Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Frederick I
Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Margrave of Ansbach
Reign	1486–1536
Predecessor	Albert III
Successor	George
Margrave of Kulmbach
Reign	1495–1515
Predecessor	Siegmund
Successor	Kasimir
Born	(1460-05-08)8 May 1460 Ansbach
Died	4 April 1536(1536-04-04) (aged 75) Ansbach
Spouse	Sophia of Poland ​ ​ (m. 1479; died 1512)​
Issue	Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach Margarete of Brandenburg-Ansbach George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach Sofie, Duchess of Legnica Anna, Duchess of Cieszyn Albert, 1st Duke of Prussia Johann, Viceroy of Valencia Elisabeth, Margravine of Baden-Durlach Barbara, Landgravine of Leuchtenberg Frederick of Brandenburg-Ansbach Wilhelm, Archbishop of Riga John Albert, Archbishop of Magdeburg Gumprecht of Brandenburg-Ansbach
House	Hohenzollern
Father	Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg
Mother	Anna of Saxony

Frederick I of Ansbach and Bayreuth (also known as Frederick V; German: Friedrich V. von Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach or Friedrich der Ältere; 8 May 1460 – 4 April 1536) was born at Ansbach as the eldest son of Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg by his second wife Anna, daughter of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. His elder half-brother was the Elector John Cicero of Brandenburg. Friedrich succeeded his father as Margrave of Ansbach in 1486 and his younger brother Siegmund as Margrave of Bayreuth in 1495.

After depleting the finances of the margraviate with his lavish lifestyle, Frederick I was deposed by his two elder sons, Casimir and George, in 1515. He was then locked up at Plassenburg Castle by his eldest son Casimir in a tower room from which he could not escape for 12 years. Thereupon, his son Casimir took up the rule of the Margraviate of Bayreuth (Kulmbach) and his son George took up the rule of the Margraviate of Ansbach. However, the overthrow of Frederick did outrage his other younger sons and led to far-reaching political countermeasures. When Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg visited Kulmbach during his journey to Augsburg, and wanted to plead for Frederick's release, he was nevertheless denied entry to Plassenburg Castle. The dispute was finally cleared when an agreement was reached in 1522, in which the demands of the younger sons of Frederick were met.