Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
The last Franconian margrave, a charming eccentric who traded his principalities for a life of lavish exile in England.
1736–1806 (age 70)·Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth·Birthday: February 24
Biography
Margrave Alexander of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Bayreuth sold his own principalities to Prussia in 1791, erasing the last independent Hohenzollern territories south of Berlin. Inheriting two small, debt-ridden German states, he preferred the hunt, the theater, and the company of his long-time companion, Lady Elizabeth Craven. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he shocked his Prussian relatives by living far beyond his means. To settle enormous debts and secure his freedom, he executed a coldly pragmatic deal: he sold his ancestral lands of Ansbach and Bayreuth to his cousin, King Frederick William II of Prussia. With a vast pension, he retired to England, married Lady Craven, and hosted extravagant entertainments. His sale consolidated Prussian power in Franconia, funding a life of genteel exile. Alexander presided over the end of an era, trading sovereignty for comfort.
#1 When Alexander, Was Born
The biggest hits of 1736
Alexander,'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1736Born
1741Started school
1749Became a teenager
1752Could drive
1754Could vote
1757Turned 21
1766Turned 30
1776Turned 40
1786Turned 50
1796Turned 60
1806Turned 70
Key Achievements
- Sold the sovereign principalities of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1791, ending their independent existence.
- Ruled as the last margrave of both Franconian territories from 1769 until their sale.
- Maintained a famously lavish court, particularly in Ansbach, which became a cultural center under his rule.
- As Prince of Bayreuth, he was the brother-in-law of Frederick the Great of Prussia.
Did You Know?
He was a passionate patron of the arts and theater, building the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
He married the English writer and adventurer Lady Elizabeth Craven after both their spouses died.
He served as a Colonel in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War, though he saw no action.
His sale treaty with Prussia included a massive lifetime annuity, making him one of the wealthiest men in England.
“The hunt and the theater are the only courts that interest me now.”
