Albert Margrave

Albert, Margrave, Margrave of Brandenburg and first Duke of Prussia, born in 1490 and educated for the Church. Preferring a military life, he marched with the emperor into Italy, and was at the siege of Pavia. He then joined the Teutonic Order and was chosen Grand Master (1511). He came under Luther's influence, adopted the reformed doctrines, and received the duchy of Prussia as a fief from Poland in 1525. He founded the University of Konigsberg. He died of the plague in 1568.