian [[Order of the Red Eagle]]. Margrave [[Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Frederick]], ruling from 1735, and his wife [[Wilhelmine of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Wilhelmine of Prussia]], both patrons of arts and sciences, had the Bayreuth residence largely rebuilt in a distinct [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style (''Markgrafenstil''), including the erection of the [[Margravial Opera House]] finished in 1748. A university was founded in 1742 and relocated to [[University of Erlangen-Nuremberg|Erlangen]] the next year.
[[File:Preussen-FdG.jpg|thumb|262px|Bayreuth and Ansbach (blue) as part of Prussia]]
The younger line of the Brandenburg-Bayreuth margraves died out in 1769 with the death of [[Frederick Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Frederick Christian]], whereafter Bayreuth and Ansbach were once again ruled in personal union by Margrave [[Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach|Charles Alexander]]. On 2 December 1791, Charles Alexander signed a treaty with King [[Frederick William II of Prussia]], whereby he ceded his principalities to the Prussian state against a lifelong annuity. He married socialite [[Elizabeth Craven]] and retired to private life in [[Kingdom of England|England]], while Bayreuth and Ansbach were governed by the Prussian minister [[Karl August von Hardenberg]].

Occupied by [[First French Empire|French]] troops during the [[War of the Fourth Coalition]], Prussia had to cede Bayreuth according to the 1807 [[Treaties of Tilsit|Treaty of Tilsit]]. At the 1808 [[Congress of Erfurt]], the French emperor [[Napoleon]] offered it for sale to the newly established [[Kingdom of Bavaria]]; it changed owners in 1810 against a payment of 15 million francs.