Principality of Bayreuth

Principality of Bayreuth/ Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach Fürstentum Bayreuth/Markgraftum Brandenburg-Kulmbach (German)
1398–1791
Coat of arms
Principality of Brandenburg-Bayreuth as at 1791, when it was sold to Prussia
Status	Principality
Capital	Kulmbach until 1604, Bayreuth from 1604
Government	Principality
Margrave
• 1398–1420 (first)	John III, Burgrave of Nuremberg
• 1769–91 (last)	Christian Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from Burgraviate of Nuremberg	21 January 1398
• Reunited with Ansbach	1420–40
• Joined Franconian Circle	1500
• Partitioned in twain	1655–1726
• Line extinct; inherited by Ansbach	20 January 1769
• Ansbach and Bayreuth sold to Prussia	2 December 1791
Preceded by Succeeded by Burgraviate of Nuremberg Kingdom of Prussia

The Principality of Bayreuth (German: Fürstentum Bayreuth) or Margraviate of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (Markgraftum Brandenburg-Bayreuth) was an immediate territory of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by a Franconian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Since Burgrave Frederick VI of Nuremberg was enfeoffed with the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1415/17, the Hohenzollern princes transferred the margravial title to their Franconian possessions, though the principality never had been a march. Until 1604 they used Plassenburg Castle in Kulmbach as their residence, hence their territory was officially called the Principality of Kulmbach or Margraviate of Brandenburg-Kulmbach until the Empire's dissolution in 1806.