House Treaty of Gera
Encyclopedia
The House Treaty of Gera was a House law
of the House of Hohenzollern
on the succession in Brandenburg and in the Franconian territories at the end of the 16th Century binding rules. The Treaty and came about because Elector John George
of Brandenburg had violated the requirements made in Dispositio Achillea
in his will. In these provisions, the indivisibility of the Mark of Brandenburg
has been prescribed as a mandatory principle of succession. John George, however, had stipulated his will that part of the Neumark
and Krosno Odrzańskie
should be separated from the Mark and given to his two younger sons.
Immediately after John George's death in 1598, his eldest son and successor, Elector Joachim Frederick
contested the will and consulted with Margrave George Frederick I. He was the last descendant of the elder branch of the Franconian Hohenzollerns and ruled the two margraviates of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Kulmbach. George Frederick had no offspring of his own. This consultation led to the House Treaty of Gera: Joachim Frederick would inherit the whole Mark of Brandenburg (immediately) and his younger brothers would inherit the Franconian principalities (after George Frederick's death). The younger brothers had to renounce their claims that were based on John George's invalid will.
After the House Treaty of Gera was finally accepted by all parties concerned, it was ratified
on 29 April 1599 in Magdeburg. The most important paragraph of the agreement was that each Elector of Brandenburg should always inherit the entire and undivided Mark, because this was considered an integral part of the Electoral dignity. The indivisibility of the Mark of Brandenburg that was already prescribed in the , was renewed and reaffirmed. John George's younger sons were compensated with the succession of the Franconian possessions of the Hohenzollerns. After George Frederick's death, they would receive both his Margraviates as hereditary secundogeniture
s. To decide who would inherit which principality, they would have to draw lots among themselves, as had been the practice before the Dispositio Achillea
.
House law
House law or House laws are rules that govern a royal family or dynasty in matters of eligibility for succession to a throne, membership in a dynasty, exercise of a regency, or entitlement to dynastic rank, titles and styles...
of the House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
on the succession in Brandenburg and in the Franconian territories at the end of the 16th Century binding rules. The Treaty and came about because Elector John George
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
of Brandenburg had violated the requirements made in Dispositio Achillea
Dispositio Achillea
The Dispositio Achillea , was the disposition of the territories of Elector Albert III Achilles of Brandenburg as regulated in his last will and testament of 1473....
in his will. In these provisions, the indivisibility of the Mark of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
has been prescribed as a mandatory principle of succession. John George, however, had stipulated his will that part of the Neumark
Neumark
Neumark comprised a region of the Prussian province of Brandenburg, Germany.Neumark may also refer to:* Neumark, Thuringia* Neumark, Saxony* Neumark * Nowe Miasto Lubawskie or Neumark, a town in Poland, situated at river Drwęca...
and Krosno Odrzańskie
Krosno Odrzanskie
Krosno Odrzańskie is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants is the capital of Krosno County...
should be separated from the Mark and given to his two younger sons.
Immediately after John George's death in 1598, his eldest son and successor, Elector Joachim Frederick
Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim III Frederick , of the House of Hohenzollern, was Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1598 until his death.-Biography:...
contested the will and consulted with Margrave George Frederick I. He was the last descendant of the elder branch of the Franconian Hohenzollerns and ruled the two margraviates of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Kulmbach. George Frederick had no offspring of his own. This consultation led to the House Treaty of Gera: Joachim Frederick would inherit the whole Mark of Brandenburg (immediately) and his younger brothers would inherit the Franconian principalities (after George Frederick's death). The younger brothers had to renounce their claims that were based on John George's invalid will.
After the House Treaty of Gera was finally accepted by all parties concerned, it was ratified
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
on 29 April 1599 in Magdeburg. The most important paragraph of the agreement was that each Elector of Brandenburg should always inherit the entire and undivided Mark, because this was considered an integral part of the Electoral dignity. The indivisibility of the Mark of Brandenburg that was already prescribed in the , was renewed and reaffirmed. John George's younger sons were compensated with the succession of the Franconian possessions of the Hohenzollerns. After George Frederick's death, they would receive both his Margraviates as hereditary secundogeniture
Secundogeniture
A secundogeniture was a dependent territory given to a younger son of a princely house and his descendants, creating a cadet branch. This was a special form of inheritance...
s. To decide who would inherit which principality, they would have to draw lots among themselves, as had been the practice before the Dispositio Achillea
Dispositio Achillea
The Dispositio Achillea , was the disposition of the territories of Elector Albert III Achilles of Brandenburg as regulated in his last will and testament of 1473....
.